Look for us at the Lilac Festival, from May 14-16 in Rochester. We will be at the “Wine & Chocolate Tasting Court” from 4 to 8pm. Meet up with us to discuss the finer points of chocolate, and sample some of our favorite chocolate treats.
Chocolate
In America, most packaged foods are good until the passing of the date printed on the back. Not so with chocolate. You’ll find that most chocolatiers, Europeans in particular, mark the date that the chocolate was made. This can be confusing, as many customers are accustomed to an expiration date as opposed to a date of origin. Another tricky bit of business is that chocolate can be good up to eighteen months after being made! To insure that your chocolate will last this long, it’s important to store it in a cool, dry place. So if you buy a bar this month that is marked October 2012, you now know that it will be good for another year–if you can hold off of eating it for that long.
*This article appeared in our e-mail version of our May newsletter
We had guest speaker Dr. Julia Stein come into our shop on April 13th and give a talk about the benefits that dark chocolate and other healthy foods have to offer. Dark chocolate is included in the Healthy Foods Pyramid, which Dr. Stein had on print outs. There were different organic chocolates for sampling, and everyone went home vowing to be healthy by eating more chocolate!
Healing Foods Talk
For the Easter Holiday, we offer 4-Days Deal!
Visit Cocoa Bean Shoppe’s website for details.
Celebrate Spring and Easter with Cocoa Bean Shoppe
Since Wednesday, March 27th through March 30th we will have extended hours.
Stop by in the Cocoa Bean Shoppe and get a gourmet Chocolate Easter basket!
Easter Spring Belgian Chocolate Gift Basket
price – $25.00
Tuesday, March 26th – Friday, March 29th:
Open 10am until 8pm.
Saturday, March 30th:
Open 10am until 5pm.
Sunday, March 31st:
WE ARE CLOSED.
The Belgian Chocolate tasting Bag.
Here at the Cocoa Bean Shoppe we are getting into the swing of spring with Belgian Chocolate Spring Tasting Bags! Each bag contains a collection of 11 tasting sized pieces (6 different kinds of chocolate). Each bag includes: 2 pink peppercorn dark pieces, 2 Earl Grey dark pieces, 2 70% dark pieces, 2 orange dark pieces, 2 hazelnut dark pieces and 60% dark chocolate. All are from Dolfin, a renowned chocolate maker. We hope you enjoy these tasting bags as much as we do!
In March, we participated in the Taste of Pittsford, a Pittsford event. It was very successful, and fun to inform people about all the different types of chocolate, the different methods of productions, and how all of that can effect the taste! We hope you made it to our table.
This is, I must admit it, my all time favorite. Rich and moist, this brownie bar is a treat. The dark chocolate brownie is coated in a delicate layer of dark chocolate that crunches in a satisfying way when you bite into it. Made by Lucienne’s, based out of Trumansburg, NY, we sell this bar for $4 at the Cocoa Bean Shoppe, or as part of a trio with two of other bars by Lucienne’s for $10. What a steal!
On Saturday, March 16th from 3:30-4:30, the Cocoa Bean Shoppe will be hosting a Chocolate Talk and Tasting. We have invited Terry Kelleher of Lucienne’s Fine Food to discuss specialty chocolate bars and the manufacturing of vegan chocolate. Kelleher is the co-owner and executive chocolate maker of Lucienne’s, which focuses on vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free chocolate. Samples of various Lucienne’s bars will be available for tasting. We hope you can join us on March 16th! The admission fee is $4.00 per person and attendance will be limited for your comfort.
Call 585-203-1618 before March 16th to reserve your seat.
Visit Lucienne’s to get a sneak peek of what Lucienne’s is all about!
Moonstruck: Mayan
Even if you’re not normally a milk chocolate fan, you’ll love this Mayan Milk Chocolate by Moonstruck. Light and sweet, this bar has a mix of cinnamon and almonds. The slight texture from the almonds compliments the smooth, creamy milk chocolate, while the cinnamon adds just a hint more of flavor.The finish is nice too–no sickly sweet taste is left on your palate, just a nice lingering of cinnamon.
On a side note, the Mayans used to think that chocolate was more precious than gold. We think they knew where it was at.
We have some exciting upcoming events this month! On February 23rd we’ll be having another Truffle Class. On the 27th we’ll be at the Penfield Library, with lots of delicious samples to try!
Next month is busy as well! Dr. Greg Seeger (Medical Director at the the Rochester General Hospital) will be coming back to give another lector, “Chocolate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.” He’ll be here March 2nd at 3:30. Admission is $4; please sign up before our limited seats are filled!
Follow up: Dr. Seeger’s talk was met with great success–who doesn’t love being told to eat chocolate for their health??