Kohler Celebrates 150th Anniversary in NYC

To kickoff their 150th anniversary this year, Kohler hosted two pop-up events in NYC from 10am - 4pm on January 26th and 27th, including complimentary KOHLER chocolates, espresso drinks and an appearance by Daniel Arsham and KidSuper. I stopped by the pop-up event on January 27th, on 17th & Broadway, where attendees from were able to score a signed, limited edition box of KOHLER x KidSuper Studio chocolates from 10am to 12pm. Anyone who received a golden ticket in their box won a $6K Kohler smart toilet! 

KOHLER Original Recipe Chocolates is one of my favorite chocolate brands, so I was super excited to get my hands on one of these variety ganache boxes, including Sour Cherry, Cranberry-Raspberry, Blueberry, Pineapple and Mandarin Ginger. 

For anyone in the New York City area, be sure to follow KOHLER Experience Center NYC for updates on their events. They have an incredible showroom to explore their products!

- Kim Weling

The Big Chocolate Show Highlights 2019

The Big Chocolate Show 2019 took place on September 20 & 21 at the Resorts World Casino in Queens. This was quite a departure from previous shows as it has always taken place in Manhattan, and Queens was quite a trek but I do really love chocolate. I do hope The Big Chocolate Show returns to Manhattan next year though. This show seemed to have a smaller amount of exhibitors and less attendees. In previous years, vendors usually sampled whole pieces of chocolate. I felt like this time around the focus was more on selling chocolate, yet limited sampling was provided by some exhibitors. Please check out my highlights from this year's show below and my recap of the Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails.

If you're curious about how The Big Chocolate Show has been in previous years, check out these links:
2018
2017
2016

 

VillaKuyaya is Ecuadorian premium organic dark chocolate. Some of my favorite flavors include Earl Grey Lavender, Himalaya Pink Salt, Cherry Vanilla and Coffee.

2 Chicks with Chocolate (Metuchen, NJ): artisan chocolate hand-crafted with fresh cream. The flavors are amazing, with lots of alcohol-inspired ones including Makers Mark, Jameson, and my favorite, Champagne. I was also eyeing Salted Turtle, Cold Brew Coffee Caramel, and Nutella. 

ChocoEve

Chocolat Stella

Origen Cacao

Bang Cookies (Jersey City, NJ): makes giant sized, soft baked, organic & natural cookies in an assortment of flavors.

Emy Desserts: loved their mini fudge cups, especially the Chocolate Sun Butter Fudge Cups!

Twizzles Tasty Treats (Valley Stream, NY)

Hand crafted truffles with custom flavors. Blueberry Port, Salted Caramel, Dark Raspberry and Mexican Coffee all caught my eye. 

- Kim Weling

Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails

On September 20, on the eve of The Big Chocolate Show, I attended the Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails presented by the Cocktail Guru at the Resorts World Casino NYC in Jamaica, NY. The tasting included chocolate friendly cocktails paired with sweet and savory desserts, all featuring Guittard Chocolate. My favorite pairings, which were both phenomenal were the Three Chocolate Budino + Bonette Brands and the Dark Chocolate and Pisco Shrimp Ceviche paired with Caravedo Pisco. I am hooked on budino but the only place I know where to get it is at Scarpetta in Las Vegas. If someone can direct me to where I can find budino in NYC please let me know! 

The Salty Heifer Three Chocolate Budino with Salted Caramel paired with Bonnette Brands (Coquerel Calvados, Boudier Creme de Cassis, Bache Gabrielsen Cognac)

Sandeman Port paired with Roni-Sue's Chocolates Portly Fig Truffle

CSW Catering Dark Chocolate and Pisco Shrimp Ceviche paired with Caravedo Pisco

Sowella Chocolates Green Chartreuse Mint Chocolates, Dark Chocolate Strawberry Truffles and Macadamia Matcha Cream Squares paired with Chartreuse

Jomart Chocolates Marshmallow Cookie "Mallomar" paired with Zyr Vodka

Twizzles Tasty Treats Organic Apple Raisin Chocolate Truffle dusted in Apple dust and Nutmeg paired with Amarula

- Kim Weling

The Big Chocolate Show NYC 2018

The Big Chocolate Show NYC 2018 preview with 

Cookie DOH Cones from The Dessertist

The Big Chocolate Show NYC 2018 took place on September 28th and 29th at The New Yorker Hotel at 481 Eighth Avenue, kicking off Chocolate Week NYC (September 28 - October 5th). 50+ exhibitors and more than 200 chocolatiers, artisans, chefs, authors, purveyors and experts from around the world offered chocolate tastings, master tasting classes and live demonstrations. 

The master tasting and pairing classes included 3-D Chocolate Printing, Whiskey + Chocolate Pairing, Indoor S'mores, Specialty Spices & Chocolate, A Craft Cocktail & Chocolate Pairing Primer, Cooking with Cacao, A Hawaiian Chocolate Tasting, Truffle Making and more. 

My favorite part of The Big Chcocolate Show NYC is of course sampling all of the chocolate! Sea salt has always been a classic favorite of mine, but I was excited to see more of Coffee, Espresso and Lavender offered among the exhibitors. Each year I am also seeing more and more creative and artistic packaging. Here's a look at some of my favorite chocolates / exhibitors from this year's show!

Mishti favorites: Darkest Lavender Sealt, Coffee Trip and Bitter Sweet Toffee

Amore di Mona - thank you for your generous sampling of your chocolates! Amore di Mona is vegan, Non-GMO, and low glycemic. Their chocolates are free of gluten, soy, milk, wheat, peanuts, eggs, and tree nuts. I was thrilled to have been able to try an assortment of your flavors! Among my favorites were Caramela with Cherries, Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Dark Chocolate Ganache topped with Sea Salt, and Lemon Rose. 

Raw Chocolate Love is 100% raw, organic, gluten + dairy, free. They offer some unique flavors  including White Truffle Oil and Earl Grey. Sea Salt, Espresso and Rose were among my go-to flavors. The chocolate is indulgent, rich and soft. It's the type of chocolate bar you want to savor one piece at a time, instead of eating the whole bar at once.

MarieBelle with beautiful 1940's Vargas pin-up girl packaging

Moka Origins favorites: Espresso and Sea Salt

My newest obsession: Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Favorites: Pepperming infused with Lavender, Rose infused with Cardamom and Sea Salt infused with Tumeric

I got a lesson in tasting fudge: to let it melt between tip of your tongue and the roof of your mouth, and don't chew or swallow the fudge. The Fat Ass Fudge from the kitchen of Chocology was very decadent and flavorful, one of the best I've ever tasted! 

My favorites from Brooklyn Born Chocolate's include Almond Butter and Cafe Au Lait

Bang Cookies are giant-sized organic & natural soft baked cookies delivered nationwide. Among my favorites are the Espresso Chocolate Chunk, Sea Salt Chocolate Chunk and Triple Chocolate Chunk. I would also love to try the Bourbon Walnut Toffee and Cinnamon Whiskey Crackle Cookie.

- Kim Weling