Light or Dark, a Sweet Ending to Summer

How about some chocolate as a sweet finish to the summer and to our Down East jaunt?  Strolling through Stonington, Maine's Friday morning farmer's market, we were not surprised to find fresh vegetables, dairy products, baked goods, and meats.  We did not expect to find artisanal chocolates, however.

A couple of samples from Black Dinah Chocolatiers convinced us that this was the genuine article.  The husband-and-wife team of Steve and Kate Schaffer started their business just over a year ago on the remote Isle au Haut, "nestled into the long shadows of Black Dinah Mountain."  Their beautiful handcrafted chocolates combine fresh, local ingredients with flavors from farther afield.  For instance, the Varietal is made with rare Peruvian cacao, the Chocolate Gingerbread contains Barbados molasses, and most of the other selections are infused with Venezuelan chocolate.  It's hard to pick a favorite.

The price for all this sweet pleasure is as steep as some of the area's mountains, however.  At just under $2 apiece, these truffles are more expensive than those of Jacques Torres, but darn it, they're good!

Black Dinah Chocolatiers

P.O. Box 13
1 Moore's Harbor Road
Isle au Haut, ME   04645

(207) 335-5010

http://www.blackdinahchocolatiers.com/