Perugina 51% dark chocolate and 70% dark chocolate, and a week of small mishaps

It's been a week of minor mishaps. Only very minor, you understand, but just enough to make me aware of the amusing, bumpy, and at times inexplicable nature of modern life.

A solution for modern life.

I discovered that my work phone was no longer ringing audibly when someone rang me. I had thought I was missing a surprising number of calls - instead, I was just not hearing the calls. Quite a nice arrangement, except for needing to call everyone back myself.


I tried to apply for new Australian and British passports in my new married name, and failed dismally the first time around. It doesn't help that Australia and Britain have opposing requirements for certain things. It also didn't help that we didn't even have our official marriage certificate - it turns out the one you're given on the day is just pretend!

I seemed to interpret my passport failure as far more significant than it actually was, leading me to drive home that day in tears. I really don't cope well with being told I've done anything wrong, even if it is just filling out a form.

I couldn't get a statistical model to converge. I still can't. I'm ignoring it, which is unlikely to solve the problem.

My work emails are out of control. I'm ignoring that problem too.

I've been trying to liaise with a car hire company for a tentative trip later in the year (that is good) and they are doing a very good job of answering questions that are similar to the ones I'm asking, but not actually the ones I'm asking. If you ever want to frustrate someone, that's a good way to go about it.

As I said, all minor. Nothing that a bit of time won't fix, and nothing even remotely catastrophic. I am, though, rather glad that it is the weekend.

I am also glad that during weeks like this, there are edible ways to make small-scale challenges fade away.

This chocolate is one such way.

Perugina is the brand that makes Baci chocolates, which I am told used to be vegan, but aren't anymore. They also make a range of 100g chocolate blocks. Sadly, as with so many things, the ultimate ownership of Perugina is now a level higher, with Nestle owning the company. I don't have a problem with Nestle per se, but don't usually look to them for my chocolate options.

Spot the Nestle...

Nestle or no Nestle, I do really like these blocks. Both are dairy free and vegan, with the 'dark' chocolate having 51% cocoa and the 'extra dark' 70%. I am not sure I'd match those descriptions with those cocoa percentages, but let's leave that to one side. After all, Lindt calls 47% cocoa 'dark', and they add milk to boot.

The two blocks look near identical, but this is the 51% option.

The 51% cocoa chocolate is sweet in a way that is reminiscent of Easter egg chocolate. In case you take that as a criticism, I should clarify that it is ever so much better than Easter egg chocolate. Darker, obviously, and more chocolatey. Also less sickly, with subtle rather than cloying sweetness. It is like Easter egg chocolate grown up and dressed in a little black dress.

51% cocoa.

The 70% cocoa block is also slightly sweeter than average, and there is not a hint of bitterness to the chocolate. It made me think of espresso, and sitting in a sophisticated bar with dim lighting. I'm not sure I've ever been in a sophisticated bar with dim lighting, but if you want to conjure up the experience from your lounge room - this chocolate will do it for you.

70% cocoa.

These blocks are readily available at local independent supermarkets in Western Australia, and I can see them remaining in my rotation as a reliable dark chocolate option. Now I just need Perugina to give me a dark chilli block, and all will be well with the world...

Any challenges for you last week, small or large scale?
Have you tried these chocolates?

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