Thank You Amy for Dionne Bromfield:)

(Dionne Bromfield and Amy Winehouse singing “If I Ain’t Got You)

Since the death of Amy Winehouse, I have really been reflecting on her life and what her life meant to the world. Some might say, “Oh, she was a junkie” and that is the end of it. I see it quite differently.

As I pour over youtube videos, articles written about her struggles with drug addiction, and her incredible musical ability, I realize that deep down that in many ways she was misunderstood and was an example of what happens when you spiral out of control and don’t have a chance to do things over.

She seems like she was a very complex human being, one who wanted to always play by her own rules in life. There is nothing wrong with being a trailblazer or even dance to the beat of your own drum. It’s only when this beat becomes destructive and redundant.

A lot of things crossed my mind. I wondered how did she begin this road of destruction was it really her boyfriend getting her hooked on crack and heroin or was it her access to drugs through her mother being a pharmacist by trade. Who really knows? Only Amy at this point.

My heart goes out to her family and loved ones who really knew her and her fans. I appreciate her voice but struggle with the content of her lyrics for obvious reasons.

One thing that I unequivocally have no issue with is the gift of mentorship to Dionne Bromfield, her goddaughter.

I don’t think I would have ever stumbled upon Dionne’s music if it not for these unfortunate circumstances…and that is sad to say. I pray that Dionne will keep a great head on her shoulders and really maximize this opportunity of a great career that she has been blessed with. I wish her all the success, love, good health, and peace of mind that she can handle…nothing but goodness…and may Amy rest in peace and in God’s great comfort that she did not experience on earth.

*Peace and Blessings*

J

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!

[I LOVE YOU BITTERSWEET]

I had a really interesting conversation with my uncle yesterday. We were talking about CHOCOLATE!!! My favorite! I told him some time ago about a place in Oakland, CA on College Avenue called “Bittersweet”. They have THE BEST hot chocolate or bittersweet I have ever tasted. Bittersweet Cafe

Their bittersweet is basically like hot chocolate but WAY better. My friend Maleena first told me about Bittersweet years ago. We have later named their Bittersweet drink “THE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER” (LOL!) because once you have a taste of that hot flavorful chocolate goodness, you won’t want anything else! And most of all you have a way better outlook on life.

Bittersweets are either served hot (my favorite) or cold. So, my uncle brought this up yesterday to tell me he finally went to check it out and he was PLEASANTLY surprised. To understand what “pleasantly” means in this context, you must understand my uncle.

My uncle is a loving and devoted husband and father who works full-time. He drives approximately 2 hours to work and 2 hours back home, totaling 3-4 hour commute daily. When he gets home, sometimes he cooks dinner for his family. On his off days, he definitely cooks and when I say cook, I don’t mean frozen dinner or Mickey D’s. This man grows his own garden, cooks organic, bakes his own bread (makes his own flour because his daughter is allergic to wheat grain), makes is own candy, makes chicken broth with fresh wild chickens! I am not exaggerating. He goes above and beyond to ensure that his family has safe, balanced, healthy and quality meals. His children have never eaten a now or later or had a “happy meal” nor do they crave it! I think this is awesome that he raised them well and ensured that they have a wonderful diet. Now they have skills in the kitchen that rival mine (for sure) and will start them on the right path to eating well.

The other night, he made caramels with organic ingredients and I must say, as I told him, they were THE BEST I’ve ever had in my entire life! I told him that I would place orders and give his caramels as gifts during the holidays. So, he went on the tell me about how chocolate was made and I marveled at the complexity of making chocolate and he said that he would try his hand at it but couldn’t justify the $400.00 expense of a chocolate grinder to his wife. LOL! We both laughed as we tried to imagine that scene.

He told me if I wanted to find out more about this chocolate making I should go check out this Chocolate Alchemy website: Chocolate Alchemy

So, being that he is really into cooking and now have started this new love affair with making caramels, he is starting this thing with chocolate. He talked to one of the owners at Bittersweet and found that they owned their own cocoa farm somewhere (he told me but I forgot because I was took busy trying to visualize a cocoa farm, that was amazing) and they blended their own chocolate. My uncle was impressed with the various natural flavors in the bittersweet drink and said that they truly understand the cocoa bean.

I was amused by this conversation because I absolutely LOVE quality chocolate! In fact, chocolate is NEVER excluded from any diet I may be on and because cocoa grows on a tree, IT MUST BE A VEGETABLE!!! So, I have added chocolate to the food group table which also includes french fries! LOL!

When my uncle explained his fascination with his experience at Bittersweet, I encouraged him to go to my other 2 favorite chocolate spots:

Cocoa Bella (the one in San Francisco on Union Street):

I only recommend the nougatine and the hot drinks (no where near Bittersweet experience but it will do)

Teuscher’s Chocolate : (a Swiss chocolate place in San Francisco on Grant and Sutter Sts.) 4 of their 14 US locations are in California (Yippee! More for ME!!)

Highly recommend: Butter Crunch Truffle (my favorite)

Bittersweet Cafe

Highly recommend: Hot Bittersweet (especially on cold days or around that special time each month *ladies*, or when you are in a MoOd and need an ATTITUDE ADJUSTER:) and small pecan chocolate chip cookies. I have yet to try anything else in the store because I am always so happy with these two I just want to keep experiencing the goodness each time I go back.

Thought I’d Share!

*smooches*

JSC