Chocolate, Chocolate, Amazing Cleveland Chocolate

I LOVE chocolate.  I cannot stress this enough.  If you want to get me a present for any holiday, occasion, or just to say "thinking of you, thanking you, or just to say hi" then chocolate is the gift to give me.  My intern, Jackie Stripes, took me to a little place called Lilly Handmade Chocolate in Tremont several months back.  I am in love with chocolate all over again.  I have been there several times, but I will tell you about one particular visit.

 All rights reserved JMB 2011.  A small visual of JS's tie.

On Friday afternoon in celebration of Cleveland Beer Week, Jackie Stripes and I went to PUMPKIN A’ PALOOZA at Lilly Handmade Chocolates located at 761 Starkweather Ave. in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.  Owners Amanda & Joshua Montague hand made four of their chocolate creations to pair with four pumpkin beers.  The chocolates were phenomenal and the beers were great to taste side by side.  As I have mentioned previously, I love pumpkin beer, but having the opportunity to sample them without slugging down a whole bottle is priceless.  I did find my favorite pumpkin beer of the season at Lilly's: Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale.  Unfortunately, it was in short supply and I could not purchase an additional bottle to take home.


What? what? what? Do you ask?  Yes, Lilly also sells different fine craft beers and wines.  I try to stick with just chocolates since that's what makes my heart sing.  But the combo of chocolates and alcoholic beverages makes a man's gift giving job a lot easier, don't you think?

All rights reserved JMB 2011.

Lilly Handmade Chocolates is amazing.  Their little pieces of chocolates are a creation to see and taste.  Each is a combination of a different shape, color, and pattern.  Some of my favorites include: After Midnight (bitter stout and dark chocolate), Cinnabunny (Vietnamese cinnamon, ground ginger, clover honey, dark chocolate), and Shweetie Pie (vanilla bean butter caramel, roasted almonds, white chocolate).  I am so glad I do not live in Tremont, because I would be there all the time.  I plan to buy my mother-in-law a small sampler for Christmas...just so I can be justified buying one for myself!