Home»»
When times turn tough, the downtrodden and abused turn to--chocolate. Or at least that’s what Diva--a long-addicted chocoholic--turns to. What better way to drown the blues from that 33 percent drop in the Stock Market? And for those eyeing their retirement nest-eggs, well, 401(k)s just shed $2 trillion in value--how is that for “make my day?” But chocolate heals all. Diva will curl up in bed with the most expensive box of chocolates she can afford--more than likely Teuscher’s Champagne truffles--and munch herself into 15 extra pounds. Then, no doubt, that extra poundage will trigger the need for a shopping spree, because all Diva’s clothes will no longer fit. Watch out Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Spend, Baby, Spend!
Forget about those Republicans and their “Burn, Baby, Burn” chant, shopping is what will help the economy. Of course, Diva is concerned about saving energy and helping the planet too [she recently bought a set of sheets made from bamboo, and she loves them], but we need to campaign to get consumers back into the malls--and back to spending. If you have been shopping recently, it is readily apparent that traffic is down. On a recent early-morning Saturday, the local mall was more like the morgue--you could hear an AMEX card drop. Restaurants are hurting even worse, but the consolation prize for customers is easy reservations at the best spots [And to save money, Diva will just skip the meal and go straight to the chocolate dessert.]
Surveys show that grocery shoppers are buying more base ingredients, intending to cook from scratch at home, and buying more take-out, prepared frozen and fresh meals. Food-service consultants Technomics reported that 62 percent of the shoppers it surveyed are purchasing more supermarket prepared meals, compared to a year ago. [Guess they didn’t ask if chocolate sales were up.] And, Diva has been collecting great new recipes. Diva just found a recipe for butternut squash pasta, and she plans on fancying it up by adding hazelnuts--doesn’t that sound delish? And then there’s that wonderful recipe for those chocolate lava cakes. Why this economic down turn may even bring back home economics, seeing as how most young women today are clueless about cooking. Watch out Alain Ducasse!
Diva knows it’s a downturn when the mailbox fills with coupons for Spam [that slimey compressed, reconstituted meat-like substance that comes in a funny, curved can with its own key]. The Spam-o-meter is a better predictor of economic conditions than any dozen Wall Street tycoons. When the economy goes down--Spam sales go up. No, this Diva won’t be buying Spam [hopefully], but Diva is watching the mailbox for coupons for Godiva. That would be the ticket.
Chocolate solves everything. And it will get Diva--and you--through this financial crisis. And if you can’t afford that fancy box of imported chocolates: downsize! There’s always M&Ms.
--Diva
Comments