{"id":2208,"date":"2013-01-30T09:09:48","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T15:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/?p=2208"},"modified":"2013-01-30T10:07:26","modified_gmt":"2013-01-30T16:07:26","slug":"chocolate-heaven-in-bern-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/?p=2208","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate heaven in Bern, Switzerland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2221\" title=\"IMG_0198\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2208 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_01541.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_01541-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_01541-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_01541-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0158.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0158-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0158-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0158-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0166.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0166-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0166-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0166-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0171.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0171-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0171-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0171-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0172.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0172-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0172-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0172-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0173.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0173-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0173-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0173-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0190.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0190-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0190-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0190-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0193.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0193-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0193-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0193-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/IMG_0198-240x240.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve never been to Switzerland before.\u00a0 Even though I love Swiss chocolate.\u00a0 Since I am living so close to Switzerland now, I accepted\u00a0 an invitation from Felchlin to meet with their reps at a confectionary show in Bern.\u00a0 I started using Felchlin chocolate in 2005 to start my \u00a0Chocophilia line and the more I work with it (and taste it) the more I&#8217;ve grown to love it.\u00a0 Felchlin does a lot to promote fine chocolate by seeking out high quality, rare and otherwise interesting cocoa beans. \u00a0Their Cru Sauvage chocolate made from \u201cwild\u201d Bolivian cocoa beans is one of the best chocolates I\u2019ve ever tried and their Maracaibo 65% won best couverature in the world in 2004!<\/p>\n<p>Knowing all this, why have I waited so long to go to Switzerland? \u00a0I don&#8217;t really know. \u00a0But I&#8217;m glad I finally did.<\/p>\n<p>I planned to head over to the event as soon as I got to Bern, \u00a0but \u00a0through the window of the tram(the tram system in Bern is really good, by the way), I saw the pink sign for \u201cBeeler Chocolatier\u201d-one of the shops I wanted to visit. \u00a0I jumped off and with suitcase in tow, \u00a0descended upon the shop.\u00a0 I usually hesitate when I buy chocolates because you never know what kind of chocolate they use and I hate being disappointed by an overly sweet or otherwise lackluster bon bon. \u00a0Happily \u00a0I saw some truffles\u00a0 labeled \u201cMaracaibo\u201d and the shopkeeper confirmed it was Felchlin(it always pays to ask!). \u00a0 \u00a0I noticed right away that the Swiss make chocolates differently \u00a0than the French. \u00a0It\u2019s kind of a combination of French and the Belgian chocolate styles, where they use molds like the Belgians rather than cut ganaches but the chocolates are less creamy and more chocolatey like the French. \u00a0 There is a lot of stuff with nuts like Gianduja or \u201cpralines\u201d. \u00a0 I had one of Beeler&#8217;s classic Caramalina, which was a milk chocolate cup filled with hazelnut praline and \u00a0topped with caramalized hazelnuts.\u00a0 One bite and I knew Switzerland and I would get along very well.<\/p>\n<p>When I finally got to the event, \u00a0I first went to check out the Swiss Chocolate Masters. \u00a0 The Chocolate Masters is a competition where pastry chefs vye for a spot to compete for the worlds in Paris.\u00a0 They are judged on the taste and presentation of their pralines, tortes, plated desserts and chocolate sculptures.\u00a0 I got there in time to see the judges taste and judge the desserts, which was the final event in the competition.\u00a0 The winning dessert , made by the young pastry chef who would end up winning the competition, was two \u201crocks\u201d stacked on top each other that when split open, oozed a liquid filling over the chocolate \u201crock\u201d cake below it.\u00a0 Pretty cool!<\/p>\n<p>Back at the show I visited the Felchlin booth, which was decked out to look like a cafe complete with coffee bar, tables and servers.\u00a0 On the menu was a hot chocolate made with their new Grenada chocolate(delicious) and a parfait of sorts with chocolate ice cream, fruit, rum and sponge cake(also delicious). \u00a0 I devoured all this quite quickly as I waited to speak to a representative.\u00a0 The very nice woman who had attended to me introduced me to Mr. Schoenbaechler \u00a0who is the head of innovation and quality at Felchlin. \u00a0I told him that I have been using Felchlin for nearly 10 years in Canada and that this fantastic chocolate was one of my inspirations to travel the world in search for cacao with my family. \u00a0 He told me about the time he first tasted the Cru Sauvage beans at an organic food show in Germany and instantly saw something special in them.\u00a0 He worked with Volker Lehman(the man who \u201cdiscovered\u201d them in Bolivia) to perfect the fermentation until they had a product he was happy with. \u00a0 He also gave me some recommendations for chocolate shops in Bern. \u00a0 He recommended I try the custom 70% Cru sauvage bar that Felchlin makes for Sprungli(I did and it was great!). \u00a0 Sprungli, I learned, split off from Lindt in 1836 to focus exclusively on making confections, while Lindt continued on to make bean to bar chocolate. \u00a0 \u00a0I left the show a happy camper with a bag filled with assorted Felchlin chocolate and an invitation from Mr. Schoenbaechler to\u00a0visit the factory in the town of Schwyz. \u00a0Can\u2019t wait to go back!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve never been to Switzerland before.\u00a0 Even though I love Swiss chocolate.\u00a0 Since I am living so close to Switzerland now, I accepted\u00a0 an invitation from Felchlin to meet with their reps at a confectionary show in Bern.\u00a0 I started &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/?p=2208\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[108],"tags":[313,315,312,314],"class_list":["post-2208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kerstins-news","tag-bern","tag-cri-sauvage","tag-felchlin","tag-sprungli"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2208"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2237,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2208\/revisions\/2237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kerstinschocolates.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}