Choc Au Lait - Choco Lait; Chocolate products and chocolate shops, cooking with chocolate, recipes, product reviews, chocolate fancy articles, all about chocolate and chocolate fans
Thursday, July 30, 2009
at
9:46 AM
| Posted by
Jack Sparrow 007
Only the Connosseur of Chocolate knows of Michel Cluizel - and only the Connosseur is prepared to pay for it - but he how knows what delights are hidden within the creations of Michels products is more that prepared to fork out for the acclaimed luxury of pampering oneself with this, perhaps most elegant of chocolate products..
About Michel and his Chocolate Michel Cluizel has been a manufacturer of high-quality chocolate in the French town of Damville in Normandy since 1947
The Company The Michel Cluizel company began when Michel Cluizel's parents March and Marcelle Cluizel expanded their pastry business into making chocolate from their own family kitchen. Later in 1947 Michel became an apprentice in his parent's business.
Their first export order came in 1981 as they dispatched products to the USA and they opened their first shop in Paris in 1987.
The company has 200 employees, including the four children of the owner and name sake of the company. Michel Cluizel owns a store on Rue Saint-Honore in Paris. In August 2004, the company opened a subsidiary in the United States. However, one is no longer able to order from the company's web site in the United States. It is unclear why the company has ceased selling chocolate products through its American web site.
My wife is a freak when it comes to chocolate - she just turned me on to a brand i had never heard of before but now I am about to have a phase on the stuff i think (especially since we bought a gift basket of it and live alone so we have plenty to get rid of)
About Godiva Chocolate
Godiva Chocolatier is a manufacturer of premium chocolates and related products. Godiva owns and operates more than 450 retail boutiques and shops in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia and is available via over 10,000 specialty retailers.
It also has a direct-sales business through its website or via a toll-free number.
Besides chocolates, Godiva also sells truffles, coffee, cocoa, biscuits, dipped fruits and sweets, "Chocolixir" beverages, wedding and party favors and other items arranged in gift baskets. Godiva's signature package is the Gold Ballotin (French for "small, elegant box of chocolates"). Godiva also produces seasonal and limited edition chocolates with special packaging for all major holidays. Godiva also has license agreements for the production of ice cream, cheesecake, coffee pods and liqueur that comes in several chocolate-related flavors.
Godiva Chocolates is relatively expensive, even compared to lesser-known brands that are considered to be of higher quality, like Valrhona or Michel Cluizel.
Sweet expertise is another extremely creative producer of designer chocolate for special occasions - I wouldlike to present you with one of their latest and greatest products designed for weddings and related events. Delight your guests with this absolutely adorable combo! Designed to look like a wedding dress and tuxedo, this pair of gourmet chocolate covered Oreos is certain to leave a lasting impression. Perfect as wedding favors, engagement party favors or bridal shower favors.
Jennifer Savinelli launched Sweet Expertise in the year 2006 after many years of making inventive chocolate creations for her family and friends.She started selling her genial chocolate fantasies to various businesses, including department stores, caterers, gourmet food stores, florists, party planners and many restaurants.
I personally have to admit something though.. i bought a set to give to some aquaintances who were getting married, but one night i got the munchies and couldnt resist it.. i ate them all and had to buy something else on the wedding. It was worth the shameful feeling though.
I can't believe what Chocolate dot com have come up with this is one of the wierdest and most delicious goodies i have ever had in my mouth! Whoever came up with this idea must have been on some kind of psychotropic drugs or something.. but you have to gime them credit, it tastes absolutely amazing. This is also sure to be an eye opener when you give it to someone as a gift. I mean whoever would think of including an edible foto of your choice?
I think you should try this i really mean it. It is a trip into a world of chocolate avant garde design and taste sensations.
Round Lollipop Wedding Cake Roses Chocolate In Clamshell From Chocolate.com Personalized Chocolates Made exclusively by Chocolate(dot)com, our chocolate lollipops are one of our most popular items! Round, heart, and star-shaped pops are made from 1 full ounce of premium chocolate featuring the edible photo or logo of your choice. Perfect for celebrations, parties, business promotions and life events. Starting at $4.00 each; minimum order: 24 pops. Further Product Details;
Number of Pieces - 24 Gift Note Available? - Yes Send to Multiple Recipients? - Yes Advance Delivery Dates? - Yes Package Dimensions - Length : 10 inches, Height : 10 inches, Width : 10 inches Weight - Packaged Weight : 60 oz, Product Weight: 29, Edible Weight: 27 Contents - nuts:No, sugar:Yes, all kosher:No, all fair trade:No, traces of nuts:Yes, dairy:Yes, eggs:No, gluten:No, all organic:No, all vegan:No, alcohol:No, soy:No
Friday, May 8, 2009
at
4:49 AM
| Posted by
Jack Sparrow 007
Cadbury's is perhaps the Chocolate i know the best, and have eaten the most of during my life. This is primarily due to the fact that i was born in the U.K. and grew up with hundreds of Cadbury's products in plain view in every conrer shop. Cadbury's chocolate has now become so populare that is is available in Thailand (where i now live), in every Seven Eleven shop, and a lot of local small supermarkets stock Cadbury's too!
Here's what Cadbury's themselves have to say about some of their products;
Cadbury Dairy Milk is Britain’s favourite chocolate and was launched in 1905. It is sold in 33 countries as diverse as Thailand, South Africa and Canada. Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar 2.6oz-pack 3 Bars
Here is a basic History of Cadburys Products (taken from cadbury's Website)
1824
John Cadbury opens his first shop in Bridge Street, Birmingham, selling tea, coffee, cocoa and drinking chocolate.
1831
John Cadbury moves into manufacturing, renting an old malthouse in Crooked Lane to make cocoa and drinking chocolate.
1866
After buying a cocoa press from a Dutch manufacturer Cadbury Brothers launch a new product with no added starch, Cocoa Essence.
1875
The first Cadbury Easter Eggs were produced. Made of dark chocolate they contained sugar-coated chocolate drops.
1897
The first Cadbury milk chocolate goes on sale, made of milk powder paste, cocoa mass, cocoa butter and sugar.
1905
Cadbury Dairy Milk was launched in a bid to rival Swiss products and take advantage of new technology. Dairy milk is perhaps one of the longest surviving and best selling of all cadbury Chocolate products. I myself must have consumed 2000 of them in my lifetime!
Bournville chocolate was first produced, taking its name from the factory where it was made.
1914
J.S. Fry & Sons launched Fry’s Turkish Delight, rose-flavoured Turkish delight covered in milk chocolate.
1915
Milk Tray launched, as an ‘everyday’ box of chocolates – stylish but without frills. I love the original TV Commercial Ad for Milk tray it feels so Nostalgic to watch it. The James Bond style approach was a hit when it comes to catching the viewer's interest. I must have both received and given tens of these chocolate boxes (as we call them in UK). Grandma and Mum always got one on Brithdays and Mother's day. It was always a classic gift and served us many times when we couldn't think what to buy the person for their birthday, or special day.
Watch some of the Old Cadbury's Milk Tray as a playlist. It's almost as exciting as watching a 007 James Bond Movie. The one below is from 1978 and was a classic - the motto of the product became a common phrase used when a man went out of his way for any reason to acheive something (!) "And all because, the Lady Loves, Milk Tray" My favourite of all the ads made for Milk Tray is the speedboat ad from 1970s. I have included it as a google video below for you to enjoy and see why i like it so much!
Flake is born, when a Cadbury employee notices how chocolate drained off the moulds formed a stream of folded chocolate. The motto "Only the Crumbliest, Flakiest Chocolate; Tastes like Chocolate never Tasted Before!" became known worldwide with the famous TV Commercial for Cadbury's Flake Chocolate. The flaky consistency of this product became the favourite of many, with varied techniques appearing of how to dispose of the remaining choco flakes which crumbled off in the packet whilst biting off chunks of this wonderful creation of chocolate genius.
Click on the images of the Crunchie Bars to order some.
1938
Cadbury Roses hit the shops, with distinctive blue packaging and a rose design.
1948
Fudge was launched. Still popular today it became most famous for its advertising jingle ‘A finger of fudge is just enough…’
1958
Fry’s launched Picnic, made of caramel, raisins, peanuts and milk chocolate, in 1958.
1967
The Aztec bar was launched as a rival to Mars with a lavish TV campaign and life size cardboard Aztec warriors in shops.
1970
Curly Wurly first appeared in this year. It was voted the best ‘retro’ chocolate bar still in general production in 2004.
1971
Cadbury Creme Eggs first appeared in this year, though the company had made cream-filled eggs since 1923.
1981
Wispa is launched this year. After a prominent TV advertising campaign in 1983 it becomes an iconic product of the 1980s.
1985
Boost was launched this year. Originally a Coconut Boost it’s evolved since and various versions have been on sale, with Biscuit Boost being launched in 1989
1996
Fuse launched selling 40 million bars in the first week, and becoming the UK’s favourite confectionery within eight weeks.
1999
Cadbury Heroes first appear on the shelves – a tub full of miniature bars including Dairy Milk, Twirl, Fudge and Crunchie.
2007
Wispa is relaunched for a limited time after an online petition and campaign by members of the public.
2008
Twisted arrives in the shops. This bar filled with Creme Egg fondant makes the Creme Egg experience available all year round.
2008
Wispa is now permanently back on the shelves after its successful temporary relaunch in 2007.
Cadbury Dairy Milk continues to go from strength to strength today with more than 250 million bars sold every year. There are twelve different varieties to enjoy including Whole Nut, Fruit & Nut and new Apricot Crumble Crunch and Cranberry and Granola.
Every ½ pound of Cadbury Dairy Milk contains a glass and a half full of fresh liquid milk.
One of my favourites as a child was Cadbury's Creme Eggs. At first, they were only available at Eastertime, but they bec ame so popular that they began appearing in sweet shops all the year round after a year or two (to my delight). I used to love biting the top of the egg, and then slowly scooping the yellow and white filling out with my tongue. Then i would eat the empty chocolae husk at the end. I can't buy them here in Thailand in the shops, but luckily i can order per ems over Amazon, and buy these in boxes to last me a while.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
at
7:00 PM
| Posted by
Jack Sparrow 007
Chocolate.com is one of the top three manufacturers and vendors of high quality cocoa products on the world wide web;
The manufacturer's website features handmade, artisan, and gourmet chocolate gifts from world-class chocolate vendors. The Chocolate.com catalog contains thousands of products from over 80 vendors that span a wide array of confections: Truffles, chocolate bars, fudge, brownies, cookies, cakes. All orders are processed internally and securely. We follow the customer through the fulfillment process, providing support and shipping updates at each step of the way. All chocolate dot com products i can say to be of the highest quality and the packaging is also of a very high end format, leaving you feeling totally pampered from the moment you begin opening the box, till the moment you finish the last chocolate!
Chocolate.com products are perfect for seasonal offerings and specialty food sites. Our catalog is managed by chocolate experts, updating and refreshing our offering for each new season. Kosher, organic, vegan, sugar-free and fair-trade are examples of our specialty categories. Try chocolate dot com's Grande Gift Box Assortment This is one of my favourite of all packages i can manage to get my fill no matter how if guests are present when the box is opened Mind you on a good day i can finish the box to myself too. Slurp. Apart from the Grande Gift box, i also often purchase the Sweet Treats Chocolate Cookie And Candy Large Gift Basket which is a real mega pig out. You'll need some friends to help you with that one though.. unless you are trying to break the guiness book of records for the most chocolate eaten.
Lavish her with the gift of celebration, of luxury, and of the best Mom love wrapped in paper: chocolate! And not just any chocolate for this Happy Mother’s Day! It has to be from one of the best small-batch American chocolatiers that still hand-make their confections using the finest of ingredients, and the Frenchiest of all superb French styles!
Where can mere mortals find such unabashed chocolate heaven? Perhaps only at Chocolate.com, the unique artisanal marketplace for real chocolatiers. Consider the Gourmet Chocolate section, where many little angelic chocolate tidbits reside. How long has it been since you have given your Mom a beautiful box of Chocolate Petit Fours made by the Danish chef, Fritz Knipschildt, who has professionally trained in France, Spain and his native Denmark?
Let our 24 piece chocolate collection escort Mom on a journey through flavors like Local Blueberry Port and Chamomile Honey Caramel. Find this jewel and a king's ransom of others under the Chocolate Gift heading.
Here's a customer's review of the product; "WOW! First off, your packaging is so high-end and beautiful. It says “quality” right from the start. Then the flavors are just wonderful. There wasn’t one that I didn’t like! I cut each one into quarters so I could sample each one yesterday. I was amazed how one little thing like a pignoli nut or pumpkin seed can add so much to the flavor. You both achieved perfection in chocolate. I have never had the opportunity to taste something so special. :) - Christine"
Don’t forget to consider a great, big and just plain wonderful Gift Basket for Mom. Having this Sweet Treats Chocolate Cookie And Candy Large Gift Basket come to her door will make her almost, that’s almost as happy as a new grandchild on the way.
So choose some special Chocolate.com chocolate today for your Mom. You can order early, and just specify the day you want your gift to arrive. You’ll be glad you did, but most of all, so will she.
About Chocolate dot com Chocolate.com features handmade, artisan, and gourmet chocolate gifts from world-class chocolate vendors. The Chocolate.com catalog contains thousands of products from over 80 vendors that span a wide array of confections: Truffles, chocolate bars, fudge, brownies, cookies, cakes. All orders are processed internally and securely. We follow the customer through the fulfillment process, providing support and shipping updates at each step of the way.
Aphrodite Handmade Chocolates - English Gourmet Luxury Chocolates Hand Made in England by artisan chocolatier Janet Vine - Delicious Fresh Fruit Truffles - Fruit & Liqueur Creams - Liqueur Marzipans - Champagne Cocktail Truffles and more. Delivered 'WORLDWIDE' - FREE UK DELIVERY
Chocolate is a product derived from the cocoa bean, found in pods (illustrated above) growing from the trunk and lower branches of the Cacao Tree,. It's Latin name is 'Theobroma Cacao' meaning literally; "food of the gods". How Chocolate came to be; In the year 1828 A.D. Johannes Van Houten, a chemist from the Netherlands, invented a method of extracting the fat or "cocoa butter" from ground cocoa beans.what we now know to be called as 'cocoa' powder was the resulting extract, which as we know already, is much less bitter tasting and, when combined with sugar or honey, and hot milk, became one of the Western world's most popular bedtime and breakfast drinks of living Human History! This method used by the Dutch chemist eventually received the name "Van Houten process". Directly because of this invented process, Fry's and Sons (one of Englands oldest sweetmaking institutions), was able to make commercially viable extraction of cocoa powder and were the first manufacturers in History ever to have produced a "Chocolate Bar" - this was acheived for the first time in the year 1847. In the year 1875 the Swiss commercial manufaturing brand Daniel Peters was able to utilise the Van Houten process to successfully mix the pure cocoa powder with powdered milk and were the first ever to make real "Milk Chocolate".
The steps in the process from treepod to chocolate;
The first step is taken by harvesting the cocoa pods. It is these pods which contain the cocoa beans, which are used in the making of Chocolate.
The Cocoa Pods are then crushed up into a fine pulp, which is then extracted and fermented using natural methods for about six days. This is either done by piling the mixture up in the open, or is put into boxes. After fermentation, the beans are then dried.
The finest chocolate is produced through the drying process. This is most commonly done naturally by laying the mixture in the open air under the the sun and left for a period of 7 days or so.
The next process is shared with coffee in that the beans are first graded, then roasted. Roasting times depend on the type and size of the beans, like coffee this can also affect the final flavour of the chocolate. This is why there is such a massive difference in the taste of quality chocolate and mass manufactured chocolate.
Careful Crushing process then separates the kernel or 'Nib' from the shell or husk (like shelling a nut), the husk is then removed and separated from the essential ingredient (yeah.. Chocolate, slurp!).
At this stage most manufacturers put the Cocoa Nibs through an alkalisation process to help develop flavour and colour. However, some purists producing the finest chocolate prefer to rely on the quality of the beans and natural processing to produce the best colour and flavour.
The nibs, which are very high in fat or cocoa butter, are then finely milled and liquefy in the heat produced by the milling process to produce cocoa liquor. When cocoa liquor, otherwise known as cocoa mass, is allowed to cool and solidify.
At this point the manufacturing process splits according to the final product. If the end product is chocolate, some of the cocoa liquor is reserved, the rest is pressed to extract the cocoa butter leaving a solid residue called press cake. Press cake is usually kibbled or finely ground to produce the product known to consumers as Cocoa Powder.
Champagne Claude Baron Cuvee Saphir & Handmade Chocolates Hamper
This is my currently recommended gift for corporate occasions
A bottle of handmade Champagne and a gift ballotin box of 45 of our handmade English luxury chocolates (about 540g).
Presented in a dark willow gift hamper with leather trimmings. An exclusive luxury gift, not available anywhere else.
the champagne and chocolates hampers are delivered FREE anywhere in the UK (1-3 days), with your message on a gift card. Worldwide delivery is available
Aphrodite Handmade Chocolates - English Gourmet Luxury Chocolates Hand Made in England by artisan chocolatier Janet Vine - Delicious Fresh Fruit Truffles - Fruit & Liqueur Creams - Liqueur Marzipans - Champagne Cocktail Truffles and more. Delivered 'WORLDWIDE' - FREE UK DELIVERY
This is one of my choices for the definitive chocolate for lovers as a surprise gift. There are two sets, the silver and gold collections. Just looking at the shape of the chocolates you know that this one is meant for those who are dear to your heart of hearts. Chocolate lover of all ages will love eating these - the packaging is what i would also call in fine style, but still appears unisex in the sense that a man would not feel embarrased by receiving such a fancy package, due to the fact that, although it is finely presented and dressed, the decorative style does not appear feminine, though rather high class and luxurious. It's almost a shame to bite into one of these masterpieces of artistic chocolatery, but im sure we'll all manage to overcome the desire to keep them and finally get up enough desire to be able to demolish the lot. If you don't know which one of the two sets is best, buy one of each and try them out first, go on.. you won't regret it. Mind you, seeing as you are most probably going to fall for this brand after trying it, you might as well go for the deluxe collection and see to it that all the family gets some.. you can try all the major line of products that way. Don't wory about wightwatching, you can go for a jog around the house afterwards and work it of. You know its worth it for the pleasure of eating these delicious high class chocolates. You'll forget about Switzerland as soon as you taste the Bodega Chocolates brand. What is amazing about this company is that they also still hand-make all their products in small batches, and also are involved in Charity benefit projects
Fudge must be i think my fave of all faves in the chocolate world; This rocky road fudge got my mouth really watering, the chunks of crunchy brittle inside counterbalances the creamy soft fudge to perfection. This 8oz box is a great gift for your favourite person or relative too.. just make sure you are there when they open the box, or even better buy a box for yourself too so you dont feel jealous, and can sneakily eat them all to yourself at home.
In the coming weeks i Shall be reviewing Chocolate manufacturers from around the world, both large and small, so i advise you to sign up to our rss feed so you can keep up to date in all the new updates in your favourite rss newsreader.
Aphrodite English Handmade Chocolates - Handmade in England by Artisan Chocolatier Janet Vine. Delicious Fresh Fruit & Champagne Truffles - Fruit & Liqueur Creams. Liqueur Marzipan, Champagne Cocktail Truffles and more delivered Worldwide - FREE UK DELIVERY
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. At first, they were only available at Eastertime, but they bec ame so popular that they began appearing in sweet shops all the year round after a year or two (to my delight). I used to love biting the top of the egg, and then slowly scooping the yellow and white filling out with my tongue. Then i would eat the empty chocolae husk at the end. I can't buy them here in Thailand in the shops, but luckily i can order per ems over Amazon, and buy these in boxes to last me a while.
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