Chocolate day is celebrated in Paris

World-known 'Salon du Chocolat' has opened its doors to everyone for the 16th time. From the 28th of October through November the 1st, thousand of people have an opportunity to taste sample goodies during five days of chocolate heaven. What's more, tourists and visitors can buy an incredible selection of chocolates.

The World's Biggest Festival

'Salon du Chocolat', literally Salon of Chocolate in French, is considered the world’s biggest chocolate festival. It is also called one of the most popular gastronomic events in France.

The 16th edition features more than four hundred participants. Among them: exhibitors, cocoa producers and chocolatiers from around the world who present their chocolate inventions and masterpieces to public. More over, visitors have a great chance to see live recipe demonstrations by international master chiefs and, of course, enjoy the chocolate dress parade!

Fashion designers in collaboration with chocolatiers have created amazing and delicious costumes, dresses, shoes, hats and other accessories - all made from real chocolate. These chocolate costumes are presented in catwalk shows which take place every day.

In addition to that, 2010 Chocolate fair features workshops for adults and children, dessert bookstore, chocolate exhibitions and chocolate conferences - everything is dedicated to chocolate here. There are also chocolate awards which will be given to the world’s top artisan chocolate makers.

The Chocolate show is opened everyday from 10 am till 7 pm. There are admission fees: adults - €12, children under 12 - €6, children under 3 - free. About 120,000 visitors are expected to visit the Chocolate event in Paris.

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This annual international trade fair for the international chocolate industry started in 1994. It is supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been held in New York, Tokyo and Russia’s capital - Moscow. It was also held in Beijing in 2009 and Shanghai in 2010.

Chocolate Consumption Statistics

Nowadays, chocolate in all of its varied forms remains the most favorite confection around the globe.

What country consumes the most chocolate per person? It is Switzerland - the world’s leader in chocolate consumption with 22.36 pounds per person, according to a survey by Chocolate Manufacturers Association.

Meanwhile, Austria and Ireland - not far behind with 20.13 pounds and 19.47 pounds. Australia holds the 9th place - 12.99 lbs/year. As for the United States of America – it is on the 11th place with 11.64 lbs/year. Japan takes the 17th place with 3.90 lbs/year and Brazil - the 20th place 2.25 lbs/year.

Delice a sweet return

The new Délice European Bakery & Cafe in Midtown Crossing is smaller and more modern than the Old Market original, which closed in 2009. But fans of the old spot will appreciate the new incarnation's attention to detail.

DÉLICE EUROPEAN BAKERY & CAFE

Where: 3201 Farnam St.
Prices: $10 to $15 per person
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Information: 505-9500 or www.deliceeuropeanbakery.com

New owners John and Karen Tollinger have revived the old menu, hired the former location's longtime pastry chef, Heidi Schlicht, and involved some other familiar faces in the transition.

Former owner Pat McDermott and daughter Holly Engdahl were visible on recent visits — he sitting outside making notes on the menu, she working the counter — and in everything from the old gray plastic trays to the clear glass plates. I even recognized McDermott's tidy penmanship on the labels in the pastry and savory cases.

The new setting has less Old World charm than the old spot, and about half the square footage. It also is more vibrant: paprika, olive and pumpkin accents; a banquette covered in a French-Danish floral pattern; modern art by local artist Steve Joy; a fireplace; tiny tables and darkly stained tall-backed wooden chairs.

On the order-at-the-counter menu: the same tasty coffee drinks and wide repertoire of sweets (French pastries, cakes, tarts, tortes, cookies and all manner of chocolate-dipped whatnots); as well as soups, salads, sandwiches, fruit-and-cheese plates and savories popular with ladies who lunch — all reliably fresh and ultimately comforting, even when microwaved to order.

Two key differences: They don't make their own bread anymore. (Not enough room in the new kitchen, Schlicht said.) And all the savory entrees now come a la carte.

I was happy to see old favorites: the ribbon-tied bags of chocolate-covered espresso beans, the chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, the tidy opera cakes and napoleons, and the savory pies.

Save room for dessert, but start with the lovely turkey-and-sweet-potato pie: neatly stacked slices of sweet potato, chunks of roasted turkey, sautéed onions, Monterey Jack cheese, thyme and a custard of egg and heavy cream, tucked in a flaky pastry and baked. It's Thanksgiving in a forkful.

Or go for the quiche Lorraine: a wonderful herb-flecked egg custard, neither shrunken nor oozing on by-the-slice reheating; bits of ham, Swiss and onion, and a flaky crust with an expertly rolled edge.

Or do the lasagna — a generous rectangle with ruffled noodles, cottage cheese and ground beef in tidy layers and a bright red sauce that sings of pure tomato.

There are all sorts of ladylike something-salad sandwiches. The tarragon chicken salad croissant I tried tasted fresh, but the flavors were a little muddied: too much red bell pepper and onion for me, not enough salt or tarragon.

But caramelized onions elevated the French dip sandwich: Swiss and shaved beef on a slightly too-puffy ciabatta, served with oniony jus.

Fruit (fresh, ripe, bite-sized chunks of melon, pineapple, strawberries and grapes) or the red potato salad (liberally sprinkled with fresh dill) are happy accompaniments.

There's also a rotating array of soups. The Hungarian mushroom was a tad underseasoned but interesting: a milky broth flecked with paprika and fresh dill and sauteed slices of cute little mushrooms.

And then there's dessert, glorious dessert! Where to start?

If you're getting it to go, with a bold coffee or latte, and eating it in your car or on the sidewalk, I recommend the chocolate espresso cookie (crisp and flaky at the edges, chewy and fudgy in the middle) or the macaroon (a big scoop of coconut goo dipped in dark chocolate, what a Mounds bar wants to be when it grows up).

If you're dining in, go with the fruit tartlet (prettily glazed fresh fruit in an adorable tart shell), a slice of the chocolate ganache torte (chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache) or the oh-so-elegant opera cake (dainty rectangles of almond sponge cake layered with coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache).

Order dessert from the pastry case when you decide on the rest of your meal — and don't touch it for a good 10 minutes so that the chocolate and butter and other good stuff in it can warm up a little. I didn't get loads of coffee or almond flavor from the opera cake I tasted on one occasion, but I fear that was only because I ate it when it was still too cold.

Counter help was friendly. And quibbles had more to do with spacing and pricing than service or food.

http://www.importedchocolate.org

Moroccan Spicy Chocolates from Marrakech

I have tried to recreate the sensual and surreal experience of walking through the Marrakech Spice Souks, with these 6 singular spice infusions. Only whole, natural spices are ever used. They are ground, and in some cases, lightly toasted to bring out their natural oils. These exotic spices are then infused into the organic cream, and blended into 6 distinctive ganaches that are left to speak for themselves...unaltered and intense..

The selection contains gourmet chocolates with
Star Anise
Clove
Ginger
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
and Cardamom

Surely they catch your curiosity and like visit their site on http://derrychurchartisanchocolates.com/Marrakech-spice-souk-chocolates-collection.php

http://www.importedchocolate.org

- Lake Champlain Chocolates offers $5 shipping until November 1 -

CHOCOLATE COMPANY OFFERS EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

BURLINGTON, VT – As the last leaves are falling, pumpkins are being carved and children are anxiously waiting to go trick-or-treating, 62 million consumers are already getting a jumpstart on their holiday shopping, according to a study by Mediamark Research & Intelligence. Starting early allows consumers to save money and enjoy the holiday season without the stress of last minute shopping.

Lake Champlain Chocolates, a gourmet chocolate company based in Burlington, VT, is offering customers a special, limited time deal of $5 flat rate standard shipping per address for orders placed before November 1. This offer is valid for any sized order and delivery dates can be set for as late as December 30, 2010.

This special is not only perfect for those who like to get an early start to their holiday shopping, but also for businesses looking for tasty corporate gifts to thank their employees, customers and clients. The gourmet chocolates are carefully hand-packed in festive boxes with seasonal packaging and are delivered directly to the recipient’s door, saving the sender both time and money. Lake Champlain Chocolates will also include a personalized gift card.

With a variety of gifts to choose from such as chocolate truffles, chocolate gift baskets, gourmet hot chocolate, and assorted chocolate gift boxes, Lake Champlain Chocolates has holiday chocolates that will please all chocolate lovers – whether it’s the far away relative, the hostess of a holiday party, or even as a little self indulgence.

All Lake Champlain Chocolates’ products are all-natural, preservative free and kosher-certified. For more information about this offer, please visit www.LakeChamplainChocolates.com/.

http://www.importedchocolate.org

A Nut-free 'Cakery' in Haverhill

Cakes by Erin, a bakery that specializes in designing and creating custom cakes, has opened its doors for business, completing a seven-month project that gives co-owner Erin Erler a chance to combine her natural drawing and creative skills with her passion for designing cakes.

"I've always loved to draw, always loved to paint," Erler said. "Cake is just a different medium."

Cakes by Erin, located at 58 Kenoza Ave., opened quietly on Tuesday and will celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 13. The store's hours are 12 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and will expand to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. later in the fall.

The 33-year-old Erler has been baking cakes for friends and family for 11 years and became a licensed baker three years ago.

With her sister and brother-in-law, Lynnfield's Kelly and Tim Mackin as co-owners, her business has been growing ever since. She decided to open the bakery when the business grew too large for her Haverhill kitchen.

Before the career change, Erler taught students with special needs at Pentucket Lake Elementary School, leaving in April to fully devote herself to her "passion.

"I had to make the jump," she said. "I'm kind of risking everything on this."

The location on Kenoza Avenue had to be gutted.

"We overhauled everything," Mackin said, There are new kitchen appliances, plumbing, cabinets and floors and an additional wall. There is a separate room for wedding consultations and bridal cake tastings, as well.

Cakes by Erin will employ two full-time and two part-time employees, while providing a variety of baked goods, from cakes and cupcakes to mini cheesecakes and brownies.

There's also a morning menu of different types of muffins and beverages changing daily.

Every product made by Cakes by Erin is nut-free, an important distinction for Erler. Her 10-year-old son has a severe allergy to nuts.

Kelly Mackin said that while the nut-free standard does create challenges — Ghirardelli chocolate, for example, is processed with nuts — Erler is creative enough to overcome them.

Mackin said she and her sister also plan to create vegan and gluten-free recipes.

Mackin, who purchases Vermont Nut-Free Chocolate and Hershey's, said that she and Erler spend hours finding the right ingredients for their custom-baked goods.

"When I'm supply shopping, I'll call Erin 1,300 times just checking the label," Mackin said. "We can't use any kind of product that was processed in a plant that also processed nuts."

Erler, who has provided baked goods for everyone from Conan O'Brien and Ernie Boch Jr. to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar," said she wants Cakes by Erin to become the go-to bakery for the region.

"I want to make my mark," she said. "This is Cakes by Erin, but it's more than that. So many talented people here."

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Erler said a large, custom-made cake can take 10 to 12 hours to create and cost more than $300, but she added she can work with any price range for any event.

"I cannot personally put out a bad cake," she said. "I can't let that happen."

Still, she finds baking relaxing. "It doesn't feel like work."

Over the next five years, Mackin hopes to add a location closer to Boston and perhaps expand the current location to become a retail bakery, while giving Erler her own warehouse space to bake her custom cakes.

"It's a plan," she said. "A dream."

Erler shares the dream.

A die-hard John Lennon fan, she has a quotation from her hero on the front, inside wall of her store:

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."

http://www.importedchocolate.org
 

TRICK OR TREAT! Gourmet Halloween candy’s a hoot

You should really see these gourmet Halloween Chocolate....so spookyyy!
 

We love the holidays and the neat treats that accompany them! Halloween’s just behind the dungeon door, and while we know costumes are fun and parties are a spooky blast, we’re most excited that Halloween marks the beginning (and the best!) of seasonal treats.  A whole day — or really a whole weekend — in which the demand for candy skyrockets over and above the witch on her broomstick soaring across the moon.

Local sweet shops Pix Patisserie, with all its quirky charm, and Moonstruck Chocolate, which captures the essence of autumn and immerses it into gourmet chocolate, are two frighteningly good favorites for Halloween concoctions that give candy corn a run for the money.

If you’re not already a regular or somehow haven’t visited one of Portland’s two Pix Patisserie locations, we suggest you use this sugar-fueled occasion as inspiration. Trick or treat for chocolate ganache-covered pecans draped in marzipan with a marshmallow Jack-O-Lantern, available through Halloween day. Or maybe an Ichabod Crème — a crisp crust filled with spiced almond crème and pecans, golden caramel and topped off with pumpkin crème brulee. More options are chocolate port fig tarts, nutcrackers and, le tigre d’epice… oooh, my!

http://www.importedchocolate.org

Sinfully Delicious Sugar Free Chocolates – No, That’s Not a Typo!

Rich, creamy, delectable chocolate… that you DON’T have to die for!  Or settle for.  No, we’re not talking about waxy “better-than-nothing” chocolate-flavored mystery products that you find hanging on a rack in cello bags at discount stores.  These are luscious creations proudly and artfully made with fresh, premium ingredients by world-class chocolatiers.  Yes, they do exist.  And we’ve uncovered some wonderful sources which we’re very excited to share with you.

Chocolate.com is the world’s largest online marketplace for chocolate.  They feature exquisite handmade artisan and gourmet chocolates.  Some are by famous brands from around the world, while many are unique products that may be difficult to find anywhere else.  And their high standard of quality extends to their vast selection of sugar free items, many of which rival the sugared versions in taste. 

See some of their incredible sugar free items on our CHOCOLATES page. 

Get Free Ground Shipping on Orders Over $60 at Chocolate.com

Ecuador's Chocolate Secret Is a Sustainable Reality

LOS ANGELES, CA– Where do the Swiss go to buy the best chocolate in the world? The Trade Commission of Ecuador says it’s a little known fact that Swiss chocolatiers have been traveling to South America for centuries, specifically Ecuador, to stock up on Arriba Nacional cacao.

“It’s time we let the rest of the world in on the big chocolate secret that’s sitting in the Ecuadorian Rainforest,” says Eduardo Borrero, trade commissioner of Ecuador in Los Angeles. “Ecuadorian chocolate is organic, sustainable, fair trade, superior in quality and when Americans discover they can drastically reduce their carbon footprint by cutting out the ‘middleman’ they will take a serious look at the label for the word ‘Arriba’ before their next chocolate purchase.”

http://www.importedchocolate.org  

Gourmet Chocolate for a Good Cause

If you love chocolate chip cookies just a little bit, you’ve got to try the Chocolate Chip Cookies Dunked in Milk Chocolate from Sweet Signatures. I’m not kidding…….chocolate chip cookies aren’t even my favorite type of cookie, but these…..OH MY! They melted in my mouth. The milk chocolate coating is extremely thick too…..no skimping here. They even use premium ingredients like butter (no margarine or shortening). Love that.

BUT, WHAT’S AMAZING? 100% of the proceeds from their For the Cure Gourmet Items are donated to the Susan G Komen for the Cure during the month of October.

Quite simply impressive. Many companies donate money to support breast cancer research, but Sweet Signatures donates 100% of the proceeds. I recently had a chat with the owner, Monica Archondo, and asked her why.

Monica explained that she too had been touched by breast cancer. While not in her immediate family, a close family friend had developed breast cancer and she wanted to help.  She took some of her gourmet products (chocolate covered of course) and added pink ribbon sprinkles to them.  She figured that if someone was purchasing goodies with pink ribbon sprinkles on them….there was a story there.  Either it was for a charity event, for a survivor, for someone going through treatment, etc.

New customers can use the code NEWCUST09  (you’ll get 10% off your entire order)

GIVEAWAY:

Want to try some  Sweet Signatures goodies yourself? Two (2) lucky winners will.

• The first winner will receive: Milk Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cookies for the Cure 6 pk
• A second winner will receive: Chocolate Grahams for the Cure 6 pk

Peacock Nut Free Wedding Chocolates

Peacock feathers have long since been a symbol of courtship. Carry on the tradition with this peacock feather stationery customized in your very own wedding favor colors.

Who doesn't love chocolate! Always a crowd favorite, these trendy personalized nut free chocolate bars are available with a variety of wrapper design options. These chocolate bars are produced in a nut free U.S. facility and are guaranteed safe for anyone with a nut or peanut allergy.

Because of the special nature of this perishable product, supplemental shipping rates apply: $7.98. Minimum order of 24

Chocolate done on pit grill

I know many friends who actually create gourmet chocolate with their personal fire appliances. They say that home fire appliances can create gourmet chocolate with a fine roast that can’t be created by an oven, stove top, or bonfire.

Hot chocolate is another great recipe that includes chocolate and can be created with the technique of pit cooking. During the cool winter, you can warm up your household with a delicious pot of hot chocolate. I’ve constantly discovered that cooking with a pit creates a better taste when it comes to chocolate. Heating a pot of hot chocolate outside through a fire pit as snowflakes fall around you is a quite interesting experience indeed. With the snow floating near you, making hot chocolate can be a truly calming experience.

Cooking chocolate does not have to be done within the confines of a kitchen. Whether it’s s’mores, hot chocolate, or custom candy blends with nuts or fruit, make your chocolate outside. You can blow away your friends and indulge your sweet tooth at the same time with your fire pit treats.

Chocolate Wine - a new combination

Every so often, an unlikely food combination comes along that, quite surprisingly, tastes wonderful.

Think strawberries with balsamic vinegar, or carrot cake... even snail porridge, thanks to Heston Blumenthal.

When it comes to Marks & Spencer's new Christmassy tipple, however, the jury's still out. It's a sweet red wine called Chocolate Ruby (£7.99, marksandspencer.com).

Unlike many reds that boast notes of chocolate, this 15 per cent ABV tipple is actually infused with real chocolate. 

Perhaps it's a follow-up to their chocolate-flavoured port that flew off the shelves at £6.99 a bottle in 2008. Or maybe it's inspired by Blumenthal's own choc-wine that was also released in 2008 at £48 a bottle.

Either way, with Britons spending £3.6billion on chocolate last year  -  and £38.4 billion on alcoholic drinks  -  M&S must think they've stumbled on a recipe for success.

http://www.importedchocolate.org/gourmet-chocolate-gift

Chocolate Can Help with Cholesterol

Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits, showing that chocolate polyphenols also help to lower bad cholesterol.

Published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, the study tested the effects of polyphenol-rich chocolate in a group of 12 volunteers with type-2 diabetes. After 16 weeks, the researchers from Hull University in the U.K. discovered that the polyphenols helped lower participants' bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels.

"Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type-2 diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle," said professor Steve Akin, author of the study.

Back in August, NaturalNews covered a Swedish study that found similar results. It also showed that high-flavanol chocolate that has been minimally processed is much different than the highly-processed chocolate candy sold in most grocery stores.

Actual cacao beans are rich in vital nutrients, including alkaloid bitters like theobromine (a different substance than the harmful bromine chemical), which stimulates the heart muscle and dilates blood vessels. This compound and others provide demonstrable benefits in lowering high blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries.

http://www.importedchocolate.org/imported-chocolate

Divine Chocolate Competition

Divine is created for chocolate lovers.  Divine’s chocolates are made from only the very best cocoa nurtured and handpicked by cocoa farmers in Ghana who take extra pride in farming their cocoa because they co-own the company.  The cocoa trees grow in the shade of the tropical rainforest, and the beans are slowly dried in the sun to produce the finest flavour.  Divine combines the cocoa beans and butter with entirely natural ingredients to allow the full chocolate flavour to come through and has an exciting product range including bars, gifts and seasonal specialities.

Choosing Divine as your chocolate treat is a delicious way of playing your part in a more equitable trading partnership.  Divine is the only Fairtrade chocolate company which is 45% owned by the farmers.  While fair trade ensures farmers receive a better deal for their cocoa and additional income to invest in their community, company ownership gives farmers a share of Divine’s profits and a stronger voice in the cocoa industry.

For more information on Divine products, recipes and the company please visit www.divinechocolate.com

http://www.importedchocolate.org
 

Hershey replacing workers with machines

The Hershey Co. says it needs to close the historic factory, and cut 500 jobs, to remain competitive in the global market, according to the NPR. The factory on the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa avenues will soon be closing, and the chocolate making will move to another facility being built just outside the town. When Milton Hershey broke ground on this factory in 1903, he saw more than smokestacks and a brick building. Hershey wanted to give his workers more than a paycheck. He wanted to create a worker's paradise. Inspired by another famous chocolate maker of his day Cadbury in England, Hershey provided amusement parks, community centers and family events. A theme park, a theater, low-rent housing and cheap public transportation were all things Milton Hershey brought to the dairy region of Pennsylvania when he created Hershey, the chocolate center of America. The chocolate factory is no longer the biggest employer in town; the Hershey Medical Center is. The number of workers who actually make chocolate continues to shrink. Hershey is spending $300 million on a new facility being built just outside town. Six-hundred workers from the old factory will move there; the rest are being replaced by machinery. Hershey is reshaping itself to fend off global competition. It has a huge new competitor in Kraft, which recently bought the British Cadbury company. Hershey had wanted to move production out of the Pennsylvania town altogether but decided to keep it here when the union agreed to the job cuts.

Keep informed at the Chocolate Blog

Chocolate Fest Offers Unique Treats

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- If you love chocolate the Idaho Falls Shilo Inn was the place to be Saturday.Hundreds of folks came out to the first Idaho Chocolate Fest.Lincare and Events for Idaho organized the event to help educate the public about their health.To bring families in, they invited more than 20 vendors offering chocolate samples.While many vendors offered chocolate fudge, cookies and cake, some chocolate samples were a little out of the ordinary.

http://www.importedchocolate.org

Never Enough Chocolate

For those who believe there's no such thing as too much chocolate, downtown Marietta's marquee Friday night event will be a little slice of heaven.

A chocolate drenched heaven with chocolate streets, chocolate rivers and chocolate cars that is. OK, not really, but considering participants can indulge in chocolate brownies, chocolate covered fruit, chocolate cake, gourmet chocolate, chocolate alcoholic drinks, chocolate mole sauce and much, much more - well, it's pretty darn close.

And that doesn't even mention other chocolate-themed items, such as chocolate scented candles and chocolate diamonds, available to participants or on display at the third annual Moonlight and Chocolate event that's set to kick off at 6 p.m.

 

Congressman Eric Cantor's Gourmet Chocolate Campaign Binge

WASHINGTON -- One Virginia congressman doesn’t settle for just any brand when picking chocolates for campaign donors. For his political fundraisers this election cycle, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor has spent nearly $7,500 on gourmet chocolates. Sara Sciammacco reports.

As reported in an in-depth Capitol News Connection special web feature, Congressman Eric Cantor has shopped locally and as far away as Beverly Hills for his chocolates. Campaign finance experts say Cantor’s attitude toward candy illustrates the lengths lawmakers will go to make campaign fundraisers a memorable experience for high-dollar donors. Meredith McGehee is with the watchdog group, Campaign Legal Center.

Chocolate is always an attraction

Hershey offers spooky fun this Halloween

During October, The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue will offer Halloween activities to guests participating in select Chocolate Lab classes and in Black Cat Alley - a special workshop for kids.

Guests can enjoy spooky chocolate art classes in the Chocolate Lab. In "Build a Batty Bar," learn how cocoa beans are transformed into your favorite chocolate confections and design your own Halloween-themed chocolate bar.

Also, guests can solve the mystery of chocolate's origins and learn the difference between white, milk and dark chocolate varieties in "Chocolate Cobweb Creations." Then, using white and milk chocolate, create a delicious Halloween web and top it off with a tinted white chocolate spider.

On weekends, beginning Oct. 16, kids can design a pin that lights up and make a Halloween mask in Black Cat Alley. For a great photo opportunity, guests are invited to pose against a vintage Hershey's advertising backdrop.

http://www.importedchocolate.org

How Chocolate Sweetens the Recession

It is the low-cost comfort food with a hint of indulgence.

So it is no surprise Britons have turned to chocolate to keep their spirits up during the recession.

Research suggests that 90 per cent ‘regularly’ eat chocolate, regarding it as a treat to reward themselves or lift their mood.

Figures also show that sales of chocolate are up 9.2 per cent in two years to reach £3.6billion, at a time of belt-tightening in households across the UK.

Retail analysts Mintel, which conducted the research, predicts sales will continue to grow to hit £4.1billion by 2015.

However, a global shortage of cocoa is driving up the price of chocolate on the shelves.

Cadbury and Nestlé are reported to have increased prices by up to 7 per cent across some of their most popular products – including Dairy Milk, KitKat and Yorkie.

Read more: Read more about chocolate

Mars New Products

Confectionery giant Mars Inc has launched two chocolate bars and three ice-cream lines in the US.Mars unveiled Snickers Peanut Butter Squared and Twix Coconut Cookie Bars at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show in Atlanta.

The company also launched ice-cream flavours under the Snickers, Twix and Milky Way brands.

“At Mars Chocolate North America, we strive to help our retailers drive profit by providing them with innovative new products, exciting consumer promotions and effective sales tools,” said Jim Murphy, vice president of sales for Mars Chocolate North America.

The Snickers peanut-butter bar will go on sale in December, while the “limited-edition” Twix coconut cookie line will hit convenience-store shelves in April.

The three ice-cream products - Snickers Rocky Road, Milky Way Ice Cream and Twix Peanut Butter - will be available in pint-size containers from January.

PRODUCTS UPDATE: Lindt New Creations

Discover the latest creations from Lindt’s Maîtres Chocolatiers. Their unique recipes are crafted using the world’s highest quality cocoa beans and finest ingredients. Indulge yourself with Lindt’s new chocolate masterpieces.

Excellence Roasted Almond

Excellence 50% Cacao

Petits Desserts White Chocolate Mousse

Lindor Stracciatella Chocolate

Lindor 60% Cacao Chocolate

Read more on chocolate news here

Halloween Chocolate Pizza

Don’t get it confused, this isn’t a pizza with chocolate on top. That would just taste a bit weird.

This is a pizza made entirely from chocolate (different types in most cases) and when I say chocolate, I mean Belgian, and when I say Belgian I mean that really delicious melt in your mouth, tickle your belly stuff.

The chocolate pizzas come with a variety of toppings and all in a pizza box. Very cool.

Check it out. The spider web, the chocolate spider, just all of that chocolate… You want one too? So you should!

If you want the ultimate treat this Halloween, I really can’t think of anything made of chocolate that will even come close to this.

Whether you’re staying in for a movie, having friends to dinner, or you’re just really generous to your trick or treaters, this is thus far the coolest and tastiest thing you can buy.

Look out for Gourmet chocolate novelties here

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

While finding gourmet chocolate that is not contaminated with nut ingredients can be challenging, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates delivers a quality product you can be sure of. LoveToKnow Gourmet, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Gail Elvidge, President of Vermont Nut Free Chocolates. This small, Vermont company produces a range of nut-free, artisan chocolate products shipped around the world. Gail shares with us the history of the products, allergen information and talks a little about their quality ingredients.

Nut-Free (not dairy-free) Chocolate

Every since I have realized I have a peanut allergy, I have really struggled to find chocolate that isn't processed with nuts.  Guess what I just learned?  Hershey's kisses may just be my answer to nut-free chocolate.  They claim on their website that all chocolate is clearly labeled with allergens.  And I picked up some kisses last week at the store that didn't list peanuts or tree nuts anywhere.

http://www.importedchocolate.org

Top 20 Reasons Why Chocolate is Better Than Sex

1. You can GET chocolate.

2. “If you love me you’ll swallow that” has real meaning with chocolate.

3. Chocolate satisfies even when it has gone soft.

4. You can safely have chocolate while you are driving.

5. You can make chocolate last as long as you want it to.

6. You can have chocolate in front of your mother.

7. If you bite the nuts too hard the chocolate won’t mind.

8. Two people of the same sex can have chocolate without being called nasty names.

9. The word “commitment” doesn’t scare off chocolate.

10. You can have chocolate on top of your workbench/desk during working hours without upsetting your work mates.

11. You can ask a stranger for chocolate without getting your face slapped.

12. You don’t get hairs in your mouth with chocolate.

13. With chocolate there’s no need to fake it.

14. Chocolate doesn’t make you pregnant.

15. You can have chocolate at any time of the month.

16. Good chocolate is easy to find.

17. You can have as many kinds of chocolate as you can handle.

18. You are never too young or too old for chocolate.

19. When you have chocolate it does not keep your neighbors awake.

20. With chocolate size doesn’t matter; it’s always good.

http://www.importedchocolate.org
 

Chocolatier Bernard Callebaut making a last-dtich effort to save his company

Lovers of Bernard Callebaut gourmet chocolates will be interested to hear that the Calgary-based chocolatier is making a last-ditch effort to save his company, which went into receivership in early August.
He has a Wednesday  deadline.
The fourth-generation chocolatier, who is originally from Belgium, has apparently formulated a plan that would see him making chocolates for the company with a new brand identity, storefront and factory, according to a Calgary Herald story.
The company is currently under the control of  court-appointed Deloitte & Touche.
Sadly, the passionate chocolatier got himself into this pickle because he was trying to expand production to accommodate growing demand for his popular gourmet chocolate.
No doubt the owners of chocolate shops carrying Bernard Callebaut chocolates — including the Cathedral Village location in Regina, owned by David Loblaw — will be watching with interest. Fingers crossed that Bernard is able to find enough investors to join him to bid for the company.
Keep that delicious Bernard Callebaut chocolate coming!

http://www.importedchocolate.org

Best chocolate shops in Las Vegas, NV

Starting locally, Ethel's Chocolate Factory is based in Henderson and offers a line of gourmet chocolates.  This company was originated by none other than the founder of Mars chocolates, in honor of his mother, Ethel.  The Ethel's Factory offers a tour through the factory and adjacent cactus gardens.  This is a beautiful place to visit during the holidays as the gardens are decorated with lights for Christmas.  At the end of the tour, you are treated to a piece of chocolate fresh from the factory.  There is no charge for the tour. 

http://www.importedchocolate.org  

Chocolate Wedding Favors Cappuccino Biscotti

These scrumptious Biscotti Cookies are perfect favors for Beach Weddings and Weddings, Fundraisers and Special Events packaged with Custom Labels ~ Starfish Labels ~ Damask Labels or with your Wedding Logo and message or with one of my ready made labels.

Having a Baby or Bridal Shower? These 3" gourmet cookies come in a celephane pouch and tied with bows in your wedding colors. They are pretty decorations for each table setting or in a basket for guests to take home.

For Events that call for something Special and Sweet to thank your guests for coming, these cookies are the perfect thing. They will come in a cellophane bag, tied with a bow and one of my ready made tags.

http://www.importedchocolate.org