This morning was different. I had a scheduled reservation at Charles Chocolates in Emeryville. Having not driven in a while I had to get accustomed to road etiquette and traffic. Crossing the Bay Bridge in a timely manner I worked my way through the streets of Emeryville only getting lost once until I reached the Charles Chocolates factory. Oh Boy!

Nestled in the industrial strip of Emeryville, I entered the factory with everything Charles staring me down. I walked past the show room and settled in the visitor’s area which separated spectators from makers by several large windows. Due to sanitation reasons and trade secrets I understood the setup right off the bat.

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The tour was like a general tour. Very general and reminisce of a lectures of college classes. I was trying not fall asleep and make eye contact with the others in attendance. After the whole talk of what goes down in the factory, I waited until the last of the guests cleared out so I could partake in my additional private tasting with an employee of Charles.

My private tasting was great. I had a chance to pick out the pieces I wanted to try (yum!) in addition to tasting the two flavors of hot chocolate that were available in the showroom. With the help of a very helpful guide, I was steered in the proper direction of what was what and what would suit my palette.

Upon choosing my pieces, we retreated to a quiet counter where each piece was discussed into more detail. This would be the part where normal people would explain the flavors they tasted and how wonderful their tongue felt during the whole ordeal. Not me. To keep it LikeThatLikeThat I will just say that I ate every piece that was chosen. It was intense, bold and quite the learning experience.

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Upon completing my tasting and eating ever piece, I was then treated to the sampling of the hot chocolates. MMMmmm! Good Stuff. There were two flavors served and both were so good. Real hot chocolate tastes real good.

At this point I was heavily under the influence of the ultimate chocolate buzz. My breath had undertones of cocoa and my pores began to ooze out hints of sugar and chocolate. I left Charles Chocolates content and very pleased that they had there way with my taste buds.

Link To: Charles Chocolates

I went to lunch to calm down and try to dilute my blood stream from the intensity of chocolate. After a good lunch and a fun visit to a local junkyard I made my way to the next stop. Making my way across town, my next stop in Oakland was Michael Mischer Chocolates.

* I like how the shop is next door to Weight Watchers

This little shop in Oakland is home to a European trained chocolatier who makes chocolates that would put anyoness chocolate craving in check. I enjoy Mischer products. He is one of the few individuals who offers Sugar Free chocolate bars that taste like regular chocolate bars. That’s not an easy thing to do. You know those commercials about Diet Dr. Pepper tasting like regular Dr. Pepper? Flip that and the same idea can be experienced in his chocolate. The Sugar Free collection is a real treat and done exceptionally well.

*Hot drinks come with a cookie

While in the shop, I also got 4 pieces to try along with another in house made hot chocolate. Wow-wee! Being lazy and not wanting to guess what each piece was when I got home because I surely would have forgotten, I tasted and consumed all four pieces at the shop as I sipped at my hot chocolate. Good taste, smooth finish and what a range of flavors. Along with my in store indulgence, I also brought home some single origin bars for later use.

Link To: Michael Mischer Chocolates

So that was it. My two day San Francisco/Bay Area chocolate tour. I tasted, ate, and most of all survived. I’m going to go lie down now.