I decided to go on a diet, so I started researching diet programs that I thought would be appropriate for a woman who spends her days around vats of melted chocolates and freezers full of bon bons. It didn’t take me long to find this educational magnet from allposters.com. Can we say ‘love’? This will be my new mantra. Okay, maybe it’s not the best mantra for a girl who’s starting a diet, but I DO love it!

I also discovered The Fantasy Diet, which doesn’t sound half-bad. Here’s how it works: You eat a Collard Wrap while fantasizing that you’re really eating Death by Chocolate. Of course, I realize that diets don’t work, even if you are thick and tired of it. It’s all about lifestyle changes. In other words, you’ve got to be willing to go to great lengths to change your width.  So, here’s my first lifestyle change:
 
I wasn’t a big soda drinker until we started the bon bon business. In those early days, I would get extremely tired from our 18-hour-bon-bon-making marathons. So, I started drinking colas in the afternoon to boost my energy. I learned to love that afternoon pick-me-up – the crackle and pop of the fizz in my glass; the cool, refreshing taste. And I became an addict. Since then, I’ve tried a few times to break my afternoon sugar-caffeine habit, never lasting more than a week. But this time, I’m determined. I’ve replaced my cola drink, with Perrier. And with God as my witness, I’ll almost-never drink an afternoon pick-me-up cola again.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this puzzle to solve: How can a two-pound box of chocolates make a woman gain five pounds?

It’s difficult getting Pascal to smile in photos. He usually makes a face like this (above). When you implore him to smile, he cheekily responds: "But I am smiling…" This photo graces the cover of our company brochure with the caption; "South ‘n France Bon Bons, Wilmington’s Best-Kept-Secret". Some people see our brochure and ask Pascal why he isn’t smiling in the photo. Usually, he replies with a deadpan heavily accented: "I was so ‘appy, I forgot to smile." or "What are you talking about? That eez how ze French smile!"

The photo (above) was taken during a "Forrest Gump"-inspired photo shoot, and I believe that he was trying to stay in character. But, I do wish he’d show us his cute, mischievous smile more often. Our extraordinary photographer-friend Millie Holloman caught Pascal’s grin once (below) when he wasn’t paying attention! That’s much better, n’est’ce pas?

Pascal’s not the only one who doesn’t naturally mug for the camera; take a look at this site, Happiest People Ever, which shows photos of people who don’t look like they’re having much fun getting their picture taken. Ironically, it’s guaranteed to make you smile.

This week we’re playing in the kitchen, experimenting with new bon bon flavors. We promise that we’re not creating a chicken-flavored bon bon (!), but there is such a thing as Bon Bon Chicken. Available in many Chinese restaurants, Bon Bon Chicken is basically poached chicken cut into small pieces, and then drenched in a bath of spicy sauce. It’s topped with chopped scallions, chilies, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, a pinch of sugar, Sichuan peppercorn powder (and sometimes other mystery ingredients).  I found this photo on rasamalaysia.com, where the blogger ordered up this tasty dish in Chengdu, Sichuan for approximately US$1.50. The author declared it sinfully delicious and addictively spicy. To create Bon Bon Chicken at home, try this recipe from the Seattle Times.  

If you’re in New York City, you can find an entire restaurant called Bon Bon Chicken. Check out this odd review of the place by New York Magazine. The reviewer likens the dining experience to a visit to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. In the movie, there is a scene where Willy Wonka has geese that lay golden chocolate eggs.  But, I never knew he also raised chickens.

I bet our Coconut Bon Bon would be the perfect dessert after a plate of spicy Bon Bon Chicken. Anyone out there ever tried Bon Bon Chicken? If so, I’d love to hear about it…
 

I’m dating myself by giving this blog entry the title of the (mis)quote often attributed to Sally Field during her 1980 Oscar acceptance speech, but I think I know how she felt. We’ve just discovered that Talk, Inc., a public relations and marketing communications firm in North Carolina, really likes us! Debbie Elliot, President and Creative Director of the firm, listed South ‘n France Bon Bons in a "Things We Love" blog entry in February. Here’s what it said:

Debbie loves South ‘n France Bon Bons - Not only are they absolutely delicious hand-dipped chocolate bon bons made right here in Wilmington, but they are an excellent example of smart marketers. I’ve been delighted to see this company written up in many local media outlets and I’m constantly impressed with the attention to detail they give every aspect of their business. Bravo!

Wow, thanks, Debbie! I won’t bore you with my acceptance speech for this incredible honor, but I will share some of the best acceptance speeches ever given at the Oscars.  They have been excerpted from this article by Sharon Waxman that ran in The Washington Post:

"I accept this very gratefully for keeping my mouth shut for once," said Jane Wyman, accepting an Oscar in 1949 for playing a mute character in "Johnny Belinda." "I think I’ll do it again." And she sat down. 

"I was going to thank all the little people, but then I remembered I am the little people," deadpanned the diminutive composer Paul Williams in 1977 on receiving his Oscar for writing "Evergreen" with Barbra Streisand. 

Louise Fletcher, deeply moved on winning the Oscar for best supporting actress for her turn as cruel Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" said, "I’ve loved being hated by you."  In addition to saying she loved being hated, Louise Fletcher also thanked Jack Nicholson for making "being in a mental institution like being in a mental institution." (1976) 

Robert De Niro, accepting best actor for "Raging Bull," thanks Jake LaMotta, "even though he’s suing us." (1981) 

Steven Spielberg, for "Schindler’s List," after years of being passed over by the academy: "Oh, wow. This is the best drink of water after the longest drought of my life." (1994) 

Dianne Wiest, Best Supporting Actress for "Hannah and Her Sisters": "Gee, this isn’t like I imagined it would be in the bathtub." (1987)

Mickey Rooney, Honorary Oscar: "When I was 19 years old I was the number one star of the world for two years. When I was 40 nobody wanted me." (1983)

Maurice Jarre, accepting Best Score for "Passage to India," the year "Amadeus" won Best Picture: "I was lucky Mozart was not eligible this year." (1985)

And don’t forget that we like you too!  That’s why we’ve extended our Crazy Eights Sale until 08/08.  You can get 8 of our bon bons for just $8 until this Saturday (or while supplies last).  See our calendar for more details!

Recently I told you about the chocolate scratch-and-sniff stamps gracing letters and packages sent from France this summer.  Kit Kat in Japan has taken chocolate snail mail one step further; the company partnered with the Japanese Post office to create Kit Kat Mail, postcards with real Kit Kat bars inside the box. You see, Kit Kat translates as Kitto Katso in Japanese which means "surely win". And, it is tradition to send students good luck wishes before their very challenging entrance exams for higher education (think the SAT on steroids!). Kit Kat saw a correlation and an opportunity to sell a postcard product exclusively through the post office that could be mailed to students as an edible good luck charm. The idea proved incredibly popular, taking off with the public and winning the advertising firm that created the concept major kudos including the Media Grand Prix in Cannes. In response to its overwhelming success, Nestle has made Kit Kat Mail a permanent all-occasion product in Japan.

South ‘n France Bon Bons can be sent anywhere in the Continental US and they also make a great gift for any occasion. We currently ship our product exclusively via FedEx, but if the United States Post Office wishes to partner with us, we’re ready to talk. Especially if they’ll agree to decorate post offices around the country with the same flair the Japanese post offices sported during the Kit Kat promotion. Our tag line, Where Southern Flair Meets Savoir Faire, would take on a whole new meaning!