There’s been an awful amount of news crossing my computer screen these days - the emphasis on awful - everything from Salmonella recalls and plant consolidations to bankruptcy rumors and layoffs.

If you weren't able to attend the For the Love of Chocolate annual gala hosted by The French Pastry School in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7, catch up on the event by reading "Steph Says ...".

New product introductions are on the downslide, according to Chicago’s Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which yesterday reported that total food and drink product launches have been cut in half since last year – that’s a 51% decline from the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009.

Despite having to keep a close eye on travel costs these first few months of 2009, I’ve been fortunate enough to actually have crossed the “pond” twice...

It's not a secret that I love attending parties. Actually, I almost like giving them as much, the only deterrent being that there's so much more work involved than just showing up and being a bon vivant.

I kept thinking, “I'm sure we'll all catch up on sleep next week.” Because on the World Cocoa Foundation Ghana Cocoa Tour, there's no lollygagging. Even on the last day, our roll call started at 7 a.m. sharp.

I could have used another couple of hours of sleep, but my trusty Timex alarm watch wouldn't allow it. Five o'clock usually comes early any day of the week, but in Kumasi , Ghana , on Thursday, May 31 st , it seemed to have snuck up on this traveler terribly quick. (Our buses were scheduled to leave the hotel at 6:15 to take the 8:30 flight to Accra .)

It's not every day you get a chance to meet a king. But that's what our itinerary for May 30 th called for, specifically a visit to Manhyia Palace in Kumasi , Ghana , to see the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the king of the Ashanti tribe.

Just a footnote before I file my impressions for Day 3 in Ghana : it's not always as simple to file copy via the Internet as I envisioned. First, there are occasional power outages, even in our hotels.

It had been an interesting travel day on Saturday, May 26, first motoring from southeastern Germany to Zurich Airport after having had the opportunity to visit Alfred Ritter several days earlier in Waldenbuch , Germany.