Cooking
Alice Medrich's book Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate was published a little over a year ago, since then I've noticed how crazy we are for chocolate. Again. It seems we are rediscovering how great chocolate is, especially bittersweet chocolate.
I've also noticed how many companies are making hot chocolate products (mixes, powders, etc.) Not hot cocoa, but hot chocolate, big difference. Hot chocolate is made with chocolate which contains chocolate liquor (not alcoholic) and cocoa butter. Cocoa is a powder and contains no cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is the fatty part of chocolate that gives chocolate its richness.
Perhaps you've also noticed a number of spicy hot chocolates on the market? Hot chocolate in many variations, often Aztec or Maya inspired, is becoming quite popular. In fact, Starbucks has just introduced a new super decadent hot chocolate called Chantico, named after the Aztec goddess of hearth and fire. A 6-ounce cup has 390 calories, 21 grams of fat and 51 carbs, so this stuff is a lot like "liquid dessert". Chantico made it's premiere in stores today but on January 13th from 4-5 p.m. Starbucks will be sampling this cup of sin.
I plan on trying Chantico on January 13th, (if I'm anywhere near a Starbucks) but I also plan on conducting my own hot chocolate tasting at home. If you have a favorite hot chocolate, please let me know which ones you think I ought to include.
On another note: Nominations for the fifth annual weblog awards are now taking place and they include food blogs! There are some rules to be aware of, at least three different weblogs total must be nominated. You may nominate your own weblog, but the total nominations for your own weblog must be less than one third of your total (legitimate) nominations. There is no limit to the number of categories a weblog may be nominated for. May the best blogs win!
- Tea-infused Hot Cocoa Recipe
I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I love hot chocolate and I love tea. I enjoy the richness of hot chocolate, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I certainly couldn't drink it everyday. I have tried quite a few chocolate flavored teas and...
- Meet Alice Medrich At Charles Chocolates Postponed
Photo ©Abigail Huller Since the 1800's, the Bay Area has been a delicious environment for chocolate. Early on immigrants like Guittard and Ghirardelli made their fortunes not in gold, but in chocolate and their companies exist to this day. Our cool...
- Bittersweet Cookbook
In Berkeley there are two famous Alices. One is Alice Waters, executive chef and owner of Chez Panisse, the great proponent of organic and sustainable food production and then there is Alice Medrich. Alice Medrich revolutionized the way way we think...
- Scharffen Berger Factory Tour
A few months ago I went to the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory for a visit to their shop and a tour. The shop has just about everything you can think of that you would need to make something chocolate-y. There are various kinds of chocolate, cocoa...
- Discover Different Types Of Chocolate
When I discovered a chocolate as a child I was immediately hooked up. I mean I wanted to have chocolate treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But my mother wouldn't let me of course. I love all types of chocolate and I enjoy every moment eating...
Cooking
Chocolate Revisited
Alice Medrich's book Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate was published a little over a year ago, since then I've noticed how crazy we are for chocolate. Again. It seems we are rediscovering how great chocolate is, especially bittersweet chocolate.
I've also noticed how many companies are making hot chocolate products (mixes, powders, etc.) Not hot cocoa, but hot chocolate, big difference. Hot chocolate is made with chocolate which contains chocolate liquor (not alcoholic) and cocoa butter. Cocoa is a powder and contains no cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is the fatty part of chocolate that gives chocolate its richness.
Perhaps you've also noticed a number of spicy hot chocolates on the market? Hot chocolate in many variations, often Aztec or Maya inspired, is becoming quite popular. In fact, Starbucks has just introduced a new super decadent hot chocolate called Chantico, named after the Aztec goddess of hearth and fire. A 6-ounce cup has 390 calories, 21 grams of fat and 51 carbs, so this stuff is a lot like "liquid dessert". Chantico made it's premiere in stores today but on January 13th from 4-5 p.m. Starbucks will be sampling this cup of sin.
I plan on trying Chantico on January 13th, (if I'm anywhere near a Starbucks) but I also plan on conducting my own hot chocolate tasting at home. If you have a favorite hot chocolate, please let me know which ones you think I ought to include.
On another note: Nominations for the fifth annual weblog awards are now taking place and they include food blogs! There are some rules to be aware of, at least three different weblogs total must be nominated. You may nominate your own weblog, but the total nominations for your own weblog must be less than one third of your total (legitimate) nominations. There is no limit to the number of categories a weblog may be nominated for. May the best blogs win!
- Tea-infused Hot Cocoa Recipe
I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I love hot chocolate and I love tea. I enjoy the richness of hot chocolate, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I certainly couldn't drink it everyday. I have tried quite a few chocolate flavored teas and...
- Meet Alice Medrich At Charles Chocolates Postponed
Photo ©Abigail Huller Since the 1800's, the Bay Area has been a delicious environment for chocolate. Early on immigrants like Guittard and Ghirardelli made their fortunes not in gold, but in chocolate and their companies exist to this day. Our cool...
- Bittersweet Cookbook
In Berkeley there are two famous Alices. One is Alice Waters, executive chef and owner of Chez Panisse, the great proponent of organic and sustainable food production and then there is Alice Medrich. Alice Medrich revolutionized the way way we think...
- Scharffen Berger Factory Tour
A few months ago I went to the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory for a visit to their shop and a tour. The shop has just about everything you can think of that you would need to make something chocolate-y. There are various kinds of chocolate, cocoa...
- Discover Different Types Of Chocolate
When I discovered a chocolate as a child I was immediately hooked up. I mean I wanted to have chocolate treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But my mother wouldn't let me of course. I love all types of chocolate and I enjoy every moment eating...