Jake Gyllenhaal to complete his degree? And two passions combined into a Jake and chocolate fondue

A random quote appeared in the Mirror today, which suggests, as much as anything in the Mirror can, that Jake Gyllenhaal may be considering resuming his degree. 'I dropped out of Columbia University in 2000 after two years of studying Eastern religions and philosophy to concentrate on acting. But I have always wanted to finish my degree.' Previously, Jake has discussed his time at Columbia as being half-heartedly spent but maybe now that ten years has passed he's reassessing his goals, perhaps even (to go out on a limb) his location. Or it's completely made up as there's not a clue as to where this quote comes from or its context. One thing I am sure of - Jake will succeed in whatever he wants to do.


There is a birthday party scene in Brothers which features Jake Gyllenhaal and big slabs of chocolate cake in the same frame. I can only think that Sheridan included this scene in order to test my Gyllenhaalism. Where would my eye rest? Would it roam? I am ashamed to admit that during that scene I was able to assess the extent to which each piece of chocolate cake had been eaten. There may have been some drama taking place but show me a scene with Jake Gyllenhaal and chocolate in it and it's more than my brain can take to have to deal with plot as well.


January has begun - yesterday didn't count for self-inflicted reasons - and one part of my brain is telling me that it's time to make some resolutions in order to break them next week. However, I write this post while chomping on a chocolate orange with little volcanic bits in it that fizz on the tongue in a very pleasing and strangely delicate way, and so I thought let's wait a bit before giving all this up. I may have spinning classes booked for next week but there is still time to reflect on two of my favourite passions - chocolate and Jake Gyllenhaal.


We know Jake enjoys a cookie or two, as demonstrated in a remarkable display of flirtation. He also nabbed a cookie from an interviewer for Maxim Fashion back in 2006. Ellen Pompeo once recounted that Jake used to love to rustle up treats on the set of Moonlight Mile: 'Pasta, salad, chocolate chip cookies, anything. He's a great guy. He likes to have fun and he loves to live life.'


Jake is also a master of ancient black magic chocolate cooking: 'Jake Gyllenhaal actually himself bakes a chocolate zucchini bread, whatever that is.' Obviously I would eat such a thing, the next time Jake cares to bake it for me, but my mind would boggle.

Jake was seen at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills a couple of weeks ago and his order: 'He bought 2 chocolate peppermint, 2 chocolate marshmallow, 2 red velvet, 1 dark chocolate and 2 doggie cupcakes.' For me, the list stopped with 'chocolate marshmallow'.


On occasion, Jake even dresses like chocolate - like a 'chocolate fondue' as one critic put it, when describing Moonlight Mile: 'the film's production designers, who, to capture the story's 1973 setting, have gone to great lengths to make the clothes, cars, and storefronts along Main Street look as brown as chocolate fondue.'

Rather curiously, and pleasantly coincidentally, the video for Snow Patrol's chocolate was once described as being like The Day After Tomorrow (crossed with Alice in Wonderland) without Jake Gyllenhaal. And that would make it clearly not a good thing.

With that, I had better be off to eat more chocolate before thinking about not giving it up. No such problem or dilemma with Jake Gyllenhaal - he's a stayer.


Includes pictures from IHJ and JJ.