Eleanor who, you might ask?

Pump Street Oat Milk almost inexplicably…and perhaps only to me… has a very old-fashioned ring to it (in a good way).  (Side note: For all I know, Pump Street is the most up-to-date, least old-fashioned business in Suffolk.)

Since this bar has now become what I would consider to be one of my favorites, it seemed only fitting to photograph it with some old-fashioned favorite novels of mine (including a bestseller…in 1916.  That makes it over one hundred years old.  There is an delicate sheet of yellowed and stained tracing paper sewn into the book next to the one of the illustrations at the beginning.  When’s the last time you saw that in a novel?!)

My Pump Street is resting on Just David by Eleanor Porter.  I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a well-written tale of a boy who comes down from his mountain home, who nobody knows who he is, including himself (he’s “Just David”), who seems very naive to many aspects of life and yet who perplexes and astounds a whole town with his mastery of languages and especially his mastery of the violin (or “fiddling” as the townspeople put it).

Eleanor Porter is better known as the author of Pollyanna, which was made into a 1960 movie starring Hayley Mills.  Surely I’m not the only one who still quotes this movie.  I can still make my siblings giggle by a well-placed “And I had my heart set on lamb’s broth today” (in a plaintive Mrs. Snow-like voice) every now and again.

The book on the right (depicting flora found in Indiana) was published in 1904 and the binding is already falling apart (so I didn’t feel too bad about laying it open to get this shot).

The oats you see sprinkled here and there for effect were published in…(giggle).  I’m sorry.  I couldn’t help it, but I realize that’s getting a little ridiculous and you most likely aren’t even here for the books, you’re here for the chocolate.

Pump Street has many bars that get rave reviews (rye crumb, sourdough) and so I knew I Pump Street would be an excellent choice for my first taste of oat milk chocolate.  This bar is “brilliant” as the Brits would say.  A slightly nutty / oatmeal taste comes through but without being overpowering.  It’s a very rich, fudgy bar.  (And in case you’re new to Pump Street: Their packages are resealable, which is a handy feature for people who have more restraint than me and only eat 1-2 pieces a day!)

I purchased this bar from Caputo’s.  That link goes directly to their chocolate page.  I shall not be held responsible for anything that might happen between you and your credit card if you go there.

So there you have it…since Eleanor Porter is one of my favorite authors and Pump Street oat milk is now one of my favorite chocolates, I’m calling it the “Eleanor Porter of Chocolates”.   Though if you know me very well you know I have “sixty-eleven” favorites chocolates…….