Science has finally proven it–chocolate is better than sex (or at least, better than kissing!).  This long-debated question was explored in a BBC News article where the stimulation affects by the two different substances was tested. The volunteers, all aged in their 20s, had electrodes attached to their scalps and wore heart monitors during two tests.

In the first test, volunteers had to simply let chocolate melt on their tongues while their brain reactions were recordered.  In the second test, they had to kiss their partners while the same brain activity was measured. The researchers compared their resting heart rates with those during the chocolate and kissing tests and found that chocolate had a longer and stronger affect on raising a person’s heart rate than a kiss.

An even more interesting finding was that although women are generally thought to be bigger fans of chocolate than men, both sexes had the same reactions to chocolate during the tests. 

That’s not the only way chocolate wins out over sex.  There are 307 recipes called “Better Than Sex Cake” at Cooks.com alone. Of course if you prefer cookies, here is a better than sex cookie recipe. 

In addition, chocolate is good for your brain. An article at CNN.com cites a study at Wheeling Jesuit University (West Virginia) that indicates that chocolate can improve “memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills”.  Yet having sex “on the brain” has the exact opposite effects.  It causes forgetfulness, distraction, and the inability to think clearly. 

Best of all, chocolate is an aphrodisiac, so if you choose chocolate over sex you may still end up with both (a solution we highly recommend).  To celebrate these findings, and our 5th anniversary in the bon bon business, we continue our series of Top 5 lists with the Top 5 Reasons Why Chocolate is Better than Sex:

5.  You can have chocolate on desk during working hours without upsetting your co-workers.

4.     You can make chocolate last as long as you want it to.

3.     Good chocolate is easy to find.  (You’re already on our site!)

2.    With chocolate, there’s no need to fake it.

1.   And finally, with chocolate, you’re never disappointed when you open the wrapper.

Eddie Valiant: Seriously, what do you see in that guy?

Jessica Rabbit: He makes me laugh. ~Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Although I am responsible for much of the ’entertaining’ in our duties as a South ‘n France duo, Pascal is the real comedian in the family.  He’s been making me laugh for nearly two decades.  And, our two-year-old nephew thinks he’s pretty funny too. 

Here are a couple of snapshots from a recent outing with our nephew, Carter, who came to visit for a weekend.  We went to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and then, we stopped in a locally-owned fast food establishment for a quick bite to eat (chicken nuggets and french fries were our nephew’s request du jour). 

One of my favorite stories about Carter is his own quick wit.  Although Carter lives in Buffalo, and we only get to see him a few times a year, his Uncle Pascal has definitely made an impression:

One day, he was eating yogurt at home in his high chair.  He kept shoveling a spoonfuls into his mouth and then opening wide to say “Aaaaaaaah”. 

“Don’t do that!”, said his mother.  But, he did it again.  “Carter, stop that”, she implored.  But he didn’t stop.  After a third mouthful-o’-yogurt display, his mother said:  “Carter, that is rude, and you shouldn’t be doing it.  Who taught you how to do that, anyhow?” 

Carter didn’t miss a beat:  “Pascal!!!”, he replied, while grinning enthusiastically.  Although Pascal did not teach Carter how to “do that”, it’s absolutely in character.  At the tender age of two, Carter has perfectly pegged Pascal.

For Christmas, we gave Carter a t-shirt that says:  “My Goal?  To Be As Cool as My Uncle”.  Naturally, after seeing Pascal play with his food, Carter had to give it a try too.  As for me, I’m happy to have not just one funny Valentine, but two!

There’s nothing like a great love story.  I enjoy reading the New York Times wedding announcements, even though I’ve never known a single person featured therein.  I even own a book (that I bought long before I was married) called  How We Met: Chance Encounters and Other True Love Stories of Real-Life Couples.  And, of course, there is my own love story with Pascal, one I’ve told to countless audiences at Bon Bon Parties and public speaking events.

Whenever I meet a new couple, I love to ask:  “So, how did you meet?”  Recently, I met a bride-to-be with a really cool love story.  Lorie was on a plane, flying home after her daughter’s wedding, when she struck up a conversation with the man in the seat right next to her.  Little did she know that man would become her husband.  Talk about love in the air!

Lorie was living in Texas at the time, but the charming airline passenger, a resident of California, was undeterred.  A week later, when he traveled to Texas on business, he called Lorie and asked to take her to dinner.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Eventually Lorie moved to California to be closer to her beau (he’s a film producer).  And recently, the couple moved to Wilmington, NC to be near Screen Gem Studios where said producer has a few projects in the works.

Pascal and I were thrilled to be a small part of their wedding celebration.  We provided bon bon favors for the Welcome Baskets placed in hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, and we hosted a Bon Bon Party for the bride and her girlfriends the evening before the wedding.

Here’s a shot of the happy bride (in white) with her two daughters, Ashley (left) and Amanda (right), the one whose wedding started it all….

One thing I love about my husband is that he’s always full of surprises.  He loves to garden.  So while I have authority over our interior spaces, the exterior is all his.  In years past, he has jealously guarded each and every bloom in his garden, insisting that they remain outdoors as a part of his magnificent creation. 

But this year, much to my surprise (and ongoing delight!), he has taken to bringing his blooms inside.

One morning, I arrived at my desk to discover a tiny bud vase of wildflowers and miniature roses, complete with rosemary and mint as green filler.  And, over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying beautiful bouquets of hydrangeas from plants at the far end of the garden (an area where I seldom venture). 

Since mon jardinier (so much more romantic than the English equivalent of ‘gardener’) has taken to this new habit of making my day with fresh floral bouquets, I thought you might like to share in my delight.  I hope you enjoy this photo (a virtual bouquet) that currently graces our entry way. 

Long after the flowers are gone, it will remind me to relish life’s little surprises.

I know that I just posted a blog about my nephew, but I couldn’t resist doing it again.  You see, Carter and his parents paid us a visit last week.  And now that he is old enough to chew (he’s got at least five or six teeth), his Mom said that he was ready to try his first bon bon.

We gave him a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bon Bon (still in its pink wrapper) and let him go at it with no interference from the adults.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I really don’t think I need to say anything more about what Carter thought of his first taste of Uncle Pascal’s handmade, hand-dipped gourmet chocolate confections:

I have a new camera.  A really cool, super nice, new camera.  I’m so lucky to have a great friend who just happens to be an amazing professional photographer.  So when it came to picking out a new camera, I left everything in her hands.  And, let’s just say that she hooked me up in style!

I experimented with my camera for the first time while on a trip to visit my nephew Carter who lives in Buffalo, NY now.  You may remember him as the cute little bon bon bundle who was my sidekick at last year’s Chocolate Festival.  Although my camera is sure to provide me with hours of fun, it’s not my favorite toy.  That title belongs to my little buddy, Carter. 

I got to take him for a walk (where we saw a dump truck and a live bunny rabbit!); I got to read him books; and much to his parents’ chagrin, I bought new batteries for all of his toys that make noise! (That’s what Aunties are supposed to do, n’est-ce pas?)  Pascal and I can’t wait for his next visit to Wilmington, which is just a few weeks away.  You can be sure that my camera will get another workout then.

Meanwhile, here are my first attempts at capturing fun-time with Carter on film (or digital cards, to be more precise).   Spring was in full bloom in Buffalo and Carter’s Nan and I took him outside to enjoy the flowers in his front yard.  I’m not sure if this is what photgraphers call flare (a good thing) or if it’s just me getting the exposure wrong (a bad thing), but I love this shot regardless:

While shopping, I found a toy gardening set that included a miniature watering can, a spade, a rake, a pail and kiddie gardening gloves.  I couldn’t resist buying it for Carter so he could get some practice at his Uncle Pascal’s favorite pasttime:

Carter is a really happy baby and he loves to ham it up for the camera.  He was very aware that he was modeling for his Auntie.  After each photo session, he would scoot over beside me to have me show him a preview of the photos I’d just taken on my camera’s screen.  He was very pleased with his modeling skills, and so was I:

This kid is a true daredevil!  He loves scary noises, climbing suspension bridges, being thrown in the air, and lots of splashing in the bathtub.

When I got home from the trip, my friend (who is also an Aunt) and I were discussing how spending time with our young nephews puts everything in perspective.  All of the stresses of running a business melt away, and we remember what’s truly important.  It’s that “take time to smell the roses” thing (or in Carter’s case, the tulips).

Looking for an instant mood lifter?  I’ve got two suggestions:  Treat yourself to a bon bon, or even better, hang out with a child.  There’s no better way to spend your day.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I love to play April Fool’s jokes.  I have managed to execute some great ones in the past.  Last year, the target was my Mom.  The joke was just one part of the many surprises we planned for her 60th birthday celebration.  Just a few days after Mom’s sixtieth birthday, Pascal turned 40. 

He spent the week of his fortieth birthday preparing for my mother’s 60^th  birthday extravaganza and hosting out-of-town guests.  Pascal was saintly—diligently cleaning, cooking, climbing 10-foot ladders, and answering to his wife’s many demands with nary a complaint.  Consequently, for Pascal, the big 4-0 passed with very little fanfare. 

So this year, I wanted to remind him that he is loved and appreciated and, well…one year older!  There was just one catch.  Pascal and I work together 24/7.  I wouldn’t be able to hide setting up for a big party, and the truth was I needed his help.  Eureka!  I had a plan.  His 41st birthday celebration could also double as a great April Fool’s joke.

I told Pascal that I had agreed to host a special party for one of our most loyal customers (whom we also count as a friend).  This meant that he would spend the entire day unknowingly preparing for his own party.  When 6:30 pm arrived, instead of greeting our customer’s guests, Pascal would be met by his friends.

Pascal had no idea I was up to another April Fool’s trick.  Here’s what he looked like when he turned around and saw his buddies standing there instead of our guests:

His first word was an expletive (and no, it wasn’t “Merde!”)  His confusion quickly turned to smiles, especially as he opened a bottle of his favorite cognac, Remy Martin.  He changed out of his chef’s coat and became a guest at his own party.  The theme was 40 + 1, so everybody brought one gag gift to help him celebrate.  The creativity was fantastic.  Some highlights included one French frog, one bottle of French wine, one Slim Jim (his favorite American snack); one gorgeous money tree (a hydrangea in full bloom), and even one job application to a pancake house in Leland (don’t ask!).

Pascal has a very special relationship with Mark, his friend from across the pond.  Mark calls Pascal “Frog”; Pascal calls Mark “Mr. Bean”.  I call this crazy duo “Frog and Bean”:

Since Pascal was having so much fun drinking cognac and visiting with his friends, Millie and I took over in the kitchen, making crepes for everyone.  Millie worked double duty, taking all of the photos, except this one, of course:

Pascal was truly surprised.  He didn’t suspect a thing.  As for me, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and enjoyed a secret satisfaction that I’d succeeded in foiling, fooling and suprising someone I love yet again.  Thanks to all of my co-conspirators who helped to create a memorable evening for our favorite Frenchman!

Trump Towers has nothing on us.  South ‘n France has ventured into the worlds of architecture and real estate.  Chocolate architecture, that is.  And coveted real estate at wedding dessert bars.  Recently, Jennifer of Salt Harbor Design asked us to create Bon Bon Towers for a creative and sophisticated bride with a unique vision for her special day.  To communicate what she was after, Jennifer sent over a mood board, a collection of inspirational photos that illustrate the look and tone the event should convey.

The mood board included a photo of a croquembouche, the traditional French wedding “cake”.  Not a cake at all, the croquembouche, (which comes from the French words croque-en-bouche, meaning ‘crunch in the mouth’) is a conically shaped tower of  cream puffs or profiteroles.  It can be decorated with spun sugar, caramel, or chocolates, flowers and ribbons.  You can also find croquembouches made of macaroons.  In addition to weddings, these show-stopping dessert towers can also be found at baptisms, and first communions.

 A croquembouche can also be referred to as a pièce montée (which means “assembled” or “mounted piece”.  What’s the difference?  Croquembouches are always inteded to be eaten.  Their counterparts, pièces montées, are often are merely decorative.  Although made of edible components (like marizpan, confectioner’s paste and spun sugar), a  pièce montée is meant to serve as a visual centerpiece, a type of food architecture. 

Here are our bon bons towers, which pay homage to the French croquembouche.  I wouldn’t classify them as pièces montées since they were definitely meant to be consumed.  In fact, photographer Millie Holloman assures us that not a single bon bon was left at the end of the night!  Look closely at this photo, and you will see that at least one bon bon has already been removed.

Want your own bon bon tower for an upcoming party?  It takes approximately 120-150 bon bons to create one tower.  Pricing starts at $275.  Call us for more details:  910-762-6882.

I love Victoria magazine, Jane Austen, Little Women, good manners, calling cards, petticoats and most things reminiscent of the 19th century.  Bon bons fit perfectly into this group of romantic, charming, idealistic things, and so I was not at all surprised (but quite delighted!) when I got a phone call last week from one of the authors of the blog The Corset Liberation Front.  Their tagline is:  Not Your Grandma’s 19th Century.

A reference to our bon bons and some delightfully romantic photos taken by Millie Holloman were included in the post, which was written as an old-fashioned advice column.  Here’s the dillemma of the young woman seeking advice:

Dear Aunt Fanny,

I find myself in the enviable, but perplexing position of receiving the attentions of two different gentlemen. For several months now, these gentlemen have been calling regularly every week—on different days, of course. This has been quite a pleasant arrangement, but unfortunately, both gentlemen have taken it into their heads to press their suits more vigorously and both have proposed marriage with the expectation of a speedy reply. My question, then, for you, dear Aunt Fanny, is however will I choose?

The first gentleman is a veritable titan of industry in our small town, who owns the local lumber mill. He has a fine house and is always dressed in the latest mode and most expensive fabrics. He also has a fine carriage and hosts entertainments that are very well received by all the best people. His cook is so fine, in fact, that almost everyone in town is willing to overlook his bursts of temper to sample his cook’s latest triumph.

The second gentleman has much smaller means and writes for our local newspaper. In appearance he is handsome, if somewhat more rumpled and less stylish than his rival for my affections. He has a house which could best be described as cozy and no carriage at all. He has never hosted a dinner party, but every week he brings me a box of carefully wrapped bon-bons and a love poem. Some of the poems quite make me blush and the bon-bons are so scrumptious they do not last the afternoon.

What would you do, Aunt Fanny? Which man would you give the key to your heart and the trust of your future?

To read Aunt Fanny’s reply, go to The Corset Liberation Front blog.  Do you agree with Aunt Fanny’s sage advice?  I sure do!

 

 

Hi Charlene,

I have a confession to make….

After bringing home that tin of South ‘n France Bon Bons, a special Valentine’s gift for my very deserving boyfriend, I couldn’t help but sit there and think: “I’ve got a whole tin of super delicious bon bon’s in my fridge, just waiting to be eaten!”

After wrestling with my conscience for over an hour, I decided to cut the shrink wrap, open a coconut bon bon (my favorite!) and pop it in my mouth. Like an addict, I felt like I was stealing something, but the flavor overrode any guilt I was feeling. Then I had to re-arrange the bon bons in the tin to make it look like there were only 15 originally (instead of 16) .

There….I feel much better now. I haven’t decided if I will tell my boyfriend of the coconut fatality or not.

Thank you!

Loyal Customer Turned Thief,

Anonymous