Monthly Archives: June 2010

Chocolate Art: to Eat or Not to Eat?

Certainly there is an art to making chocolates.   A chocolatier brings creativity, craftsmanship, and personal style to every creation.  Chocolates are meant to be visually appealing and exceptionally enjoyable to eat.

From my perspective, put the emphasis on eat!

But here’s a twist:  what about chocolate art you don’t (or can’t) eat?

Need an example... An art exhibition featuring miniature chocolate replicas of China's ancient terracotta warriors opened this week in Taipei.
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Does Fair Trade Chocolate Taste Good?

What is Fair-trade chocolate, and does it taste as good as non-fair trade chocolate?

The Fair Trade chocolate model is intended to ensure cacao farmers receive a fair price for their harvest. Fair trade seeks to create more trade links between farmer and buyer with the intent of eliminating the “middleman.”

It is about sustainability, responsible farming, and supplying a community of growers with better education, health care, and the elimination of child and slave labor. It all sounds like good stuff.

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Chocolate and Beer Pairing

When most people think about pairing chocolate with an alcoholic beverage the product they usually consider is wine.  However, there are components in wine which can make these pairings difficult and often unpredictable.

Tannins in red wine can make dark chocolates seem more bitter, and the acidity in wines often does not  balance well with the chocolate.  Because of the variation in wine styles, even within varietals, it’s often difficult to generalize about ideal wine and chocolate pairings.

This is not the case for beer!
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Is Milk Chocolate Inferior to Dark Chocolate?

I was asked a question like this recently, "is milk chocolate considered inferior to dark chocolate?"

Inferior?  No.

Not as “in”?  Yes.
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Chocolate-Themed Party

Generally speaking, I think parties with a theme are easier to plan and more fun to attend.

Using chocolate as the star of your party appeals to all ages, genders, and budgets.  And it works great for the party–poopers, too.  Ever had the pleasure (or obligation) of trying to throw a party for the person who says “Don’t throw me a party, I hate parties!”?

I bet they won’t turn down a party in which chocolate is the center of attention.
If you are planning a kid’s birthday party, what could better than making it a chocolate party?
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