Showing posts with label desserts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label desserts. Show all posts

Monday, October 14, 2019

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

Monday, October 22, 2018

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

Monday, October 1, 2018

Bergen County Food & Wine Festival 2018

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza | Ramsey, NJ (plus 8 other NJ locations)

For the second year, the Bergen County Food & Wine Festival returned as Bergen County's biggest celebration of great tasting food and liquor. This year's festival took place on September 15th and 16th at Westfield Garden State Plaza. 

Saturday had showcased 'Burgers and Brews' with over 30 top local restaurants and craft beer tastings, while Sunday's focus was 'Tasting Village', with over 70 restaurants and beer, wine and spirit tastings. 

Next year, I would love to see some restaurants that serve up lighter samples such as tacos, ceviche, mussels or clams, and beet or kale salad. As tasty as it was, there were a lot of pasta and beef options. There definitely seemed to be more alcohol vendors this year, with an impressive variety from wines to tequila and vodka. 

Check out some of my favorite dishes and wine & spirits from the food festival! 

Varka Estiatorio | Ramsey, NJ
Octopus: charcoal grilled with red and yellow roasted Holland peppers



Kimchi Smoke | Westwood, NJ
Carolina Rice Bowl: 12 hour smoked pork shoulder, soy sesame vinaigrette slaw over rice with bourbon chipotle sauce, remoulade and scallions 

Dill Fresh Mediterranean Grill | New City, NY
Spanakoita Grilled Cheese

Dill Fresh Mediterranean Grill | New City, NY
Sausage and Peppers

Marc's Cheescake | Glen Rock, NJ

Mr. Cupcakes









Inside Tito's Handmade Vodka airstream





- Kim Weling