OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO

I'VE GOT A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU …..

Was Roald Dahl, the author of the famous book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory really racist? His depiction of the 'Oopa Loompas' created a storm of controversy that the original book was revised and the movie script was rewritten to provide viewers with a more 'politically correct' version of these loveable workers. The book paints a picture of Willy Wonka's helpers as African pygmies, working for a wage of cacao beans and singing songs in a war-like daze. Whereas the movie version, changes their dark skin to orange and dyes their hair green. But it is interesting to note that Roald Dahl's Oopa Loompa's are almost portrayed as angels in comparison to the little white children with all of their obvious greedy flaws. Perhaps, his Oopa Loompas, originally depicted as African pygmies, was simply an attempt to inform his readers of the slavery and trade issues surrounding chocolate? Now that's something to chew on.

Chocolate Yoga

Food and fitness are essentially my yin and yang. The peanut butter to my jelly time. My mantra if you will. So, when I was asked to cover a chocolate yoga class I jumped at the opportunity. But I had no idea what to expect. Maybe some sun salutations followed by a chocolate fountain? Or perhaps Supta Matsyendrasana chocoholic-a?. Maybe the whole thing will be in 'mountain pose' as I eat a chocolate bar. The formal description of the class reads, 'Here bliss is caught rather than taught, activated rather than cultivated. The magic anandamide carpet ride is in the first posture and the last'. O.K. now I really don't know what is going to happen in this studio. Expectations set aside, I grabbed my trusty yoga matt and made my way to Downward Dog on Queen.

I always find the first two minutes of a new yoga class to be a little awkward. You have your die hard yogi's showing off their new mastered one handed handstands, the zen-like meditators and the standard savasana dead corpse group. But start off a yoga class by passing a bucket of chocolate samples around the room and something special happens. Sun salutations turn into improvised dance, giggles turn into full out laughter and those once intimidating yogi's are giving you insider tips on how to hold that handstand. Maybe it was the chocolate. Raw, organic, forest grown, whole cacao artisan chocolate that is. Or the instructor, Ron Obadia with his infectious smile and refreshing, light hearted 'I don't take myself too seriously' approach to yoga and life for that matter. (Which in a yogi is hard to come by these days.) But by the third passing of the chocolate bucket the kid was brought out in all of us. The chocolate got us giddy- yogi steam rolling? Why not. Gibberish conversations with no one in particular? Sure. I am not going to lie, I had a few wtf moments. Ron said, "It's not a great yoga class unless atleast three people walk out." Thankfully everyone stayed but truth be told there were more than a few exchanges of eyebrows throughout the practice. Normally broken by laughter. But Ron is definitely on to something. The cacao opens up your mind willingly to silliness and give you the energy to get deep down into those strenuous poses. It even encourages you to give it a go on those extra hard postures you weren't so sure about before. AND you get to eat chocolate. But don't take my word for it. Check it out yourself.

Your chocolate yogi,

Hillary

A Day in the Life of a Chocolate Reporter

So, when I tell people about my job I get a lot of blank stares. “You mean, you take photos of chocolates all day?” And report about them, yes. Believe me it’s not all fun and games. There are days where I get hung up on. The classic telemarketer response comes to mind, we are not interested. I am not a telemarketer thank you very much and it’s free advertising for your company. Welcome to the 21^st century geez! I shouldn’t have to sell the concept, but there are days where I am selling the concept. Again, free advertising. But enough of the Debbie downer. Believe me I am counting my blessings. Who doesn’t love chocolates. Looking at it, talking about it, eating it. It’s a happy business. Who wouldn’t be happy working with chocolate all day. I am stuffed with truffles of a variety of flavours from the traditional to the all out wacky. (see the meat chocolate movement). So, essentially I have kicked my gym workings into overdrive and besides a lovely chocolatier at Simone Marie Belgium Chocolate told me chocolate doesn’t make you fat. Lord gotta love her! It’s an exciting and fast paced project. I am illuminated working on it from the ground up and seeing it grow. In this media savvy world, you are no body without an iphone app. And thank heaven, otherwise I would be out of work

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Money Really Does Grow On Trees

I seem to have a knack for killing plants. That green thumb of my mothers never quite passed down to me. However, I do have one plant that is flourishing- my money tree! It's still growing, not like the orchid that shrivelled up and retreated from my house. This money tree got me thinking... does money grow on trees. Well I am happy to report it does! Well, it did. Cacao beans were once used as currency by the Aztecs and Mayans. These golden coins, grow in the cacao pods, that are the fruit of the cacao tree. So, money really does grow on trees! When Christopher Columbus first explored the Honduran Coast and took some cacao beans as souvenirs, he had no idea what they were. When a few spilled out of his pocket, a few of the Native Mayans eyes widened and made a quick grab for the beans. I am sure this seemed like an odd thing to do at the time. But it would have been the equivalent of throwing $20 bills into a city street. You better believe I would be all over that.

So, it's settled. Money really does grow on trees. Just not in North America. I wonder what would happen if I paid for my morning coffee, confidently with a handful of cacao beans?