Chocolate for breakfast

The tea tray at the Valkovs holds a small dish with a seemingly never-ending supply of chocolate inside. The tray sits on a buffet table in the kitchen when not in use for tea time in the living room. So, the temptation to munch a piece of delicious Samara chocolate–even before breakfast–was irrisistable. 

I received a lovely Khokhloma ** bowl and tea set as a birthday gift and have decided to keep small chunks of chocolate (Russian, of course) in it until my stash is gone (BOO HOO).  Stop by for a few bites and some tea…

** Golden Khokhloma painting on wood is a Russian folk art tradition.  It appeared in the Koverninsky region east of Moscow.  The name of the trade comes from the village Khokhloma.  In the early 18th to 20th centuries this village was a trade center of articles painted in the style of “Khokhloma” – characterized by an original technique of hand painting wood items such as tableware, vases, boxes and furniture in gold color, then red and black, often with various berries.