My mother was addicted to chocolate, so I’m pretty sure my habit started in utereo.
This semi-sweet story starts awhile after that—in my twenties when I interviewed Mel Brooks which led to a whirlwind courtship, marriage and a move from Miami to Los Angeles.
Arriving in LA I barely knew anyone; could barely find my way around the city.
And then, just a few miles from my door, I discovered something that made my adjustment to California infinitely smoother– and sweeter.
It was a tiny little shop in the heart of Beverly Hills.
In those days before anyone thought of adding things like sea salt, bacon and chili –Kron’s Chocolatier was the epitome of elite chocolate. Creative combinations (my favorite was fresh orange sections dipped in chocolate); they also made clever items out of chocolate— women’s torsos, legs, records (before CD’s or iPods); telephones (before cellphones). This is starting to make me feel old.
Best of all, they offered free samples.
This was the obvious place to go for a gift for my new husband.
They sold what they called chocolate telegrams (another relic from the past) –personalized messages inscribed on a big slab of chocolate which came in a little wooden box.
I ordered one and brought it home. My agenda was crystal clear in the message I wrote: “In honor of your wedding you have my permission to eat this.”
I couldn’t wait to eat it give it to him.
Anyone who knows me, knows that around me, chocolate has a very short shelf life. Whatever the quantity, it never rarely lasts longer than 24 hours. And anyone who knows me also knows about my clutter; I’m sentimental and I save everything. In fact, chocolate is the ONLY thing that I don’t save.
My ex-husband was the opposite—not a clutterer, not a saver.
So go figure.
I wanted to eat it; he wanted to save it–out of sentiment.
He put the wooden box in the refrigerator.
Can you even imagine the torture?
It sat there. It called me even with the refrigerator door closed.
Yet even in my worst moments of chocolate desperation, I NEVER violated the sanctity of that chocolate.
It was still there, way in the back of the refrigerator when we got divorced almost 15 years later. If I’d thought about it, I would definitely have eaten it considered eating it. But in the blur of work, remarriage and moving out of LA with the kids, I forgot all about it.
Howard didn’t. He had custody of the telegram. And he kept it.
For 35 years.
It was still in his freezer last winter, when he died.
Over the months since, our kids had to pack up everything in his house. And at the end of this sad experience was something sweet.
It was the only thing left that hadn’t been moved or stored or given away.
None of us could bear to part with it.
So I packed it in a cooler and brought it home to Carmel– where it’s now in our freezer– hopefully for another 35 years. ( My husband V lacks a true appreciation for chocolate, but fortunately he has a deep appreciation of my relationship with Howard. )
And that was supposed to be the end of this story.
But when I decided to write about it, I was down in LA. Of course I knew Kron’s had been sold years ago; and the store in Beverly Hills was gone. But out of curiosity I googled it; wondering if I could link to an old article.
And that’s how I discovered that Diane Kron had re-opened the business under the name K Chocolatier--with stores in Malibu, New York, and in Beverly Hills right across the street from where it used to be. Simona, who works there, promised to tell Diane my story about the telegram that’s been saved for 35 years.
I know this because I drove over within minutes of learning it was there.
They still make the telegrams, (too bad my birthday just went by); and lots of new items; the merchandise is even more beautiful than it was and just as delicious; you can order by phone and if you’re lucky enough to live nearby, they still give free samples.
I realize this post sounds like a commercial; but honestly, I have nothing to gain (except the calories). As a chocoholic, I love to pass it forward and share my sources, although I refuse don’t like to share my chocolate.
Which reminds me of Howard, who had a funny line for everything, and always used to say: “Darryle would give you the clothes off her back; but if it’s chocolate, she’ll fight you to the death.”
Chloe says
It touches my heart that you wrote so lovingly of your ex-husband. That telegram must have meant something to him to have kept it, even through a divorce.
I now imagine it being handed down, generation to generation, because who could ever throw it out?
mindy says
So enjoyed reading this, since chocolate is (well, was, but always “is”) my life. I can really identify with freezing treats you don’t want to give up. Trying to resurrect my chocolate business after relocating has been tough, so it has taken a back seat to writing and editing these days. But not a day goes by when I don’t miss it…and think about it…and miss it. I always have at least 25 lbs. of chocolate in my house, so come on by when the urge strikes. (And we can check what’s in the freezer too.) BTW, I remember the huge, thick chocolate letters that Kron’s used to sell. Do they still have them?
Anne (@notasupermom) says
This is sweet, in more ways than one.
V says
D/
After reading your piece this morning, I called to Kron’s. I thought it might be sweet ( couldn’t resist ) to reprise the chocolate telegram – but this time from me to you. Alas, when I spoke to Diane Kron, she said that the new icings of today simply don’t travel … that’s the bad news. The good news is that Diane herself seems has a heart of gooey chocolate. It melted at my recounting the story of your chocolate telegram to Howard and its amazing 35 year history ( Diane said that it would have been her who did the icing on your gift way back then ). She asked for our address because she insisted on putting together a sampler package for you . I didn’t even try to tell her that this gesture wasn’t necessary. I knew that if you ever found out that I had rebuffed Diane’s largesse that it would be virtually impossible for you to forgive me. Best of all, when Diane’s gift arrives, the morsels it contains get to go in your mouth, not the freezer.
Love,
V/
Molly Campbell says
Wait–you were married to Mel Brooks?
Darryle Pollack says
Thanks Chloe; funny about handing it down generation to generation, I can just imagine it living in someone’s freezer for a hundred years! haha. I sure won’t be the one to throw it out!
Darryle Pollack says
Aha, I LOVE discovering another chocoholic. I can’t imagine having a chocolate business–I would eat all my supplies. I hope you’re kidding about having 25 lbs around all the time.
The original Kron’s was sold years ago and it’s possible they still sell the big letters wherever they have stores,, I remember them too. But my all time favorite was the orange slices and apparently K’s in Beverly Hills still makes those. That will be my first stop next time I’m down in Los Angeles.
Thanks so much for commenting.
Darryle Pollack says
Thank you Anne! It really is.
Darryle Pollack says
You are the sweetest husband for supporting my chocolate habit.
And I feel terrible that I’m just answering this comment almost a week after you wrote it– although I feel silly trying to answer it since it’s old history, your comment did inspire a post of its own:
http://blog.darrylepollack.com/2012/09/shamed-by-chocolate/
Darryle Pollack says
NO I wasn’t married to Mel, but thanks to him I met my first husband; it’s a great story:
http://blog.darrylepollack.com/2008/11/fate-and-the-fontainebleau/
Thanks, Molly, for commenting, look forward to meeting you.