For chocoholics interested in the history of chocolate, click on this rich chocolate history webpage for a chock load of information.
When we think of chocolate, we tend to associate it with romance and love, but historically it was used as as currency, " food for the gods" in ceremonial practices and to nourish soldiers throughout battle. Even back then, the Spanish knew about the antioxidant power and superfood qualities of chocolate!
In an upcoming post, I'll tell you how Fine&Raw, pays homage to the rich history of chocolate with our classic bon bons and bars.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fine&Raw looks at chocolate trends
As chocolatier of Fine&Raw I'm often asked about chocolate trends. There are 2 very popular trends right now, and I want to share them with you this morning.
TREND # 1 Chocolate as a superfood
I talked about this in an earlier post. It's really popular to layer other superfoods with chocolate, like goji berries, bee pollen and E3live. Once people get interested in eating superfoods, they want more of them.
I do like superfoods and the flavors they add to chocolate, and at Fine&Raw we experiment with them to get you the most nutrition and best taste in every bite. But it's a delicate balance. I'm a purist, so I like to preserve the true taste of chocolate in my confections. So I'll use the superfoods, as long as they allow the authentic flavor of chocolate to shine.
TREND # 2 Salt and Chocolate
Salt is really popular because it brings out the flavor of chocolate. At Fine&Raw, we use himalayan sea salt because it has 84 essential minerals and we need those. Salt is revolutionizing the chocolate world and chocolate eaters of all sorts are really going for this combination.
But like all trends, things will come and go. Enjoy these two while they're hot! We believe in living in the present and enjoying your chocolate right now.
Daniel
TREND # 1 Chocolate as a superfood
I talked about this in an earlier post. It's really popular to layer other superfoods with chocolate, like goji berries, bee pollen and E3live. Once people get interested in eating superfoods, they want more of them.
I do like superfoods and the flavors they add to chocolate, and at Fine&Raw we experiment with them to get you the most nutrition and best taste in every bite. But it's a delicate balance. I'm a purist, so I like to preserve the true taste of chocolate in my confections. So I'll use the superfoods, as long as they allow the authentic flavor of chocolate to shine.
TREND # 2 Salt and Chocolate
Salt is really popular because it brings out the flavor of chocolate. At Fine&Raw, we use himalayan sea salt because it has 84 essential minerals and we need those. Salt is revolutionizing the chocolate world and chocolate eaters of all sorts are really going for this combination.
But like all trends, things will come and go. Enjoy these two while they're hot! We believe in living in the present and enjoying your chocolate right now.
Daniel
Monday, November 9, 2009
Fine&Raw: funny chocolate stories
Raw chocolate inspires celebration and funny chocolate stories. I have 2 that I'd like to share as chocolatier of Fine&Raw
In the early phases of Fine&Raw, I used to make the chocolate in my loft. One time, I was deep into production with a friend, and our faces got covered in chocolate. And slowly, as we got caught up in our creative process, it was all over us. And then the door bell rang. It was the FedEx guy. We hesitated to open the door because we couldn't let him see us this way. Silence. What should we do?? There he was banging away at the door with a delivery for Fine&Raw, and I just had to answer it. When we let him in, there was this awkward exchange of glances where nobody talked about the pink chocolate elephant in the room! He must have wondered what was going on!
Another anecdote brings me back to those early days selling at flea markets. I used to leave display bars on the table, not far from the samples I gave out. The display bars were not eatable : were just molds of clay. But once in a blue moon, a customer would pay for the bar, pick up the display and walk off. When I'd realize that they'd left with the clay mold - and not the real deal - I was mortified!! I could imagine how they'd react taking a bite into the clay and thinking how awful my chocolate tasted!! As soon as I could, I'd rush off and try to find the customer in the crowds and explain what happened. Everything worked out, but there were some close calls!!
Do you have any funny chocolate stories to share? Please send them our way in the comment box. Chocolate brightens everyone's day!
Daniel
In the early phases of Fine&Raw, I used to make the chocolate in my loft. One time, I was deep into production with a friend, and our faces got covered in chocolate. And slowly, as we got caught up in our creative process, it was all over us. And then the door bell rang. It was the FedEx guy. We hesitated to open the door because we couldn't let him see us this way. Silence. What should we do?? There he was banging away at the door with a delivery for Fine&Raw, and I just had to answer it. When we let him in, there was this awkward exchange of glances where nobody talked about the pink chocolate elephant in the room! He must have wondered what was going on!
Another anecdote brings me back to those early days selling at flea markets. I used to leave display bars on the table, not far from the samples I gave out. The display bars were not eatable : were just molds of clay. But once in a blue moon, a customer would pay for the bar, pick up the display and walk off. When I'd realize that they'd left with the clay mold - and not the real deal - I was mortified!! I could imagine how they'd react taking a bite into the clay and thinking how awful my chocolate tasted!! As soon as I could, I'd rush off and try to find the customer in the crowds and explain what happened. Everything worked out, but there were some close calls!!
Do you have any funny chocolate stories to share? Please send them our way in the comment box. Chocolate brightens everyone's day!
Daniel
Fine&Raw Chocolate contest giveaway
Craving some chai, blackberry or chipotle chocolate? You're in luck!! Fine&Raw will be introducing these flavors real soon and we want to give you a little treat.
We have 3 Cowgirl wrappers for 3 new flavors, and we'd love your input. Write in and let us know which flavor and wrapper are the best match , and if that's our final selection , you win!!
The three designs coming up are by artist Andrzej Nowicki:
COWGIRL 1:
Here are some helpful tips to get you rolling. Our chili chipotle will have a warming flavor, with a nice hint of smokiness and a little kick. The chai chocolate will have a warm, festive feel with the blend of spices that chai typically has. Just think of any chai coffee or tea that you've enjoyed.
COWGIRL 2:
The blackberry will have a fruity taste for you fruit lovers. If you've tasted our Raspberry flavor,you have a good idea of how Fine&Raw layers fruit tones and chocolate.
COWGIRL 3
Watch this clip of Fine& Raw at the Forte Green market, and you'll see our current flavors on display and hear me talk about the 3 flavors for this contest. This will help you decide.
We'll be announcing the winner of the 10% discount giveaway on our blog anytime soon, so keep reading to find out if you're the lucky winner!!
And for more fabulous work by Andrzej, visit him at his blog.
Which sketch do you think fits the personality of each flavor?
Possibilities and cacao,
Daniel
We have 3 Cowgirl wrappers for 3 new flavors, and we'd love your input. Write in and let us know which flavor and wrapper are the best match , and if that's our final selection , you win!!
The three designs coming up are by artist Andrzej Nowicki:
COWGIRL 1:
Here are some helpful tips to get you rolling. Our chili chipotle will have a warming flavor, with a nice hint of smokiness and a little kick. The chai chocolate will have a warm, festive feel with the blend of spices that chai typically has. Just think of any chai coffee or tea that you've enjoyed.
COWGIRL 2:
The blackberry will have a fruity taste for you fruit lovers. If you've tasted our Raspberry flavor,you have a good idea of how Fine&Raw layers fruit tones and chocolate.
COWGIRL 3
Watch this clip of Fine& Raw at the Forte Green market, and you'll see our current flavors on display and hear me talk about the 3 flavors for this contest. This will help you decide.
We'll be announcing the winner of the 10% discount giveaway on our blog anytime soon, so keep reading to find out if you're the lucky winner!!
And for more fabulous work by Andrzej, visit him at his blog.
Which sketch do you think fits the personality of each flavor?
Possibilities and cacao,
Daniel
Friday, November 6, 2009
Fine&Raw : alternative uses for chocolate
Looking for some alternative uses of chocolate? Here are 9 creative ways to have fun with your favorite food:
1. Enjoy a home spa with a chocolate face mask
2. Show off your sense of style with edible dress
3. Express your inner artist and make a chocolate sculpture
4. Get the latest chocolate phone
5. Relax in a chocolate bath and smell delicious
6. Send an edible message. Your friends will love hearing from you.
7. Use it as currency . People value great chocolate
8. Buy a child a chocolate Barbie for Christmas
9. Wear some chocolate jewelry. You'll be the talk and taste of the party.
1. Enjoy a home spa with a chocolate face mask
2. Show off your sense of style with edible dress
3. Express your inner artist and make a chocolate sculpture
4. Get the latest chocolate phone
5. Relax in a chocolate bath and smell delicious
6. Send an edible message. Your friends will love hearing from you.
7. Use it as currency . People value great chocolate
8. Buy a child a chocolate Barbie for Christmas
9. Wear some chocolate jewelry. You'll be the talk and taste of the party.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Doerfels Chocolate Song : chocolate as a comfort food
The Doerfels' Chocolate Song reminds us how chocolate helps us feel better when we're mending a broken heart. This article from University of Chicago Medical Center shows that there's medical evidence that chocolate is a painkiller.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Chocolate Song : the benefits of chocolate
Want more good news about chocolate? Here's a fun song that will perk you up!
The good news continues in my next post.
Daniel
The good news continues in my next post.
Daniel
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Fine&Raw : Superfood chocolate packed with nutrition
When people learn that unprocessed chocolate is good for them, they light up. Raw chocolate's healthy? We loooove chocolate!!
I've chosen this video on the health benefits because David Wolfe is considered the superstar expert and nutritionist on superfood raw chocolate.
For more information, here's an NBC news article that covers why raw chocolate is the healthiest type to eat.
Please write in if you have any specific questions. We'll be sure to reply.
Sincerely more chocolate,
Daniel
I've chosen this video on the health benefits because David Wolfe is considered the superstar expert and nutritionist on superfood raw chocolate.
For more information, here's an NBC news article that covers why raw chocolate is the healthiest type to eat.
Please write in if you have any specific questions. We'll be sure to reply.
Sincerely more chocolate,
Daniel
Monday, November 2, 2009
Fine&Raw Sklaar: the best advice I ever got
The best advice I ever got was before Fine&Raw and my career with raw chocolate . It was during my schooling back in South Africa where critical and creative thinking were encouraged. One day a guest speaker shared these life altering words:
" FAIL YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS "
I love the statement because it's so daring and punk. It tells you to have courage and face your fears and all the ideas you have. The reality is your ideas might not work. But you still have to give it a good bash!
The advice paid off when I first entered the financial world.I talked about these years in an earlier post and how they lead to my interest in raw chocolate. When I first came to New York, I approached a boutique firm for a job and I was rejected. I was quite disappointed, but after a six monthsI came back and tried again, and this time with a game plan. I expressed a real desire to be there, learn and gain experience, and was even willing to work without a salary. That's how eager I was for the practical exposure. They didn't take me up on my plan , but they did take me on as a three month consultant. And at the end of the three month project, I tasted success. I was hired.
This taught me to be tenacious and go back to a problem and try again, even if I had failed the first time. It's the quintessential experience of following through and committing to yourself. It also called on me to be humble, and that was really challenging for me - but I did it. It's one thing to fail, but it's another to go back into it. It was scary, but facing it gave me the confidence to handle new failures.
When I started Fine&Raw, I knew I could deal with obstacles because I had looked failure in the face in my first career. When you're building a new business, it often feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I create a chocolate and it's incredible, and then it doesn't come out right in production. So I go back to the mixing bowl and do something else. When I was looking for contracts with buyers to carry my chocolate, there were times they'd call back and tell me they weren't interested. So I'd wait and call again, and it often worked. You just have to keep going forward and not be deterred. Failure is part of the human journey.
Here's a compelling video that speaks to this very idea.
What's your reaction?
And what's the best advice you've ever received?
Please write in and let us know. We're interested to share great advice and let people shine.
Possibilities and cacao,
Daniel
" FAIL YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS "
I love the statement because it's so daring and punk. It tells you to have courage and face your fears and all the ideas you have. The reality is your ideas might not work. But you still have to give it a good bash!
The advice paid off when I first entered the financial world.I talked about these years in an earlier post and how they lead to my interest in raw chocolate. When I first came to New York, I approached a boutique firm for a job and I was rejected. I was quite disappointed, but after a six monthsI came back and tried again, and this time with a game plan. I expressed a real desire to be there, learn and gain experience, and was even willing to work without a salary. That's how eager I was for the practical exposure. They didn't take me up on my plan , but they did take me on as a three month consultant. And at the end of the three month project, I tasted success. I was hired.
This taught me to be tenacious and go back to a problem and try again, even if I had failed the first time. It's the quintessential experience of following through and committing to yourself. It also called on me to be humble, and that was really challenging for me - but I did it. It's one thing to fail, but it's another to go back into it. It was scary, but facing it gave me the confidence to handle new failures.
When I started Fine&Raw, I knew I could deal with obstacles because I had looked failure in the face in my first career. When you're building a new business, it often feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I create a chocolate and it's incredible, and then it doesn't come out right in production. So I go back to the mixing bowl and do something else. When I was looking for contracts with buyers to carry my chocolate, there were times they'd call back and tell me they weren't interested. So I'd wait and call again, and it often worked. You just have to keep going forward and not be deterred. Failure is part of the human journey.
Here's a compelling video that speaks to this very idea.
What's your reaction?
And what's the best advice you've ever received?
Please write in and let us know. We're interested to share great advice and let people shine.
Possibilities and cacao,
Daniel
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