Valentine's tsunami

I survived my first Valentine's Day making chocolates for a retail shop.  I had a few major catastrophes, mostly weather related (as usual).  A few weeks before I started working on the chocolates I said "if we have a warm week and it rains again, I am done."  Well, we had a really, really warm week, in the 70s for most of it, but it didn't rain.  I will keep it up for awhile.  I went from having heat on 1 day to ac the next, it was crazy, but I am done.  So, all weather and temperature things aside, I had a very successful run.  

For Valentine's Day, I did 10 different truffles.  I was sampling and selling at Let's Talk Wine.  I have to say another round of thanks to Ian, Trish and Linda for believing in my products enough to include me in their tasting events.  They had a great turn out, which means I had success.

I was very pleased that everyone that tasted my chocolates enjoyed them, feedback is always nice, positive feedback is even better!  People had a lot of questions, which I love because there is nothing better for me than educating people about my process and chocolate in general.  There were a few faces filled with disbelief at some of my flavor choices, but all I had to say was "please taste it" to make some believers!

I will be back at Let's Talk Wine in 4-6 weeks, whenever they do another wine tasting event. I am happy to make chocolates available there when requested as well.  Hopefully we will have some chocolate centered events coming in the near future, I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again to Sharon and Lisa, it is nice to have people who are willing to give of their time for no payment other than chocolate!

So, here are the chocolates I did for Valentine's Day:

Malaga:

Creamy milk chocolate and almond butter ganache rolled in almonds and dark chocolate.  The name Malaga comes from an area of Spain where almonds grow, as well as several sites with Art Nouveau architecture.

Paris:

A return favorite that always sells out!  A classic french truffle, nothing but an amazing 65% chocolate, cream and butter.  There is no need to embellish this.

Roma:

Rome is the first place I think of when I see the word cappuccino, you?  I have taken my double espresso ganache and added a sweet, creamy white chocolate flavor.  This was a best seller.

Vienna:

Another customer favorite, and my personal favorite.  You have to love fresh ginger.  This is a soft, dark chocolate ginger ganache that can't be fully described.  

Reims:

Another flavor that has carried over from Christmas.  While the champagne flavor isn't in your face, this truffle made with 65% chocolate and champagne has a bit of something special in it.  This was a best seller as well as a most requested.

Lyon: 

I have been told not to show up if I don't bring the marshmallows.

Antwerp:

Antwerp is not only a city rich with Art Nouveau architecture, it is also a variety of raspberries, which ties in nicely to this truffle made with a 70% chocolate and framboise, which is a fortified raspberry wine.  Not for the faint of heart, this has a very intense raspberry flavor.

Rosario:

Rosario, Argentina is one of the few South American cities to contain any Art Nouveau anything!  While I don't believe ancho chiles or cinnamon come from the area, I know the combination of chocolate, cinnamon and chiles are traditional to many areas of South America.  While not spicy, this truffle is flavorful.

London:

This was a surprise favorite!  It has such an amazing scent and taste, it is just beautiful (if I do say so myself).  This took a few trials to get right, but it was well worth the effort.  The combination of chocolate and Earl Grey tea may seem odd, but it tastes great!

St. Augustine:

Another combination people thought was odd, chocolate and grapefruit; until I ask "doo you like chocolate and orange?"  Very few people say no to that.  Because this is chocolate, cream, butter and only the zest of some grapefruit it is very subtle.  I chose the name St. Augustine because I remembered that there is a stained glass window at a church in St. Augustine, Florida by L.C. Tiffany, as well as several other pieces done by Tiffany at the Lightner museum.  I know it is a stretch, but grapefruit comes from Florida when you live on the east coast!