Fast Talk: Mort Rosenblum

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• Rosenblum’s favorite Parisian chocolatiers

1. Who makes the best chocolate in the world?

If I were stuck on a desert island and had to choose a caterer, it would probably be Jacques Genin from Paris. Any of the French masters—from Michel Chaudun to Jean-Paul Hévin and Maison du Chocolat—are great, though.

2. Are there any good chocolatiers in Hershey-fed America?

It’s changing really quickly in the States. The same thing happened with olive oil a few years ago. Americans went from buying gloppy, heavy, yellow oil to artisanal products. Now they’re really starting to understand good chocolate—there’s Recchiuti, Scharffen Berger, and Guittard. You don’t have to be an expert, but exploring the high end of the range will help you discover what you like and why you like it. And if you end up liking Snickers bars, there’s nothing wrong with that.

3. So American tastes are evolving?

Americans are definitely expanding their palates. That’s why good chocolate is becoming easier to find and more popular in this country, especially on the West Coast. I think Michael Recchiuti’s chocolate stands up to any European chocolate. It’s sweeter than you might find in France because that’s what the market demands, but his quality and talent are not lacking.

4. Where is the worst chocolate in the world found?

Well, there’s a reason I named the chapter on England “In the Land of Rose and Vile Creams.” That should give you a clue. It’s funny: although chocolate is changing rapidly in America, in Britain it’s not. Chocolate lovers in Britain can just go to France to buy quality stuff, so I guess their own stores haven’t evolved.

5. What was the oddest taste you encountered?

In São Tomé I was chewing on raw nibs of chocolate. They had a rich, coffee-and-cinnamon flavor. But real Mexican mole was also astounding, You combine some 27 ingredients, including sesame, chile and just about everything else, and then you add the chocolate. When you sample mole, you realize how versatile chocolate is.

6. What do you think of mixing chocolate with surprising flavors?

I discovered people pairing chocolate with fish; Jean-Paul Hévin in France puts it with really strong cheeses. And then there are the pairings with tequila or strong chile. I’m not really a fan. I don’t even like coffee or liqueurs in my chocolate. I think the point is to savor the chocolate. So for me, the closer it stays to pure, the better.

7. How much chocolate did you eat while researching this book?

I consumed tons. Surely more than my body weight, which is 140 pounds. Probably several times that.

8. Do you feel any guilt about that?

Not in the slightest. I mean, you’re eating a food that can be good for you, that’s produced by people (the cacao growers) who make good use of the money they get from selling their crop. And it tastes really great. It’s perfect for sharing with friends. I can’t think of anything negative about chocolate—other than the guilt our parents stuffed into us.

9. So you’re saying that chocolate is healthful?

There’s a difference between candy and chocolate. The dark stuff is good for you. Adding all the ingredients to get those gooey candy bars full of sugar—that’s what makes it unhealthful.

10. Is chocolate an aphrodisiac?

There are studies that say it doesn’t contain any real aphrodisiacs—but it can make you fall in love with the person who made it.