A DAY IN WILLIE WONKA LAND (AND OUTLYING DISTRICTS)

Sheila and pal Kimberly. We've just arrived but we already managed to find the samples!

    There may be better ways to spend a day than touring a chocolate factory and getting free samples but right off the top of my head I can't think of many. And it's even more fun when you go with friends, which we did.
    Theo Chocolate can be found in Seattle's Fremont district. It's a fair trade company that makes its chocolates "from scratch", starting with roasting the beans. This privately owned company offers all kinds of exotic flavors like coconut curry and caramel with lavender.
    Between the exotic chocolate and the Thai food we all ate for lunch before taking the tour, my taste buds had a very busy day. The rest of me was pretty busy too, as you can see by the pictures.
     If you're planning to come to Seattle as a tourist, be sure to add exploring Fremont to your to-do list. In addition to touring the chocolate factory (book early - they fill up fast!) you can check out the huge cement troll under the north end of the Aurora bridge. As you can see by the picture, you're never too old to climb on the troll. Well, at least you won't feel too old once you've consumed a pound of chocolate!
    And, speaking of, here are a few fun factoids for you. Did you know?

    

Here are some of the pretties in the Theo gift shop.

  You need 70% cacao content or higher in your chocolate to reap the health benefits.
Chocolate opens up your blood vessels (which is what gives you energy).
Chocolate also produces serotonin (which makes you feel good).
One cocoa bean pod weighs about a pound.
Cocoa is a fermented food.
75% of the world's cocoa supply comes from Africa.
Many of the farmers who grow the cocoa beans have never tasted chocolate.
Never tasted chocolate. Can you imagine that? Next time I'm tempted to feel sorry for myself I'm going to remember that. My life is good!

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Gerhardt, the hair net goes over your hair, not your face!

This is your mind on chocolate. Here we are in public, wearing the hair nets we donned for the chocolate factory tour. If you look carefully, you'll see the troll has a VW bug under his hand.