It's Almost Valentines...
Valentines is nearly here. Do you have sweets for your sweety? If not there's still time. You'll find our truffle boxes at Motore Coffee (Seattle downtown) and Caffe Umbria (Pioneer Square).
Thanks!
Lee
Q&A on making fresh truffles...
Hi and happy holidays!
I'm frequently asked several specific questions on our chocolates and thought it might be good to provide some further insight to benefit all readers of this blog. Here it goes....
So what does it mean when we say that our truffles are really fresh?
Simply that they've just been made...here are the steps:
1) melt and temper our chocolate
2) pour it into molds to form the chocolate shells
3) make the ganache (soft centers) which are made up of chocolate, organic cream, organic butter, organic fruits, herbs or spices (and maybe a splash of liqueur)
4) fill the chocolate shells with the ganache and lastly seal the chocolate shells with our tempered chocolate.
So don't all chocolatiers do it this way?
Sure they do, well sort of. Most may use machines to facilitate making LOTS of chocolates. That's not our goal. Our goal is to make only small batches so we can ensure the quality of the products.
Why are your truffles always in refrigerator cases?
Simple. No preservatives. Although lots of chocolatiers claim their chocolates are free of preservatives, if they are sitting out on a shelf for several weeks to a month then they've got to be adding something or the fresh cream in their products would spoil. Typically chocolatiers add extra sugar, which helps to prevent spoiling (just like in jellies and jams), but it also really adds to the sweetness and takes away from the chocolate's natural flavors.
With our chocolates we've decided to make a philosophical decision, which is somewhat detrimental to our growth, to not use these types shelf life enhancers. From my perspective I want you to taste the chocolate for all it's natural flavor - or natural flavors that can be combined with it. So, we've decided to only sell our truffles online and in a few specific locations locally and nationally. This helps us to ensure the best quality possible.
So what is the shelf life of your truffles and other chocolates?
Our truffles have about a 2 week shelf life. Part of this is related to the ingredients we use and part of this is philosophical. For example, do you really want to eat a three week old cream pie or pastry? Well chocolate truffles use many of the same ingredients (cream, butter, fruits...). I think you should enjoy chocolates as you do with other confections shortly after they've been created which is also when their flavors will be best.
But, our drinking chocolates, bars, tortinas, monete (coins), and other non-cream based chocolates all have much longer shelf lives - up to a year or more. We do put expiration dates on all of our products though because even chocolate, after a year, will start to lose some of its flavor.
How is your chocolate different other chocolatiers?
When people try our chocolates they typical say any of the following about the flavor - nuances of cherry, raisin....sparkly flavor....long lasting, long finish...creamy. The reason for this is two-fold. First, we mostly use Criollo cacao for our chocolate. Criollo is the rarest of all cacao and it is primarily used in fine European chocolates. We also use a little Trinitario cacao which is the second most rare and adds a nice mellowing of flavor to our chocolate.
The second reason for our unique flavor is that is in our actual production technique. We make chocolates in a unique Italian style that produces a very creamy, butter smooth feel to the chocolate. People are pleasantly surprised when they try our 74% cacao Mezzanotte bar to find that it has the "high-octane" dark flavor that they like but is much richer, melts smoother, then other similar bars.
Hope this info helps! Thanks so much for visiting and happy holidays!
Lee
Fiori Chocolatiers' Drinking Chocolate Picked as One of the 12 Best
In the December 2006 issue of the online gourmet food magazine, The Nibble, Fiori's drinking chocolate was rated as on of the 12 best in a tasting of 65 worldwide brands. We were also picked in the top 6 among premium brands.
Here's what the reviewers said about our drinking chocolate:
"A very strong milky cocoa brown color and a deep chocolate aroma presage a strong bittersweet chocolate taste with a definite "red fruits" element. A favorite.
You can read the entire article about drinking chocolates online.
Thanks,
Lee
Chocolate and wine - a remarkable combination
And you can enjoy them both this coming Saturday, December 2nd at Vinella Wines in Woodinville. Vinella is a great spot, they've got a wide variety of hard to find wines from around the globe and the Pacific Northwest (and a great selection of beer as well). This Saturday they'll have a tasting of our truffles and bars with select wines.
Give them a call if you need directions or want to find out more details on the event. It'll be a lot of fun and you'll have an opportunity to try a wide variety of our chocolates.
Vinella Wines
13120 177th Place NE
Woodinville, WA
425-368-0905
Fichi al Rhum di Cioccolato (Rum Figs) are back!
Our delicious chocolate figs are back for the holidays. Curious what they are and what's in them?
Here's the lowdown: We use calymirna figs which have a delicious, nut-like flavor and tender, golden skin. They are made even more tender by marinating them first in rum. Then we fill them with a 60% cacao ganache made with organic cream and butter, Tahitian vanilla and a little bit of rum. Following this we dip the figs in dark 71% cacao chocolate, then they're dusted with a combination of cinnamon and 100% pure cacao powder (not the cocoa powder you find in stores - this is the real stuff!). Finally we sprinkle them with a touch of confectioner's powdered sugar to give them the right look for the season. Is all this work worth it? They are a delight to make and even better to eat!
You'll find our figs at select locations around town:
Metropolitan Markets:
- Procotor
- Sandpoint
- Dashpoint
- West Seattle (Admiral)
Motore Coffee
Sensuali's are here and Fichi al Rhum di Cioccolato are coming...
Sensuali Hearts
We've got a brand new chocolate available in Motore Coffee, called Sensualis. These are 71% cacao chocolate hearts with centers of 47% cacao milk chocolate blended with pure hazelnut cream and raspberry blossom honey. A really tasty treat indeed!
Fichi al Rhum di Cioccolato
(Figs marinated in rum with dark chocolate ganache centers)
Once again our chocolate covered figs are almost ready. We'll have updates on where you can find them shortly. Last year they sold out fast so we're doing our best to better plan for this year's demand. To find out a little bit about the figs click here to read more.
Lots of news and new truffles to tempt you with…
We’ve got some really exciting to news to share. Our truffles are now available at a number of
new places around the Seattle and Eastside areas.
Seattle:
University Area:
Whole Foods -
Downtown:
Motore Coffee -
Capitol Hill:
B&O Espresso -
Pioneer Square:
Caffe
Eastside:
Whole Foods
And as to the flavors, here’s the list of what we are
currently making…
Olio di Oliva - This unique chocolate is a favorite from
Masala - One of my favorite remembrances of
-
Macha - Macha is a powdered green tea used in tea ceremonies
in
-
Rosmarino - We use fresh organic rosemary and lemons to
create this luscious truffle. With a
center of 65% cacao dark chocolate and an exterior of 70% cacao, this chocolate
is truly a taste sensation. Upon tasting
the citrusy lemon opens the chocolate serenade...then followed the herbal
qualities of the rosemary...a very tasty chocolate indeed.
-
Lavanda & Miele – Lavender flowers infused in a dark 65%
ganache and touched with raspberry blossom honey.
-
Pistaccio - Classic Italian flavor, pistachio nut blended
with white ganache. Not too nutty or too
rich, just the right amount if pistachio flavor to mix with the dark 70% cacao
shell.
-
-
Yoshino - A combination of toasted sesame and ginger in a
dark ganache. Yoshino is actually a
river's name in
-
Vaniglia - A classic Italian duo, vanilla and lemon. When used in a dark milk chocolate (47%
cacao), the two flavors play wonderfully off each other. With first the citrus hitting your palate and
then the warmth of the Tahitian vanilla.
-
-
Balamico e Fragola - One of my personal favorites, fresh
organic strawberries marinated in aged organic balsamic vinegar and infused in
a dark ganache. With warmer weather
strawberries are succulent and full of flavor. The balsamic draws out their natural sweetness while adding a gentle
tartness. In chocolate, it’s a full
bodied experience.
-
Lampone Fresca - With warmer weather also brings us fresh
raspberries. When infused in organic
cream, organic butter, a splash of French Chambord and dark chocolate... mmmm.
Madras - This little beauty packs a lovely spicy surprise. Madras is made from South Indian curry and also cardamom. We freshly crush the cardamom to ensure the
freshest tasting flavor. Curry and
chocolate you ask? It's a fabulous
combination.
-
-
Bella Cina - This is another delightful chocolate that shows
how nicely spices can be blended together into a sweet & savory mix. The 65% cacao ganache of this ganache is
infused with anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel and black pepper.
Caffe - One of my personal favorites: freshly roasted coffee
beans, organic citrus and cinnamon in a 47% cacao milk ganache.
Cioccolato Nera - For REAL dark chocolate lovers – 65% cacao
dark chocolate center splashed with champagne.
Exotic new truffle flavors now available...
I'll post more information (including photos) a little later, but here's the quick update. We've got some tasty new flavors of truffles available at Motore Coffee, including:
- Tartufi di Cioccolato - A hand dipped cognac truffle dusted with 100% pure cacao powder
- Zabaione - Zabaione is a wonderfully rich and creamy sauce/pudding used for desserts in Italy. With fruits its a wonderfully rich yet light sweet. Ours is made with organic citrus and a splash of sweet Italian Marsala wine. Then the truffle is topped with a slice of Rainier cherry. It's a great melding of flavors.
- Balsilico - Here is a brand new exotic flavor combination that is a touch savory and sweet. In a 65% cacao dark ganache we've infused fresh organic basil, lime and a touch of apricot brandy. The truffle is topped with a slice of Turkish apricot
- Fichi Al Rhum - Although I generally only make this in the Fall months, with our weather finally turning a little cool, I couldn't help but make this one. The flavor of this very rich chocolate comes from the rum-based fig liqueur that we use to flavor it with. One of my personal favorites.
- Zafferano - When people bite into this truffle they are normally struck by the bright yellow shade of the ganache. The color is completely natural (we never use artificial flavors or colors). The color is actually from the long infushion of saffron threads in cream.
- Cashew Nut Cream - This tasty truffle is a blend of 47% cacao milk chocolate with cashew nuts to form a delicious cream, then a sprinkling of cinnamon is added and finally covered in 71% cacao dark chocolate and topped with a single pine nut.
- Balsamico e Fragola - It's one of my all time favorites! Fresh organic strawberries marinated in organic, aged Modena balsamic vinegar and blended with 65% cacao dark chocolate.
- Pistacchio - I've had a number of customers asking us to make this one again so, here it is! Pistachio cream centers with dark 71% cacao dark chocolate shells
Pictures to follow soon!
Thanks,
Lee
Nearly sold out at Motore...more on the way!
Our truffle case is nearly empty...freshly made gold dusted hearts filled with our ginger and sesame (Yoshino) ganache, silver dusted hearts of sage and lemon, lavender and raspberry blossom honey, and Cioccolato Nera (champagne) truffles are still available though in limited supply. If you are needing truffles, call ahead to reserve (206-388-2803).
More are on the way though! With next week you'll be able to taste a bunch of exciting new flavors!
All the best,
Lee
More new flavors...
We've added yet more new flavors to the case at Motore Coffee and if you are in the Capitol Hill area, stop in and pick up either a 2 piece or 4 piece box of truffles from B&O Espresso. So here's what's new in the case:
Olio di Oliva - This unique chocolate is a favorite from Florence and Perugia. It is a unique blend of fresh extra virgin olive oil blended with Tahitian vanilla in a white ganache. The ganache is tinted slightly green from the infusion and is left with a sweet yet slightly spicy flavor from the oil. It is not at all oily though. Rather its flavors melts from the warmth of your mouth with the mellow flavor parted by the fresh vanilla. This one is really a delight to make...well actually to eat. :)
Masala - One of my favorite remembrances of India was the chai tea. Fresh orange pekoe steeped in hot milk and infused with spices. Our chocolate is similar. It features a complex combination of organic orange pekoe tea, cinnamon and ginger. Let this one sit in your mouth for a moment and the flavors will blossom much like that of the tea.
Havana - Ahhh this is a fun one. Some of my favorite flavors in life: citrus, mint and habanero. This is a savory truffle, meaning that although it is sweet it has some spicy elements to it as well (from the habanero). When this chocolate (eaten at room temp) hits your palate, you'll first taste the sweet herbally power of the fresh mint followed closely by the citrus. As it begins to slide deep into your mouth you'll be left with the tingly sensation from the hot pepper. Not too sweet and not too spicy...but just the right combination.
Vaniglia - A classic Italian duo, vanilla and lemon. When used in a dark milk chocolate (47% cacao), the two flavors play wonderfully off each other. With first the citrus hitting your palate and then the warmth of the Tahitian vanilla.
Macha - Macha is a powdered green tea used in tea ceremonies in Japan. In white chocolate, Macha adds a wonderful complexity. Our white chocolate is different from most, as all of the chocolate has not been removed. So technically I guess our white chocolate would best be called, "ivory chocolate." Much of the chocolate essence still remains to mix lusciously with the green tea.
Rosmarino - I had many customers asking me to bring this back so here it is! We use fresh organic rosemary and lemons to create this luscious truffle. With a center of 65% cacao dark chocolate and an exterior of 70% cacao, this chocolate is truly a taste sensation. Upon tasting the herbal qualities of the rosmary begin the chocolate serenade...then followed closely by the lemon...a very tasty chocolate indeed.
For those looking for something lighter than truffles...how about chocolate with your chocolate?
Our chocolate bars are available in numerous places around town, but you can find them for sure at:
West Seattle: Alki Mail & Dispatch
Ballard: Sip & Ship
Pioneer Square: Cafe Umbria
Downtown: Motore Coffee
Renton: Red House
Whidbey Island: Chocolate Flower Farm
Woodinville: Vinella
