I haven't posted much lately because I've recently spent a month in Australia and New Zealand and didn't want to post that I was away from my home while I was actually away. I had some drafts prepared to post while gone but wifi wasn't always reliable, so that didn't really work out. But I did keep a journal while traveling of all the great raw food I found along the way. No dedicated raw restaurants to be found but plenty of options for delicious food, especially chocolate. Normally when I travel I have to give up raw chocolate because it isn't so readily available, but it is plentiful in Melbourne. I tried every kind and flavor I found from every small business. So for awhile I'll be posting those discoveries, starting with the chocolate. It was so much fun for me to search out raw food while in Melbourne. I think I pretty much discovered every nook and cranny as it relates to raw ingredients and availability. I discovered some new things, contemplated new ideas, and met some great new friends who share my passion. New Zealand was a bit harder but mostly because I was with a group and meals were planned. Still, I did just fine. Any raw foodists out there can rest assured that these two countries are easy to travel to and still eat as well as you want to. (Well, getting there isn't so easy, but traveling within the countries is easy and raw food is plentiful.) And since the people are so nice and the countries are so beautiful, I highly encourage you to find your way there at some point in your life. Truly remarkable places.

Here are some of the raw chocolate bars I found. My favorites were by Pana, especially the cinnamon flavor. I also discovered these amazing chocolate truffles that about made me kneel and kiss the ground. I cannot even tell you how good they were and do them justice in the telling. With flavors like pistachio; orange blossom; coconut goji berry; coffee infused; sea salt; and my favorite, chili pepper, these were as much art as food. The chocolate bars I can confidently say I could make myself, but these truffles were something else. I haven't quite figured out the secret, but I'm going to try. I don't know the company that makes them but bravo to you. Really beautiful, really delicious, and oh, so satisfying.

Pana Chocolates made in Australia

Made in the U.K. but found in Melbourne

Also Australian made. I lived on Loving Earth's products while in Melbourne.

The amazing truffles: clockwise from top:  sea salt; coconut-goji, pistachio, and chili pepper.