Learn to Make Chocolate in Your Own Home

The holiday gift rush has arrived. But if you dread the thought of braving the stampede at Macy's or Bloomie's, I have a solution for you, or at least the chocolate lovers on your gift list. How do you think your favorite chocoholics would react if you presented them with a gift of... homemade chocolate?

On Saturday, December 2 at 9:00 a.m., Jeff Pzena, owner of the CottonTree Lodge, and Clay Gordon, organizer of the Discover Chocolate Meetup, are offering a day-long "Learn To Make Chocolate In Your Own Home" workshop. They will cover all the fundamentals of making chocolate from raw cocoa beans, even including such topics as recipe development. You'll take home a finished 4oz chocolate bar and, hopefully, a lifetime of knowledge!

Join the Chocolate Meetup Group and RSVP.

Thanksgiving Dishes By Astrological Sign

For once, my horoscope was accurate! According to Sabra Ricci's "Thanksgiving Dishes By Astrological Sign," as a Sagittarius, I am extravagant, overindulgent, and fond of macaroni and cheese.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Babbo

Autumn's bounty was all over the menu at Babbo last night, and I'm so glad I was able to enjoy some of it. Around 9:30 p.m., I was hungrily wandering the West Village. I'd been meaning to check out Inside on Jones Street, but the host disappeared into thin air when I walked in. I knew that Babbo would be a long shot, but when I hesitantly opened the door, I actually saw an empty seat at the end of the bar! MINE, I thought triumphantly.

The menu featured lots of white truffles, pumpkin, and butternut squash. Next to me, a man was tearing away at his grilled guinea hen with a side of Brussels sprouts. I wondered if I should order the special duck egg appetizer or perhaps start with an half-portion of pumpkin luna with sage, but instead I ended up with: the trio of goat cheese truffles coated in poppy seeds, hot paprika and fennel, tossed over a tumble of marinated yellow and red pepper strips and served with crostini (rich!), the special bavette with Castelmagno, spicy toasted breadcrumbs and cardoons (I'd never tasted this artichoke-like vegetables) and the awesome, silky golden maple custard served with three light, puffy, sugar-crunchy pumpkin donuts.

I smiled all the way home!

Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca: 110 Waverly Place. (212) 777-0303.

Mamalu Play & Munch Ground: Arepas for the Young and Old

In a sign of the increasingly family-friendly nature of Williamsburg, the first cafe-playroom has arrived next to McCarron Park. Three months ago, Maria Laura and Mariela opened Mamalu, a casual, organic spot with Venezuelan touches. Parents: while you placate your toddler with an organic PBJ and spoon some Earth's Best into your baby's hungry mouth, you can enjoy guasacaca (Venezuelan spicy avocado sauce), reina pepiada (Venezuelan chicken salad), baked eggs, and fresh arepas with cotija cheese (with flaxseed or without). There's also a selection of sandwiches on Pain D'Avignon bread which you can accompany with plaintain chips or a mixed salad. And if you're not in the mood for food, just sip a cup of Oslo Coffee.

When those new condos open on Bayard, you won't be able to get a seat!

Mamalu: 232 North 12th St., Brooklyn, (718) 486-6312.

The 9th Annual Chocolate Show: Insider Tips!

• If you want tons of free truffles, do head to Pierre Gourmet at the very back of the Metropolitan Pavilion. People were coming away with handfuls. (Surprisingly, a few vendors this year offered no free samples at all - maybe someone should speak to John & Kira and Cocoa Locoa!)



• For a free sample of banana dipped in chocolate from a chocolate fountain, go to Chocolat Weiss in the Altman building. Divalicious, in the Metropolitan Pavilion Building, will charge you at least $3 for your sample, and the melted chocolate isn't as warm.



• However, if you want to sip free hot chocolate instead of paying $1 at Chocolat Weiss, go to Schokinag, which is serving up samples of hot chocolate in all kinds of flavors: Triple Chocolate, Dulce De Leche, and Chocolate Mint!

You can also taste a raw cocoa bean from the Ivory Coast, be spritzed with chocolate cologne, buy a prescription bottle of cocoa nibs from Michel Cluizel, and taste an award-winning chocolate-chip cookie by Baking By Design. And on Saturday, don't miss the demonstrations of Alex Urena's chocolate foie gras terrine and Gina DePalma's chocolate polenta crostata!

The 9th Annual Chocolate Show: This Weekend

This weekend, while some people restrict their calories or pretend to eat at virtual restaurants, I'll be happily indulging at the 9th Annual Chocolate Show. You should too!