Sweet Treats Week continues in Kelly’s Kitchen, and I feel very fortunate to have had a few minutes to talk with our guest, one of the authors of “Raising the Bar-The Future of Fine Chocolate.” Jim Eber has given me a newfound appreciation for not chocolate itself, but how it is created. From the fine flavor cacao tree to the hand made, artisanal treats in my favorite chocolate shop it’s an epic journey!  Jim Eber co-authored the book along with Pam Williams, and joined me for an enlightening chocolate chat. The book is not about the history of chocolate, but rather a look at its’ future. According to Jim what comprises our high end chocolate supply is what’s close to becoming a thing of the past.

   That itself is hard to imagine, but face it. We are a nation of chocoholics, and if demand exceeds supply, there’s going to be a lot of unhappy people out there. As Jim told me, the problem is not with our personal consumption, it’s about what is being done to the trees that supply the very fine flavor cacao; so many are being replaced by trees that do not have the same fine flavor, but are more disease resistant hybrids and clones.

   But the authors haven’t forgotten the fun side of chocolate, what Jim describes as “the yummy side.”  I could have talked with Jim for hours about his passion for chocolate and his work with the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative.  Intrigued? If you want to see the future of chocolate remain bright, Jim has a few suggestions to get and stay involved with the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, which launched the Initiative. And of course, when I asked Jim what his favorite chocolate is, I didn't hear about a candy bar!

   Jim and Pam talked with the world’s top chocolate experts for the book and it’s an interesting read. It’s well worth the time to listen to our whole interview, and for the person in your life with a passion for what so many of us cannot possibly live without the book would be a great gift. Coming up next for Sweet Treats Week in Kelly's Kitchen, it's a visit to The Candy Bar in downtown Dunedin!

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

 “My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.”  - Dave Barry