FT threads about chocolate are always welcome.

I second Angelina's in Paris for hot chocolate. Absolutely heavenly, even if you're not a hot chocolate fan. A cute place too, even if you're not a gilt and brocade fan.

I'm sitting here now with a little wooden chest of Scharffen Berger 5 gram squares, from 82% to 41% cacao. The 82% is not really bitter (just had anoather one to make sure) as are the baking chocolates and other economy dark chocolates like Trader Joe's (although Trader's carries some Valrhona.)

If you are near a Whole Foods and want to try some decent white chocolate, look for the El Rey bars. Good Venezuelan stuff.

7th ANNUAL CHOCOLATE SHOW --
NOVEMBER 11th to 14th, 2004 - NEW YORK

Friends don't let friends eat chocolate pasta, IMHO.