Forum Activity for @The Chocolate Tourist

Chocolate Love: what first drew you to a life saturated with chocolate?

Posted in: Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Dirke! That is awesome! I love this stuff - it's so true of the way chocolate works, isn't it? We're just living our lives, minding our own business and suddenly we're swept away with a seemingly innocent taste.

Which turns into an idea, which turns into a fascination, which turns into a lifestyle. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'd love to taste your chocolate sometime! Is it awine/chocolate combo?

Chocolate Love: what first drew you to a life saturated with chocolate?

Posted in: Allow Me to Introduce Myself

The Chocolate Tourist is all about the stories behind chocolate makers and what motivates an artisan's passion to work with beans.

For me, it all started with an atypical northern Virginia snowstorm that kept mehousebound for two days. I started experimenting withhot chocolate recipes and was suddenly seized with a burning desire to know all about chocolate - where it comes from and its cultural significance and what goes into the bean to bar process.

It's a rabbithole that so farhas not presented a bottom!

I'd love to find out where my fellow Chocolate Lifers are coming from. What's your story?

updated by @The Chocolate Tourist: 04/09/15 09:14:37AM

A new venture

Posted in: Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Nate, welcome to The Chocolate Life! There are quite a number of LA chocolatiers - your best bet may be to research them and reach out individually.

We made a Pinterest map of the chocolatiers and chocolate makers we know about. This mayhelp get you started!

http://www.pinterest.com/chocolatetour/los-angeles-chocolate/

What the Chocolate Industry Needs is A $100 Bar of Chocolate

Posted in: Opinion

This is really a fascinating conversation, and the idea of a $100 chocolate bar intrigues me. It seems like a bucket-list item - something an average consumer mighthope to one day afford for the thrill of it. Or another kind of status symbol for the diamond-studded Rolex wearer.

Speaking as someone largely oblivious to the deep inner workings of the chocolate industry (I don't make it or sell it, I just appreciate theheck out of it), I'm desperate for more information on what distinguishes one chocolate bar from another. This is what motivated me to start researching chocolate production in the first place - clear and compelling information about origins is just not that available to the average consumer.

I'mhoping to change that very soon.

So maybe a $100 chocolate bar would raise the awareness of the public on their chocolate options. It certainly gets your attention ;o)

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Oh my goodness Gerry, that sounds amazing! I'm so impressed and intrigued. If I ever get to the Philippines, I'llhave to come visit.

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I believe it!

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

This thread is truly inspiring. I can see Ihave a lot of tasting to do. Thanks everyone forhelping me prove my theory - chocolate goes with everything!

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I love ginger and chocolate! The first time I tried it was weird, but interesting - I didn't like it, but the flavor was sort ofhaunting. Now I can't get enough of it.

Turmeric sounds cool. If nothing else, it will be very bright in color!

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Ihave a running theory that chocolate goes with everything, but some of these combinations mentioned are challengingeven my particular brand of optimism.

This week I picked up dark chocolates with basil and white ganache, as well as one with roasted red peppers from Tifa Chocolate in AgouraHills, CA. Both are utterly delicious - strong basil flavor but it still works with itsheavenly chocolate robe.

I'll post pics and reviews of both soon (thechocolatetourist.tv/blog)!