Do you know the Chocolate Guy, aka James Glass? He's just opened a new location on 3615 Walnut, where the old Steve Madden store used to be. With ambrosial chocolate-related confections like Chocolate Sausage, Chocolate T-Bone Steak and the notorious Naughty Chocolate Basket, it's hard to enter The Chocolate Guy without being enticed. So tell me about the Naughty Chocolate Basket. I've heard a good amount of buzz about this product.
[Laugh] People always ask about that one. It includes the Chocolate Body Frosting, the Chocolate Massage Oil, the Chocolate Milk Bath, and then some extra standard chocolate, just in case you need some chocolate to refuel.
Does anyone ever misinterpret the purpose of the Naughty Chocolate Basket?
I don't think so.
It's just to eat, right?
Of course. There hasn't really been any confusion about that yet, but we've only been in business for a year and a half. Some people have requested that we make the basket more naughty, but we can tailor the basket to the customer's individual request.
Has anyone ever made any particularly scandalous chocolate-related requests?
Oh sure. I've gotten requests for chocolate dog bones--
For the Naughty Chocolate Basket?
No, not for that. The other day someone ordered 5 chocolate carrots to give to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.
That's bizarre. I guess carrots are good...
[Laugh] He wanted 5 chocolate carrots because he couldn't afford the real karats yet, and he's going to propose to her on Valentine's Day.
What a fantastic proposal!
Yeah. Oops, I hope it's not for you.
No, I don't think so.
Good, I have to be careful about giving away the surprise.
Well I'll keep it on the DL. So are there any other amusing chocolate-related anecdotes?
Sure! I've had customers who come in and say things like... "you really are The Chocolate Guy!" Or ask me if they "can see how my chocolate tastes..." I guess because of my skin color.
Does that piss you off?
Oh no! I'm very spiritual. My spiritual beliefs are so strong that they allow me to have a sense of humor about everything. I mean it's chocolate, it's fun. If you're in this business you really have to be a child at heart. I love playing around with the different kinds of chocolate. I created the Chocolate Breakfast with Chocolate Steak and Eggs, and Chocolate T-bone Steak.
That's fabulous. I was wondering what that was. And it all just tastes like regular chocolate?
Yup.
Have you ever tried an idea that just completely didn't work?
The Chocolate French Toast was kind of a disaster. People saw it and didn't know what it was. Someone thought it was scrapple, or some kind of meat, basically everything except what it was intended to be. So we had to nix that idea.
What's been your biggest success so far?
The champagne-infused chocolate strawberries have been a very popular item.
Mmm, sounds tasty.
Oh yeah. I've even had people request that I put Cognac or Hennessey or something like that in it.
Ooh, do you do that?
No, not anymore because it actually doesn't taste good. I mean, you can't just stick anything you like inside a strawberry and expect to be a success!
So true. So do you have a personal favorite kind of chocolate?
[Laugh] Wow! [Laugh] That's like asking me which child I like best!
I take it you have a very deep and personal connection with your chocolate?
It's true. Man, these are my babies. I get pissed off if they're mistreated. I really don't know. I love fudge, I love the brownies, I really love my strawberries.
The champagne ones?
Oh yeah. Basically, I'm a chocoholic. I just really love chocolate. My friend once told me that "man can't live on chocolate but woman sure can," but I don't think that's true. I think that anyone can live on chocolate!
