There’s something about warm rich dark chocolate and fresh strawberries, melted between a buttery pound cake that’s been pressed in a panini grill. Can you say wonderful!
I can’t believe I never tried this special treat before!
A while back I received this award winning chocolate as a gift from my son, who after reading this article in Food and Wine magazine, quickly ordered some.“The most famous Venezuelan cacao of all comes from Chuao. The trees of Chuao are shielded by mountains from all but the warm Caribbean breezes; the soil is naturally irrigated by three cascading rivers. Doutre-Roussel calls the region “one of the jewels of the earth.” Besides the microclimate, Chuao has centuries-old traditions of harvesting and preparing cacao. First it’s fermented to develop the compounds that will later blossom into rich aromatics, then it’s laid out on the parvis in front of the village church to dry slowly in the sun. Because the farmers worked together as a cooperative, Chuao is one of the only places where a chocolate maker could buy, at one stroke, 9 to 10 tons of uniformly excellent cacao. Until recently, that chocolate maker was Valrhona. Today every last kilo of cacao from Chuao goes to Amedei.”
Needless to say I was excited to try this! My son’s instructions were, ” Mom, make sure you taste this on a clean palette, you don’t want to try this after having onions or garlic, or anything else that would effect the true taste!” That’s exactly what I did, I snapped a piece off, and I was in chocolate heaven! Not bitter at all to me, in fact I found it slightly creamy and so rich in flavor, a most memorable chocolate experience! Thanks Tony!
I couldn’t wait to try this chocolate melted, warm and gooey so I decided to melt some between pound cake and use my panini grill. I just bought a good quality pound cake, because after all the chocolate is the star here, and some fresh strawberries.
Look at that dark glossy color! Believe me, it tasted as good as it looks!!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
Marie… that looks amazing. I’m going to have to try some of this chocolate.
Oh My Lord! Heaven in a Panini Grill! Brilliant. Definitely going to give that a try.
I haven’t stopped by in a while. I’ve been missing some good recipes. We thoroughly enjoyed your Limoncello Cosmopolitans! They have become one of our favorite cocktail party additions. Thanks!
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Cheers, Cindy
Now thats freaking genius!
*lol* yeah…those gooey dark shiny chocolate melts sure look…truly chocolate heaven
I want to lick my computer screen!! hahaha
Now why, oh why, did you not post this 3 days earlier? It would have been absolutely PERFECT for the WTSIM savoury/sweet swap theme! Looks absolutely decadently divine 🙂
This panini is the tops! I love the chocolate and strawberry combination!
Now THAT is a pretty picture. How could you go wrong.
Oh wow drool- For me “yum” sounds alot like “Marie made this” 🙂
xoxoxo
Amazing panini!
I love you and you are my friend but let me tell you, you are one wicked woman! How can you do this to us?! Perhaps this is why I love you 🙂
Oh, dear… this is way too much food porn. I haven’t had breakfast yet and feel like I already have!
WOW HOLY COW ‘;/
like I am Not Fat enough
Be Right Over
UJ
your blog is making me drool.. all over my computer. it’s not very girl-like. 🙂 thanks for the ideas/recipes!!
Julie, Absolutely!
That looks amazing…I don’t have a panini grill. Think you could make it on a george foreman type grill?
I love chocolate; the darker, the better. I love panini. I must try this on my Ikon.
I’ve been going back and forth in an internal debate about registering for a panini press (do I have room for one more thing in the kitchen). You just made up my mind VERY clearly.
And now I’m off in search of chocolate.
Hmmmm…this is the second (or third?) time I’ve stopped back to see this dessert panini and I think that can only tell me one thing: Make it now!
Thanks for sharing such a great idea.
OMG!!!! What a panini!!!
(((GASP))) This could be illegal. But I am willing to take my chances! Just decadent in every sense of the word. I am going to dream about this dessert until I can make it!
No lie, the first thing I said to myself when I saw that picture was Yum!
good lord Marie – FABULOUS!!! I want some now!!!!
Look really fantastic!!! Gloria
Wow, what a great idea! Can you believe I don’t have a panini maker yet? :/
Have a great day my frind, glad your keeping your hands warm.
A simple and sublime combo. What a nice son you have!
OMG! Wow now that’s what I’m wanting for lunch!
Yes I CAN say Yum! It isn’t hard to say because everything you make is yum 😉
xox
What a great idea! It’s so simple, I hitting my self for not thinking of this earlier. Thank you, thank you!
OH wow…I heart you – this looks amazing!
Wow…Tt make me hungry..
thanks for sharing this great recipe..!!
cheers,
FREE SMS FROM PC TO MOBILE.
This is my type of panini…although I do love all things with melted cheese:D
I have never thought of using a panini press to make dessert, YUM
That would be a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day, Marie!
Grilled cake, that’s something I’ve got to try 🙂
It’s sensual, it’s beautiful…& it’s screaming GOOD! BEE YOO TI FUL Marie!
YUMMMM!!! My goodness that looks decadent and delicious. I never thought about buying a panini maker, but now that’s all I’ll be thinking about. Maybe I’ll buy one for my hubby for a Valentine’s present and then make him this dessert!
I just love your blog. You have fantastic stuff here. Love your photos. This looks absolutely amazing!!!
Oh my gosh, Marie, this looks fantastic. And so decadent. This is a perfect Valentine’s day dessert.
What a great idea!!! That looks delicious. You have a wonderful blog!
Yumm !!!!
Your creations are making me want to get back into the kitchen again, Marie. I would like to try this one for Valentine’s Day, if I can find which box I packed my panini maker in.
Let’s see – we have a panini grill, love dark chocolate – hmmmmm……
It’s funny, I had the same idea with Nutella this morning, but it will just not be the same, would it??? Looks utterly decadent!!!!
OH my! I am squeezing my eyes shut because I am on a diet and seeing such a lucious dessert is breaking my willpower! Ack –it’s made from all my favorite things! All you had to do was add whipped cream and I’d be done! 🙂
If you were standing here I’d hug you!! This is fantastic!!!!
Genius! Great use of that wonderful chocolate. When in doubt, break out the panini press!
What a wonderful sweet treat! We have a great panini maker, but I have never done a sweet version. What is my problem? I can’t wait to try this out!
This looks so good. Chocolate and strawberries are a good flavor combination. Your pictures are killing me!!
I came rushing over when I saw your title pop up on my side bar, and OH YES, “HOLY PANINI”, I think I have died and gone to chocolate ‘n’ Strawberry heaven lol
but first I have to visit Amedei
:-).
Woweee! Luscious, oh so luscious.
Looks tasty!! I suppose you could use brioche instead..?
Just came back from exercise, hungry like a wolf! Will make this now.
Bye,
Elra
Wow that really does look fantabulous! I would never have thought of a chocolate panino, but now that it’s on my radar, I’ll be sure to try it. So quick and easy and yummy enough for company.
Oh wow this looks so good I can’t stop drooling 🙂
Oh my. I think my husband would love this for Valentines day – so would my kids.
I’ve made this before, except with Nutella. It was fabulous! Now your chocolate sounds like it would be 100 times better! Thanks for this one!
OMG!! That melting oozing chocolate has melted me into submission!!!! Running for the Nutella… bye!!!
Oh yum. I never thought of using pound cake for sweet panini. I’ve done sweet panini using challah bread, but this really kicks it way into the stratosphere. I’m glad you enjoyed that beautiful chocolate!
Incredible Marie! I just made roast beef panini’s last week, now I wish they were filled with strawberries and chocolate instead.
WOW! this makes the mouth water just looking at it! great idea, and i can’t wait to try this myself.
Whoa, I’m a believer! I need to make this ASAP! Beautiful pictures, by the way… I can almost taste the chocolate.
I put my panini maker away after the Holidays, it is coming back out!
These photos are stunning Marie!
Gosh, you always have such terrific ideas!
LL
Now this is my kind of panini! Perfect for Valentines day.
Oh man, I haven’t had breakfast yet. This would make a great breakfast, don’t you think? Yum!