April 2011 Blog Posts (12)

Chocolate-loving friends, in Ecuador, South America, we have the best cocoa in the world for its good taste and quality, we are the leading…

 "Fine chocolate is expensive, but less expensive than therapy" - a visitor's T-shirt

The long-awaited San Francisco International Chocolate Salon finally arrived on April 17th at Fort Mason, a beautiful waterfront structure overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. There were over forty chocolatiers who attended the salon, bringing with them chocolates with dozens of exotic flavors.  There was everything to please your eyes and satisfy your taste buds, including fine…

 Absence of chocolate is just not happening, just my absence while making some real transitions in my life, mostly that of moving part-time to Ecuador related not to cacao, but coffee....and cacao.

Now that may seem strange as a combination, but I have long had a passion for coffee and have developed one for dark chocolate as well, knowing the health benefits offered from this incredible food. So following my heart back to Ecuador, fully immersed in coffee, cacao trees are in…

My newest Sweet Paradise Chocolatier chocolate boutique is  soft opening May 1st at the Wailea Gateway Center in Wailea, Maui.  The official "Grand Opening" will be June 16th. This has been a 9 month process to get permits and open a store here and it doesn't even have a kitchen! Talk about island time. The store features my own truffle/confection collection focused on Tropical flavors but also bars from various Hawaii chocolate-makers- Original Hawaiian, Malie Kai, Waialua Estate, Madre…

Exciting news today: one of my favourite chocolate bars, the Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo 72%, won the 'Golden Bean', the chocolate '

Oscar' from the Academy of Chocolate in London!

And not only that, Duffy Sheardown also won the 'Best Newcomer Award'. So, again Duffy, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Marcel and I are very proud as well as we were the first Chocolatiers in the Netherlands having Duffy's in our shop in Amsterdam.

Hello my friends who love chocolate…

Bittersweet Cafe              4/9/2011 Sunny Saturday…

Discover the animation video of our…

Hello to all my chocolate loving friends that I haven't met before,

I believe that we are blessed to live in America and to beable to have so many free choices in our lives.

Well that said, lets talk chocolate and…

It takes time, it's an art, it's strategy. The business of Chocolate.

Whether it's about calling people to encourage them to enter the 'Cool Chocolate' contest or reaching people with postcards, attending Fundraisers and supporting Community efforts, 'Bringing The World of Chocolate to You' with the 4th annual Bucks County Chocolate Show is happening on April 30th in New Hope, PA. The latest news went out connecting…

Yes, they made of chocolate!

Chocolate history in China may trace back to Emperor Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty.  In 1705, Roman Pope Clement XI dispatched envoys to China as missionary. In 1706, Emperor Kangxi interviewed the missionaries, during the interview,  they presented 150 chocolates to the Emperor Kangxi. Kangxi gave it a big approval after tasting.This was the first record of chocolate in China's history.

In January 18th, 2010, The world chocolate wonderland…