Tag Archives: Tcho

Oct 09 2016
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Chocolate Show

The Big Chocolate Show: October 8th -9th in NYC

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Waterfront NY Terminal Stores Building – site of The Big Chocolate Show – Photo Courtesy of Waterfront NY Realty (NY)

A new Chocolate Show came to town — The Big Chocolate Show — held at the Waterfront NY Terminal Stores Building in West Chelsea.  Classic American flavors and treats shared the exhibit space with more cutting-edge Chocolate and Desserts.

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TCHO’s Mokaccino Milk Chocolate Bar – Photo Courtesy of TCHO (Berkeley, CA)

TCHO showcased its Chocolate Bars with time-honored flavors, such as Coffee (the Mokaccino Milk Chocolate Bar — made with Blue Bottle Coffee) and Chocolate Mint (the Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Gelato Bar).   But TCHO’s new line will include Chocolate with floral notes, such as Bergamot (a citrus fruit) and spice.   Cat, a member of TCHO’s Sales team, made an interesting observation: Chocolate follows fashion.  And, indeed, we’re now surrounded by clothes and accessories with floral patterns.   (I recently succumbed to the charms of a floral print wallet, but I digress.)

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Lemon-Olive Oil Bonbons from Gotham Chocolate – Photo Courtesy of Gotham Chocolate (NYC)

Speaking of Citrus — an intriguing complement to and star of many Desserts — Gotham Chocolate (an offshoot the well-known New York City-based Gotham Bar and Grill restaurant) displayed its Lemon-Olive Oil Bonbons.  And Christopher Elbow Chocolates offered its Citrus Caramel Collection.

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Moon Pies from Lovie’s Nostalgia – Photo Courtesy of Lovie’s Nostalgia (NYC)

You knew it was a U.S.-based Chocolate Show when you spotted the Moon Pies at the booth of Lovie’s Nostalgia.  What is Moon Pie?  A Southern treat — marshmallow filling sandwiched between two graham crackers, with a coating, often of Chocolate.  Interestingly, Lovie’s Nostalgia is a New York City-based baker.

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Sugarcube Dessert and Coffee’s booth at The Big Chocolate Show – Photo Courtesy of Sugarcube Dessert and Coffee (NYC)

As for the more cutting-edge desserts (literally!), how about geometric Chocolates crafted with molds manufactured by a 3-D printer?  The aptly named Sugarcube Dessert and Coffee sells these treats and others at its New York City bakery and café.  Or Organic Dark Chocolate Matcha Green Tea Bars from VillaKuyaya?

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Eclat Chocolate’s Milk Chocolate Bar with Pennsylvania Dutch Pretzels – Photo Courtesy of Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA)

So much chocolate — life is good!  (Of course, I’ll be eating nothing but salad for weeks to compensate for my samples (and purchases!).

 

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Jun 15 2014
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New Products, Summer Desserts

Early Summer Product Roundup

Key Lime Cookies from Broadway Baker (NYC) - Photo Courtesy of Broadway Baker

Key Lime Cookies from Broadway Baker (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Broadway Baker

Let’s look at some products that are either seasonal, new, or just plain interesting.

Christopher Elbow's Fresh Lemon Chocolate - Photo Courtesy of Christopher Elbow (Kansas City, MO)

Christopher Elbow’s Fresh Lemon Chocolate – Photo Courtesy of Christopher Elbow (Kansas City, MO)

Christopher Elbow’s Fresh Lemon Chocolate – a combination of Lemon Pate de Fruit (a lemon jelly candy) and Lemon White Chocolate Ganache.  As I adore white chocolate and like lemon, and think they pair beautifully, I think it’s a pity you don’t see more desserts with this combination. Interestingly, even though lemons are available year-round, this is more of a seasonal summer treat.  Since lemon and other citrus fruits are so refreshing, citrus desserts are firmly entrenched in the summer months.

Broadway Baker's Key Lime Cookies - Photo Courtesy of Broadway Baker (NYC)

Broadway Baker’s Key Lime Cookies – Photo Courtesy of Broadway Baker (NYC)

Another summer citrus dessert is Broadway Baker’s Key Lime Cookie.  (Also see the Dessert Surveillance posting on Key Lime Pie.). It’s a butter cookie infused with Key Lime juice and zest and to complete the summery Key Lime package, it’s topped with a smooth Key Lime frosting.

Jeni's Key Lime Pie Cultured Yogurt - Photo Courtesy of Jeni's (Columbus, OH)

Jeni’s Key Lime Pie Cultured Yogurt – Photo Courtesy of Jeni’s (Columbus, OH)

 

Key Lime also makes its presence known in frozen yogurt.  Jeni’s offers a limited-time “Cultured Key Lime Pie Frozen Yogurt” flavor. In addition to Key Lime juice, milk and yogurt, this frozen treat sports pieces of graham cracker crust.

Graeter's Summer Peach Ice Cream - Photo Courtesy of Graeter's (Cincinnati, OH)

Graeter’s Summer Peach Ice Cream – Photo Courtesy of Graeter’s (Cincinnati, OH)

Peaches are in season in the summer and what better way to celebrate their arrival than to combine them with ice cream.  On Graeter’s line-up is a limited edition Summer Peach flavor.

Mokaccino Bar from Tcho - Photo Courtesy of Tcho (Berkeley, CA)

Mokaccino Bar from Tcho – Photo Courtesy of Tcho (Berkeley, CA)

And for those of us that are serious about both our Coffee and our Chocolate and like the idea of combining them, Tcho’s Mokaccino Bar is a Milk Chocolate Bar with Blue Bottle brand Coffee.

Guido Sobino's White Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Hazelnuts - Photo Courtesy of Guido Sobino (Italy)

Guido Sobino’s White Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Hazelnuts – Photo Courtesy of Guido Sobino (Italy)

Of course, I couldn’t include just one White Chocolate candy.   Italian Chocolatier, Guido Sobino, offers a Bianco Pralinato (White Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Hazelnuts).

Venchi's Chocolate-Coated Cremino Bigusto Piemonte Bar - Photo Courtesy of Venchi (Italy)

Venchi’s Chocolate-Coated Cremino Bigusto Piemonte Bar – Photo Courtesy of Venchi (Italy)

Chocolate-Coated Cremino Bigusto Piemonte is a chunky bar with a layer of white chocolate, a layer of hazelnut paste and to make things even more interesting, both layers are wrapped in a thin coating of dark chocolate.  This Chocolate Bar is the product of another Italian Chocolatier, Venchi.

Choc Chick's Organic Cacao Butter - Photo Courtesy of Choc Chick (UK)

Choc Chick’s Organic Cacao Butter – Photo Courtesy of Choc Chick (UK)

Do-it-yourselfers can purchase cacao butter only – that’s right, cacao butter,  the foundation of white chocolate.  Since you’re adding sugar and flavorings you’re customizing your White Chocolate Truffles.  Choc Chick, the company that offers this Cacao Butter, also sells kits with Cacao Powder so you can craft your own Chocolate Truffles.

So many summer desserts…..why isn’t summer longer?

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