Archive for January, 2009
How To Store Chocolate
Posted by: | CommentsOkay, back to our regular topics on learning more about chocolate.
When it comes to chocolate, the basic “do’s” and “don’ts” can make a big difference. One of the first things people wonder about is how to store chocolate. Do you put it in the fridge, or not? What about the freezer? How long can you keep chocolate?
Chocolate should generally be kept in its original wrapper and stored in that old cliche, a “cool, dark, dry place”. But what if you’ve already torn into that gourmet chocolate bar? Hmmm…in that case, we suggest putting it into a heavy quality Ziploc bag.
Should you put your chocolate in the fridge? Only if the weather where you are is notter than 70 degrees F and you don’t have the benefit of air-conditioning. When it comes to the freezer, if you store chocolate this way it should be double wrapped (triple if you count the original wrapper). And, don’t store it in a self-defrosting freezer if you can help it.
Tags: Chocolate, Chocolate & Fudge Making, Chocolate Blog, Chocolate Fudge, Dark Chocolates, Food, Gourmet Food, Handmade chocolate fudge, storing chocolateRelated posts
New Fudge Flavor Tested
Posted by: | CommentsThe last few days we’ve been busy testing out some new flavors. Among them, one called Geisha stood out the most. It is an dark chocolate fudge with catalope melon flavor intensified by a high quality melon liqueur we added. Wow, that’s really got a kick to it.
We also experimented with a brand of European sea salt for our Mr. French fudge. It has a coarser grain. It looks good, but we find the larger grain makes the chocolate too salty. So, that one was axed. We’ll stick with our Fleur-de-sel. It’s finer, more fragrant, and…well…a lot more expensive.
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New Cocopotamus Chocolate Photos
Posted by: | CommentsWe just took the first batch of cocopotamus fudge photos. They turned out pretty well. Here’s a sample of a mount of our delicious fudge. I couldn’t help eating them while taking the pictures.
one of each of our handmade dark chocolate fudge
Our Cocopotamus Fudge Balls
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More Chocolate Pairings
Posted by: | CommentsSo we’ve talked about pairing chocolate with wines and even beer. We branched out beyond the old-fashioned thinking that when it comes to wine, chocolate can only go with a somewhat sweeter red. (So not true!) And, we even learned how to pick 2 great combos of chocolate and beer types.
But what other beverages go with chocolate?
There’s the old classic, a nice cold glass of milk. Or, you could try espresso. Again, a classic – it’s hard to beat this combination.
But did you know that Japanese green tea is also extraordinary with chocolate? (It’s especially great with dark chocolate.) A high quality Jasmine tea also works very well with many chocolates. The rule of thumb is to pair chocolate with drinks with a more astringent taste.
Another alcohol choice that makes an unusual but amazing pairing with chocoalte is a really high quality, aged Port.
Tags: Artisanal Chocolate, beer, Chocolate, Chocolate Blog, Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Gifts, Chocolate Recipes, chocolate wine pairing, Dark Chocolates, Fudge, Gourmet Food, Recipes, wineRelated posts
Chocolate and Beer
Posted by: | CommentsEnough about chocolate paired with wine. What about chocolate and beer?
Great question. We think this combination can work with some of the more flavorful brews out there.
There’re 2 approaches that really work here. First, pair a darker chocolate with a pale ale such as India Pale Ale. Wait for it…sparks will fly!
Second, try a more robust, more bitter choice such as a stout. Combine this with a chocolate that has more “Sweetness and Light”, such as a milk chocolate containing mix-ins like toffee, honey, nougat, or sweetened nuts. Again, wow!
There are just two approaches to pairing beer and chocolate. But remember, you can experiment and find plenty more that might work for your palate, and for your holidays parties.
Tags: beer, Chocolate, Chocolate & Fudge Making, Chocolate Fudge, chocolate wine pairing, Dark Chocolates, Fudge, Gourmet Food, Handmade chocolate fudge, wineRelated posts
A Chocolate and Wine Menu from Cocopotamus
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s an excerpt from a real menu from a charity chocolate event hosted by Cocopotamus by NYDC Chocolate. This is from the portion of the evening dedicated to pairing chocolate desserts and fine wines. The evening, which benefited a school, focused on learning about chocolate and sampling new combination and flavors.
Here’re the 3 pairings of chocolate and wine that we served:
1. Crisp and Simple
Extra dry sparkling wine paired with hand-made white chocolate truffles with Sicilian Limoncello lemon liqueur.
2. Classic Strong Pairing
Oregon Pinot Noir with an “Almost Vegan” dark chocolate mousse
3. Yin and Yang
Momokawa Pearl Sake (light , sweet, with a hint of coconut essence) served chilled with deep, dark (decaf) espresso brownie
