K Chocolatier

Another decadent afternoon. Chris Baker called this morning to convince me to lunch with him by dangling stories like candy in front of a kid (i.e., "I think I'm quitting my new job of eight days and moving to Vegas"). He even upped the stakes by saying he looked especially hot. Oh, that Chris. I agreed to meet him (and called SK to meet us) at Le Pain Quotidien, Beverly Hills. They moved across the street, so no more "look for the yellow awning." Chris had the soup of the day, red bean with vegetable, and roasted turkey tartine (with pesto). SK had the curry chicken with cranberry chutney, and I, for once, ordered what everyone else wish they had. I had the quiche Lorraine, which was perfectly brown on top and oozed with French cheese and bits of ham, plated next to a mesclun salad. Chris did look adorable and his stories a delight, but the quiche Lorraine made the trip worthwhile.

But it gets better. After lunch, SK & I stepped next door to K Chocolatier and visited the fame Diane Krön who was Jacqueline Kennedy's personal chocolatier and whose husband, Tom, invented chocolate covered strawberries. Looking at the 150 sq ft. retail shop, she spared no detail in creating a home for her chocolates. The presentation and package design were exquisite as her warm service and stories, told only as a veteran could. Her passion for chocolate exuded as we learned that she has relinquished all control of her franchises and only maintains this one store. We sampled marzipan chocolates and fresh made truffles before walking out with a lighter pocketbook. Delightful!