A chocolate high.
Work recently brought me to Hawaiian Host over on Alakawa Street. I don’t eat a lot of chocolate (makes me break out!), but I always did love those chocolate-covered macadamia nut candies with the pretty lady on the box since I was little. My grandparents to this day still keep those exact candies in a tupperware in their refrigerator & will consistently bring it out every time I visit to tempt me.
Anyway, inspection of the ground level was ordinary. I was tired, it was hot, & I had put my hair up in a ponytail which was giving me a headache. I really need to chop my hair off, but my hairdresser just gifted me with the very exclusive (I understand only 3 salons in Honolulu are licensed to do it) $500 “Yuko” straight perm for my birthday & she’d probably kill me if I told her I wanted to cut it all off now.
The 2nd floor was where production was, & we passed through rooms of chocolate, rooms of macadamia nuts, & my personal favorite, a room for toffee (see below). I snapped these photos while our escort wasn’t looking & was informed later that photographs of their equipment are not allowed, so I have tried to avoid showing anything compromising but… come on… you gotta see that chocolate mixer thingy!!
That thing was large enough for a person to crawl into & immerse themselves in chocolate. People need to know that areas of chocolate this big exist. It’s not just at Willy Wonka’s.
I kid you not, after about 15 minutes I got high. I’m serious. I was giddy & giggly & would probably have laughed at all my grandmother’s jokes that she gets off the internet. I felt love for all mankind (well, except Liz Hata.). Now that I think of it, maybe that’s why my grandparents keep the candy in the refrigerator for me. Anyway, I turned to Jay (in the shower cap up there) & said, “I think I’m high!” And then I giggled. I did!
Now, supposedly chocolate – even just the smell of chocolate – can cause our brains to produce happy chemicals. When I told my dad about my experience, he looked at me & said, “You’re serotonin deficient.” This is possible. You shoulda seen me in high school. My sister said I should try Seraphim or something.
But ohhh, that toffee. I would never eat the stuff, but… ohhh, the smell of toffee. Wake up & smell the toffee. I want to set up a loungechair in the corner of that room & spend an afternoon with a good book.
However, chocolate makes me break out. I can feel one coming out on my chin even as I type.
This is because the manager kindly sent us off with a sack of candy. I think my complexion is ruined for the rest of the month.
oooh, why do you torture us here in the office with all these food blogs!!! more hungry now…and you are not here today for us to make stink eye too =(