The Chocolate Tour with Kate
- Stan Hecht
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
My friend Kate loves chocolate as much as or more than I do. Kate loves all sweets and sugar, and we’ve shared many thoughts, texts, and baked goods over the years. While I am a cookie monster and cannot go a day without chocolate, I think Kate loves all desserts and doesn’t really discriminate.
She especially enjoys something “real chocolatey!” Also, I’m fairly sure she has an iron stomach.
As we’ve been chatting the idea of a Chocolate Tour came up. Kate keeps up with all new developments around St. Louis and actually seeks them out. Even when most are farther away than where we live and work. She’s been to so many more places than I’ve been or heard of, that I asked her where she would go if our schedules ever matched up.
Kate sent me a spread sheet which made me giggle.
"Okay,” I texted, “I’m in. Let me know where and when,” and our Chocolate Tour was set. I had never heard of any of the places she wanted to go, however, Kate has never steered me wrong. She suggested heading to Webster Groves and Big Sky for dinner. One place I have been!
On a rainy Thursday late afternoon we headed out, Kate deciding on the itinerary and me trusting her. It’s chocolate, desserts, and dinner with a good friend, who am I to argue?
We started at Bijoux whose tagline: Bringing chocolate jewels to St. Louis didn’t disappoint. The only problem? Everything looked so good it was hard to choose.
I am such a visual person, every single chocolate looked too good to pass up. Flavors such as black current balsamic, raspberry dark chocolate, fig cheese goat, and old fashioned called to me. I chose four to take home (we brought coolers) and the old fashioned to try on the spot. Well worth it! And why not try our goodies along the way?
When we explained our tour to the woman in Bijoux helping us, she asked about our other tour destinations. She suggested stopping in at Vanilla Sugar across the street.
We weren’t sure it was open and while it wasn’t on the tour, we decided to go for it and I’m glad we did. At that moment, the skies opened into a downpour, so we drove across the street.
As we crossed the doorway, the delicious smell of fresh baked cookies greeted us. This is what a bakery is supposed to smell like! It was as if we were entering someone’s home, and they had baked cookies…just for us! And I LOVE chocolate chip cookies. I will try one anywhere. Vanilla Sugar’s chocolate chip cookie is one of the BEST I’ve ever had. Trust me.
Vanilla Sugar isn’t huge, but it doesn’t need to be as the cookies and treats more than meet any cookie monster’s expectations. Everything was so tempting. There was an array of cookies in every flavor, sandwich cookies, and brownies.
In the basket of treats of goodies that didn’t make it to the trays to sell sat two gorgeous cookies that the young woman helping us didn’t know if they were lemon or gooey butter. In all fairness they could have been either. So, she opened the package and offered us a smell! We all smiled at one another, and she encouraged us to try it.
Gooey butter! Another goodie along the way.
Truth be told, I could have stayed there all night. It was so warm and welcoming.
However, there were more stops on the Chocolate Tour.
Heading back into the rain, we headed to Big Sky Café. Kate had never been, and it was on her list. I haven’t been since before covid, so I was glad to go back.
The bar is cute and big enough to handle a smallish crowd. We scored a table in front near the window. Kate’s comment, “this is cozy” was true. Big Sky makes you feel welcome with small tables set up in different rooms. To share we ordered NOLA shrimp with polenta (a favorite), crab cakes (some of the best I’ve had) and a blue cheeseburger cooked to perfection. When our waiter asked about dessert and we informed them of our tour plan, they suggested the brownie at The Annex, which was closed. (next tour)
While the dessert tempted us at Big Sky Cafe, we decided to stick to our plan and head to Sylvie Dee’s for ice cream. Unfortunately, though the website said they were open, they were closed (we did email the next day, and they apologized).
Doing what women do…. we did a pivot and headed to Le Macaron. Surprisingly on a rainy, cool Thursday night there were quite a few families enjoying gelato and chocolates. Le Macaron offers authentic French macarons and pastries, gelato and fine chocolates created by a chef in Marseille, France. Who were we to argue?
Everything was beautiful and the man behind the counter offered insight to how the croissant dough is shipped in daily and then baked locally. Kate picked up a spinach ricotta croissant for breakfast (she’s training for 5K, and this is the breakfast of champions) as well as treats for her family. I just enjoyed the sights and smells.
Since we had our hearts set on dessert, we contemplated what our choices were. Nothing sounded as good as the chocolate mousse at Big Sky Café, so we headed back. They were happy to see us, and we had the opportunity to sit in the bigger room and while our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, we ordered two desserts: dark chocolate mousse with fresh berries and house-made pistachio cherry ice cream.
It was worth it. The dark chocolate mousse was light and deep at the same time, the ice cream fresh and the mix of flavors yummy. I took one bite of the dark chocolate mousse and said to Kate, “I need to take one of these home!” We enjoyed chatting over desserts planning our next adventure. We
didn’t know it at the time, but it was National Chocolate Mousse Day! Note to Blue Sky Café-keep this dessert on your menu!
While the chocolate treats were a highlight, I loved every minute of my time with Kate and visiting places I hadn’t been to or visited in a while. It took us a while to coordinate schedules, but I am so glad that we did. Spending time with friends is important- as important as finding new, interesting chocolate treats!
On our way home, we brainstormed possible monthly adventures. And why not? Here in St. Louis, Kate has already shared more ideas and fun places to explore on further Chocolate Tours. In fact, Kate and I were thinking of going on Chocolate Tours in different countries…stay tuned!
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Spend time with a friend who loves
what you love!
Thanks to Kate for her ideas, her company, and her friendship.
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