We just upgraded our blog to the latest version of WordPress, and a new template called “Fanwood”. Also added a lightbox feature for photos (just click on a photo and use the arrow keys to see all the pictures in a post). What do you think of the new features? Any requests?
A great little video from KQED about TCHO and talks about how they make chocolate.
here has been some recent activity relating to the problem of child labor on cacao plantations, and I thought it would be interesting to look at some of it.
Here is a story about the cocoa industries’ goals:
And here is a piece about how Hershey is behind other companies on verifying the labor practices of their suppliers:
There is progress, but not nearly enough for my tastes. If you find out any more info about these issues, please let us know. We want to keep track of the industry’s progress in dealing with child labor!
Click me to read me….
One of our favorite chocolates, Claudio Corallo was featured in Sunset Magazine, where they called the 75% dark chocolate “pure pleasure.” We heartily agree!
Kerstin was interviewed by columnist Scott McKeen of the Edmonton Journal. Read the article! It is fun and entertaining!
One slight correction: Kerstin did NOT say or imply that she sometimes eats Snickers bars. We are not sure where that come from! 🙂
Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at Indulgence 2009. We had a lot of fun at the event, and we hope that you did too. We create a new recipe for the event, and we were surprised by the response! We called it our “Cassis Chocolate Cup with Praline Crunch” and it was made with ingredients from two local producers: local Honey from Lola Canola Honey and local black currants from Mo Na Foods. Check out the diagram!
Diagram of our desert!
We hope to post some photos of the event soon.
We just started using Twitter, and we find it to be a very good way to send out updates on what we are doing. If you use Twitter, just click here to start following us! We also have a Facebook page. Please get social!
Our thanks go out to everyone who took part in the Easter Egg Hunt. It was not an easy one! There were only so many eggs in the wild, and some people started too late and found that they could not get all the eggs they were looking for. We hope you didn’t get frustrated! To give you an idea of how it worked here is what we did:
We started with 96 eggs of 6 different colors. We mixed them up and distributed them to the 10 locations (All of these locations were our partner retailers who sell our Chocophilia products in their stores. All of them are independent and locally owned!)
Over the course of four days 7 people were able to find 6 different eggs and bring them into the store. Only 3 people came in with 3 eggs.
Thanks to everyone who participated. I hope you all had fun! We will try to do more of this kind of fun activity in the future. If you have any feedback, just leave a comment by clicking on the comment button below.
Here it is! There is info about two big events before Valentine’s Day, our new products and much more!
We were mentioned in an article last week in the Calgary Herald entitled “Pairing whisky and chocolate.”: click here to read it!
A very nice person named Marianne came to our chocolate tasting event on Dec 10th, and she wrote this description of the proceedings.
We were reviewed as a “upcoming chocolate shop” in the lastest issue of City Spice magazine, a Travel Alberta publication. Read the article here.
At the party last night we distributed a quiz, and many people asked for the correct answers, so here they are: (by the way, we had 3 winners, all who scored a very impressive 4 out of 5!)
An article about Claudio Corallo chocolate appeared in the July 17th issue of Maclean’s magazine, and Kerstin was quoted! Click the image below to read the article.
We were listed as one of Edmonton’s hot new stores in Wish Magazine’s Cross Canada Shopping Guide. Check out the write up.
Father’s Day is coming up this Sunday, and The Cocoa Room is rolling out some new items for Dad. The first is a special filled chocolate: The Bourbon Cigar. It is a dark chocolate cigar made of our 65% Venezuelan chocolate filled with a special ganache: dark chocolate and Bourbon. A wonderful treat that will put a smile on Dad’s face. Click on the photo to see a larger image.
We have created a new filled chocolate in the shape of a red and gold cocoa pod. It is filled with a spicy lime and chili ganache, a new, wonderful combination that we are all now in love with.
Finally, if Dad likes milk chocolate, may we suggest a novel type of chocolate: milk chocolate sardines! These gourmet milk chocolates are shaped like sardines, and will appeal to Dad, whether he is a fisherman or not. Michel Cluizel, one of France’s greatest chocolate makers, makes these whimsical treats.
Come visit The Cocoa Room this week and see all of these Father’s Day gifts and more!
Kerstin was interviewed by Nick Tooke on the first episode of his new food series on CityTV called “Nick’s Nosh”.
(To open the video in a separate window, click here.
We got some T-shirts made up, and they look great. There are 4 color variations (red, green, blue and yellow) of the Chocophilia Logo, and men’s and women’s sizes. There are also versions for infants and toddlers! We have tote bags too!
Here are some pictures, and we will add more soon.
In our first chocolate making class May 15th, students made passion fruit truffles, mocha truffles, fruit and nut mediants, and chocolate bark. Everybody had a lot of fun. At the end of class everybody was able to temper chocolate!
Table Tempering
Having fun with Truffles
Our bars are now on sale at the brand new Sobeys market on Jasper Ave and 104th St in downtown Edmonton.
On May 5th, Jake and Curtis brought a chocolate sculpture that they designed and built at Kerstin’s Chocolates to the 4th annual Books2Eat Gala Event.
The event brought together chef’s and librarians to help raise money for the construction of the new Lois Hole library in west Edmonton.
Our entry into the “Edible Books” event was a chocolate sculpture inspired by the works of Dr. Seuss. There was a white chocolate hat for the Cat in the Hat, chocolate green eggs and ham, and a chocolate Lorax, and a chocolate fish. They used modeling chocolate and cocoa butter spray painting to create a very artistic sculpture.
All the Edible Books were auctioned off at the event, and this sculpture sold for the greatest amount. We are very happy that we were able to support the Edmonton Public Libraries, and we hope the owner of this sculpture enjoys it!
You asked “What am I going to give mom on Mother’s Day? (It is coming up soon: Sunday, May 11th!)”
Here is the answer! Our new chocolate bouquet: it can be shipped anywhere in Canada. To order it now, click here.
Tickets are now on sale for our first chocolate making class!
Click here to find out more and purchase your tickets.
Jan Hostyn of Vue Weekly Magazine wrote about our store. She said:
As I nibbled my way through the shop, I was especially impressed with their chocolate caviar and the rich sipping chocolate -- almost like warm, dark, intense, liquid chocolate.
and
Venture off the beaten path and seek out The Cocoa Room. Immerse yourself in the whole delicious chocolate experience, and watch Roos' eyes light up with enthusiasm as she helps you find your passion. But be warned: once you've had the good stuff, there's no going back.
Local Copy of Article
From April 3rd to April 6th, Kerstin will be at the “Everything Chocolate” pavillion at the Edmonton Home and Garden Show. We will have a booth where we will sell chocolate (booth CH5) near the stage! Come visit us, and try some of our new flavors of chocolate.
