Here are some chocolate addresses not to be missed! Florence: Vestri Borgo degli Albizi, 11/r Tel: 055.284-781 Web Read my review! Hemingway P.zza Piattellina, 9/r Tel: 055.284-781 Read my review! Procacci via Tornabuoni, 64/r Tel: 055.211-656 Pisa: Paul de Bondt via Turati, 22 Tel: 050.501-896 Federico Salza Borgo Stretto, 46 Tel: 050.5802444 Web Simone De Castro Pastry & Chocolate Ponsasso loc. Le Melorie Near Pisa: Roberto Catinari via Provinciale, 378 Agliana Tel: 0574-718506 Il Cioccolato Amedei via San Gervasio, 29 La Rotta (Pontedera) Tel: 0587-484849 By appointment only Web Pistoia: Bruno Corsini P.zza San Francisco, 42 Tel: 0573.20138 Al Dolce Forno via Lucciano, 39 (Quarrata) Tel: 0573.738.657 Web Elsewhere: Pasticceria F.IIi Bonci viale A. Diaz, 43 Montevarchi Tel: 055-981225 Web Simone De Castro Pastry & Chocolate P.zza Vittorio Veneto, 15 Montopoli Val D'Arno Tel: 0571.467.123 Luca Mannori via Lazzerini, 2 Prato Tel: 0574.21628 Web Andrea Stainer vial del Seminario, 1 Pontremoli (MS) Tel: 0187.830.091 Slitti via Francesca Sud, 1268 Monsummano Terme (PT) Tel: 0572.640.240 Web

Tuscany is a food lover's paradise. Each village has a specialty worth travelling to taste -- great wines, extra virgin olive oil, artisan cheeses, organic herbs. All make great gifts to bring back home to create your own fabulous dishes and share a "Taste of Tuscany" with family and friends. Put Tuscany's fabulous food together with its beautiful scenery, incredible architecture and art, and wonderful people and you have all the reasons you need to travel! One of my most passionate reasons to explore Tuscany is CHOCOLATE! Having been a pastry chef, for me one of the most important parts of the meal is dessert. (As part of my professional continuing education, I'm currently taking an online course through Ecole Chocolat.) I'm always disappointed when at the end of a fabulous dining experience the last bite isn't memorable. This is what you should remember. Throughout Tuscany, artisan chocolate makers of international repute abound. And a new generation of young chocolatiers guarantees to keep the quality level high. When we speak of quality chocolate we speak of Paul de Bondt from Pisa, Simone De Castro of Montopoli (Pisa), Andrea Slitti of Monsummano Terme (Pistoia), the company "Cioccolato & C." of Massa e Cozzile (Pistoia), and Corsini di Pistoia. Let's not forget the pioneer of chocolate in Tuscany, Roberto Catinari and the patisserie champion of the world in Prato, Luca Mannori. We are very lucky in Tuscany to have so many expert chocolate makers. Just as there are Super Tuscan wines, we have Super Tuscan Chocolates throughout our Tuscan Chocolate Valley. Some are chocolatiers, making candies, cakes and sweets from chocolate and some actually produce chocolate from the bean! In Tuscany, the valley between Pisa and Florence has provided a home for many of my favorite chocolate makers. Here (at left) is a list for future trips of some of the best! P.S. Chocolate lovers, don't miss my recipes for Salame Dolce and Cioccolato Caldo Vestri! Chocolate plays an important role in my recipe Cinghiale in Dolce Forte! February 1, 2004 NEWSLETTERS Life's Too Short [fall 2005] Pasqua [march 2005] Estate [summer 2004] Primavera [spring 2004] Tuscan Chocolate Valley [winter 2003] I Scream, U Scream, We All Scream for...Gelato! [summer 2003] Slow Food, Slow Travel [spring 2003] Sagre, Sagre, Sagre! [spring 2003] Tuscan Virgins [fall 2002] Fall Festivals [fall 2002] La Notte di San Lorenzo [summer 2002] Fireflies & Fireworks [summer 2002] I Love EWE! [spring 2002] Andrea's Christmas Dinner [winter 2001] Addio Bistecca alla Fiorentina! [summer 2001] Guelfa e Ghibellini [late summer 2001] Tartufi, Feste & Sagre [fall 2000] Piatti del Buon Ricordo [summer 2000] COMING SOON! Carrara: Marble & White Prosciutto