Diana Phillips Blog

I’ve always been a fan of John Steinbeck. I was captivated by the poetic despair of “The Grapes of Wrath” the first time I read it in Mrs. Loedequist’s 3rd hour English class and have since read every single title he authored.

Living in California and visiting some of the settings of his work has made his depictions all the more dimensional. Salinas and the Central Valley still maintain aspects found in “Of Mice and Men” and “East of Eden”. Even though Cannery Row no longer functions as a working cannery, smelling the sea and hearing the gulls is a good backdrop for re-reading about Doc and the boys.

I’m always looking for inspiration for new flavors and this quote from “Cannery Row” got me thinking:

While Doc ate his sandwich and sipped his beer, a bit of conversation came back to him. Blaisedell, the poet, had said to him, “You love beer so much. I’ll bet some day you’ll go
in and order a beer milk shake.”
                  John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Chapter 17

Eventually the character does just that, orders a milk shake on a trip to the Sea of Cortez. If beer can accompany ice cream, why not pair chocolate with a nice chocolatey stout, like Guinness? Voila. In honor of John Steinbeck and the indelible characters of “Cannery Row” I introduce The Steinbeck, a collaboration of Gunniess, 64% dark chocolate with a frothy cap of white chocolate,  just in time for Father’s Day.

Cheers!