I'll bring some of the best chocolate I have tasted, from the South Australian company Haighs. There is something for everyone - liqueur filled chocs, berry fruit balls, peppermint chocolate frogs, chocolate truffles, just tell me what you'd like. And I'll bring a bit more shiraz, perhaps from the Barossa Valley this time - what the heck, it's red and it goes with chocolate.

I was going to bring Love Story but since that is already spoken for, I'll bring Cross Stitch aka Outlander. I can then use Jamie Fraser for my virtual date *VBG*

Froniga, since you're going to Switzerland anyway, could you please bring me some Lindt chocs? Vee, some soft centers from Charbonnel et Walker? West Coast USA, some See's? And Astrokath is bringing Jamie? My goodness! I can hardly wait! Guess I'll be forced to bring Rhett Butler.

Carolynlouky --

No need to go to Switzerland for Lindt chocolates. They're quite freely available here in Canada!

I'm not sure who to bring to this shindig. Irene Adler comes to mind as well as Scarlett O'Hara but if someone's bringing Rhett, might that not be a problem?

No -- I think I know who I'll bring. I'll bring Ms Moneypenny!

Since this is a fantasy Valentine Party and I can be greedy and indulge myself, I'm bringing an entourage of escorts, all male characters who have delighted me in the past. But you will all have to guess who they are! I'll give you a few hints when the day arrives. And I'm coming in costume too although I haven't quite decided the outfit yet...
I think I'll bring flowers because I'm a better gardener than cook.

We can get Lindt here, too, but there is just something about having it come from Switzerland. One thing, they don't print that pesky fat gram info on the labels.

carolyn, I'll be happy to bring the Charbonnel and Walker (though I have never tasted it). Are you familiar with Thorton's chocolates? I'll bring a few virtual boxes to add to the pile. I used to enjoy Black Magic made by the much missed York firm of Rowntree (taken over by Nestles). They are still made, but to a much sweeter recipe and not worth eating even one a day!

"And all because the lady loves..... Black Magic"....

Vee - could you please bring some Milk Tray boxes of choccies? And a couple of Dairy Milks?

Hmmm - DH makes some killer double chocolate oatmeal cookies, as well as some amazing chocolate tortes (my favorite has a layer of raspberries in it...) but since I'm not the cook, I can at least bring Godiva Truffles in the pretty gold box....

I'd have to wonder about Aragorn, but then again, he might sing the Lay of Beren and Luthien....might be pretty romantic, if we could understand elvish. Otherwise, Lymond, from Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, would fit the bill as erudite, swashbuckling in kind of a reluctant hero way, and certainly handsome....

Having recently re-read Jane Eyre, I might just have to bring that -- kept dabbing the eyes in the last chapter....

And for attire, well, with all these goodies, I think I'd better do something loose fitting rather than slinky!!! But Black Velour no matter what the style. Nice, soft and cozy.

take care, litlbit

Carolyn, will you permit me to bring the white chocolate cake from your lovely recipe collection? Rhianna (no 2 daughter) baked it for us, and it didn't rise quite properly - but the non-risen bits were the best...

Just an update-I'm cleaning the mansion as fast as I can-and having extra ovens and fridges moved in for last minute warming and chilling-the champers arrive this weekend by boat (oh, did I mention that the mansion is on an island?
Be at the dock around 5 p.m.-it's an hour boatride-but a beautiful trip. For seasick-ers, there is a heliport-but you'll need your own heli!)
Costumes are a great idea-bring a wrap for the boat-and guests are definitely welcome.

"The non-risen bits were the best" is hilarious. Bring it on! It sounds like large caftans all around for attire with all the desserts and chocolates.

Yes, I've eaten Thornton's. In fact, last fall I bought a variety box of their mints and ate from it for supper the night I got there, jet lagged and tired from walking up and down Oxford Street. Someone said Bendicks is better, but I'm not sure I could stand it if so. Then there's Cadbury Fruit & Nut bars.

I'm not sure I can wait until next week.

Since it's February, surely we'll have a romantic fire going, won't we? I'll bring some southern fatwood to add.

Vee or someone, could you also bring some of those Cadbury chocolate bars with various fruit flavors that I lived on in London in the early Sixties? ;-)

actually, the island climate is temperate, but there is a pleasant chill in the air in the evening this time of year. There will be fires both inside and out-we have a romantic fire-ring on a cliff overlooking the ocean, as well as fireplaces in many of the rooms. Southern fatwood would be lovely-we sometimes use applewood as well.
Should we mull some wine?

I think I will bring some of our Finger Lakes iced wine which goes very well with chocolates. If you've never tasted it, it's to die for. My favorite chocolate is Cadbury's so I hope there will be lots! I still have to decide on my book and my "date". It sounds like a fantastic party. I can't wait!

My date will be Bruce from Forever Amber (he is the kind of bad guy that I always go for) and I will bring that book because it certainly made a lasting impression on me.

Now, if I could only cook! I will go through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook and find some absolutely delicious, impossible-for-me-to-make, dessert.

Pam53- I "came of age" , drinking-wise, in the Finger Lakes area - I LOVE late harvest wines, esp Reislings. I have very fond memories of going strawberry picking and then stopping off at some wineries, and finishing the day at a little italian bakery in Watkins Glen that had wonderful cannoli's. I wonder if it's still there - this goes back 25 years or so...wow. Thanks for mentioning this, you "took me back"!

litlbit

Cece, I adore mulled wine, especially in front of a roaring fire. I've also ordered some smoked salmon from Scotland, which I love as a luxury winter treat.

I've decided to bring along 2 romantic dates, from 2 very different times in history. Both seem quite "gallant", IMO. Should I reveal them now, or wait until later?

at the rate this thread is filling up, we'll start a new "reveal all" thread on Valentine's Day-so keep them secret for now!
Half the fun of parties is in the planning, don't you think?
The half-gross of candles arrived today. reds and pinks, of course. Candlelight is so flattering, don't you find?

Cece, we should have roses, don't you think? I'll just pop out to my imaginary green house and assemble a few bouquets. Pink and white with trailing ivy for some of the tables perhaps, and a bouquet of two dozen deep red ones for the hostess!

Cece I am assuming you have a small but perfectly equipped cinema at your palatial yet homely mansion as I hope to bring a copy of an old (1945) but favourite b&w British film Brief Encounter. If you are not familiar with this movie you may enjoy it for its understated 'romance' (no naked writhings), its powerful use of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and the wonderful 'clipped' English accents and I dare anyone from the US not to understand every word!
I will provide the hankies.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Clip from Brief Encounter

For the guys at the party, I can try to bring a copy of a not-so-old movie that is also (kind of) romantic. True Romance may not be your run-of-the-mill romantic story but it is romantic, in a twisted, Quentin Tarantino kind of way. And a lot of guys would probably enjoy it as well.

Of course, the women may try to lynch me if I attempt this. ;-)

of course there's a cinema room-and Brief Encounter is a perfect choice.
True Romance now...you guys can go down to the rumpus room in the basement and use the DVD player

roses-how lovely!

I'd like to attend as well, although I haven't been posting much lately. I'll bring my father-in-law's pumpkin chocolate cake. It sounds strange, but is so very delicious! Pam53 and littlebit, iced wine sounds quite tasty. I'm still homesick for that area, so that may help ease my homesickness some. Hmmmm, maybe I should bring my grape pie instead, I make a pretty good grape pie too!

As for books....perhaps I'll bring Bridges of Madison County (ducking as rotten tomatoes and eggs fly at me in a wave!). Only kidding of course! I think I will bring Tryst, a ghostly love story by Elspeth Thane. And for my guest, Brother Cadfael from The series by Ellis Peters, not because he's a romantic figure, but because he's such an interesting person who just happens to help foster love matches.

Great idea to bring flicks. I will bring "French Kiss" with Kevin Kline, francophile that I am.

BTW, I hope I won't be late: I've been having serious car problems recently.....:-(

Rouan, never having heard of either Grape Pie or Chocolate Pumpkin Cake, I'd love to try both.

Woodnymph, if you share Kevin Kline, I'll share Alan Rickman. For I intend to bring "Truly, Madly, Deeply."

oops! Upon reading back through my post, I see I wrote my author's first name wrong....it's Elswyth, not Elspeth Thane.

chris in the valley, you'll enjoy both desserts! Grape pie is a specialty of the Finger Lakes region of New York. In fact, in September, the village of Naples (south end of Canandaigua Lake) has a Grape Festival every year. There are artisans, food vendors and the usual sort of entertainment that go along with arts and crafts festivals, but this one is unique in that the locals vie for whoever makes the best grape pie. One will find booths set up all over the village with grape pies, grape kuchens and sundry other grape desserts for sale. I got my recipe years ago, when I first moved to that area. It took me over 10 years to finally make one, and now I'm hooked. I make several each fall and freeze them for use during the rest of the year. (and I will share the recipe if anyone wants it, just email me and I will send it to you)

Your mention of True Romance got me thinking of a wonderful little film staring Laurence Olivier called Little Romance. Its a film about young love, and its one of the most perfect love stories I have ever seen .

cc, this party sounds fabulous! I may just have to make an extra batch of my brownies, and maybe some popcorn along to munch while watching the movies.

woodnymph, my husband took me and our very good friend Mary to see that movie. By the end he had stereophonic crying (and he even admited to having moist eyes.) As far as Rickman versus Klein, I dunno - both of the are pretty wonderful to me.

But then I have the perfect man, so I'd just tell them to find someone else - my DH gave me my Valentine present this morning. A vase full of red silk roses, with a Borders gift card attached to each. Some men give flowers, others give jewlery, others give candy - mine gives me my hearts desire, more books!

Cindy

Thanks for the sea-sickness warning! I shall get Marcia Muller's Hy Ripinsky to chopper me over and we shall bring large tubs of sorbet to refresh our palates after all the sweet desserts and chocolates!
I am coming in a Regency dress to show off my magnificent shoulders and cleavage also it hides my lack of a waist...
My partner is Freddie from Georgette Heyer's Cotillion. Not one of her usual heroes but very good at parties and looking after a lady. He dances well too.
My romantic book choice is Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle and Sweet Charity for the film show. Wasn't she named Charity Hope Valentine?
So looking forward to the party, see you all there.

Cece I have taken the precaution of hiring a Hercules transport plane for the journey to you secluded mansion. I hope the sand on your romantic stretch of beach will beable to carry the weight, much of it made up of vast crates of chocs for you all.
I must say most of you are very modest in your requests for 'Cadbury's', it is considered pretty 'bog-standard' here.
Carolyn, have any of you tried 'Green & Blacks' choc? It is a 'free trade' organic make and does have some interesting flavours.

Here is a link that might be useful: Green and Blacks choccy

veer, its because there is a difference for some reason between whats sold everywhere in those tube machines, and whats sold here. The latter just doesn't compare (tho I don't refuse it when its around :)

Cindy

Cindy, I adored "A Little Romance." Wish I'd thought of it first! ;-)

I wonder if we in the US put bizarre chemicals in our chocolate (as we do with so much else!). If so, that might possibly make the flavors here inferior to those across the pond....

No, I haven't encountered green and black chocs. Where shall I look?

As I understand it, the difference between European and U.S. chocolate is the quality and/or amount of the butter. Hershey makes Cadbury for the States, and there is simply no comparison between it and what is sold in Britain. I think some of you have said the Canadian variety is better, too? Same thing, I would guess.

I go for a cholesterol check on Friday, so I'm trying to lay off this week. If DH turns up with chocolates on the 14th, I'm planning not to open it until after the test!

carol, that makes sense. And I am glad to hear that the Canadian type is similar to the English type - I will be in Quebec this summer for a few weeks, and plan to indulge!

Interesting story about Hershey's chocs versus Wilbur's (they make the Godiva chocs at least for the US market, and their very own lovely line as well)
According to my daughter's basketball coach's husband who works for Wilbur's, during WW II, when refrigeration wasn't what it is now, what with repairs being delayed and transportation a bit of a problem, Hershey's occasionally had trouble with milk for the milk chocolate being almost on the turn when it got to the factory. Still usable though, and as they were going full-tilt to produce enough choc for the troops overseas, they used it. This imparted to the choc a distinct, slightly tangy taste-not unpleasant, but definitely distinct. When the soldiers came home, production was not as frantic and refrigeration had improved, and the taste of the milk chocolate Hershey's bar changed-until the soldiers complained that it wasn't the "taste of home" they had come to love while serving. So Hershey's artificially reinstated the slight tang in the milk chocolate bar.
I'm a seriously dark choc fan myself.

The reason I am fond of Aussie chocolate is the extra cocoa butter in it, which raises the melting temperature to cope with our climate.
The spin off from this, which I like, is that the chocolate melts more slowly in your mouth too. I love the taste of Swiss chocolate, but you pop it in and poof!, it's gone *g*

>So Hershey's artificially reinstated the slight tang in the milk chocolate bar.

Hee, interesting. Probably explains why I prefer a Hershey bar over other American candy bars

>I'm a seriously dark choc fan myself.

Oh yes, the darker the better

astro, too bad they don't market that here. We could use it. Last fall when it was still 100+ degrees, there was a sign on the candy vending machine at school 'if its chocolate, buy at your own risk', coz it generally would be in various stages of melt.

Since we have FINALLY gotten some lovely snow, I'm tempted-maybe the virtual mansion will be moved to a lovely, snow-covered forest, and we'll all be carried there in sleighs heaped with fur rugs-or heavy wool ones if you'd rather. Velvets, heavy satin, cashmere-the mind boggles.

ccrdmrbks --

I'll take bearskins. In heavy cold weather, I've always wanted to try out bearskins. Leather's not bad but wow. Bearskins .......

For the women, I'd recommend some nice pashmina shawls if not pashmina blankets. Oh, and let's not forget the hot apple toddies!

What is pulling the sleighs? Reindeer? I'm bringing along a Samoyed (arctic furry dog) for warmth.

I fell in love once with a man wearing a bearskin hat (including the bear head) and a tuxedo. Skiing on New Year's Day. Turned out I'm met him the previous summer when he was wearing a centurion's outfit at a toga party.

Chris-that's a first line for the ages! You'll tell the rest of the story tomorrow, right?

Yes, I was wondering if she was going to go on to tell us anything about a bearskin rug.

OHHhhhh, this is sounding better all the time....but yes, Chris, you'd better fill us in on this character!!

Count me in for the dark chocolate...(altho' when it get up to about 70-75% cocoa, it's a little bitter for me...)

I tasted some lovely ports this past week that would be heavenly with dark chocolate...

(an aside -- we tease DS about being a foundling, because he's the only one in the family who really just doesn't like chocolate...)

this is a far better celebration that what I'll get at home!

take care
litlbit

I hope there is still room on whatever transport is whisking us away to wherever we are going - I'm back online and ready to join the party. I have no date, so I might bring my big cat, Tom. I will have some chocolate lava cake and several bars of my favorite organic chocolate, Chocolove (it has love poems inside the wrapper). I will bring Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flag and Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen. Both books contained very unusual and unlikely but very touching romances.

Siobhan,

Chocolate lava cake. Hmmm, it sounds quite interesting! Care to share the recipe? :)

Oh, and your date, Tom. Does he like to be cuddled? Will you be willing to share him for cuddles? I'm a sucker for a cuddly cat! lol

I...um....make it from a mix. (Hangs head in shame.) It's really good though!

Tom loves cuddles, is very friendly and likes everyone he meets. He has very silky fur too. He is, however, very large and can make one's legs fall asleep when he lies on one's lap.

Here I am ready for the party-am I the first to arrive? I brought my date-Inspector Lyndley from E. George's series. My movie is Shadowlands, so very romantic....and the book-hmmmm......I forgot it whilst trying to carry all of the ice wine and with visions of the chocolates dancing in my head. Have you all ever noticed that we seem to get even more excited about food than books? hee!hee!

Just checking in -- I'm enroute with my date and we're on horseback. The weather keeps changing and my saddlebags are now stuffed with winter gear. (Carolyn -- how could you do this to us?!!)
Initially I was hoping to arrive with an entourage of favourite male characters, but it appears that most of them have already been claimed. Thank goodness for ________!
We'll see you tomorrow if we survive the frostbite.

I'm still preparing for this gala event. Honestly, what to wear? And who to bring? I did have a wicked thought this afternoon about having Ranger and Morelli as my escorts, but then thought better of it *VBG*. I've chosen someone else, and he should be arriving shortly.

Now to collect the roses, my dessert, and decide upon a book before it's time to go ...

Well, I'm sitting on a crate of chocs in the vast hold of the Hercules the RAF have kindly lent me. The pilot is just going through the final checks. My goodness the air crew is a good looking bunch, I may well bring them with me. I'm wearing a couple of furs over my fancy party dress and clutching my film cans.
See you all soon and bon voyage to the rest of you.