Leaving Wine and Chocolate in Tri-Cities for Walla Walla
The sun continued to shine as I made my way east through Washington. I had plenty more to see and taste, but first I had to eat some chocolate. Jordan from Tri-Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau met me for breakfast at the Courtyard Richland early in the morning. I was a bit curious why we needed to get up early to stop by a “ Country Mercantile ,” but that question was answered when we got there. This was no country store, this was the country store. As we toured with Max, I saw aisles and aisles of local products from produce to sauces to to tamales. This family-owned business has a place to get fresh made sandwiches and an area filled with over 40 flavors of homemade ice cream – not far from all the homemade fudge in every flavor imaginable. And, in the back, there is a chocolate factory that would make Willy Wonka jealous! I left Country Mercantile with some goodies (it’s worth a trip just for the Big Foot, full of nuts, caramel and chocolate), not imaging a better plac