Buying Chocolate in Bulk

This was the first weekend in a long time that the kitchen was not overflowing with some kinda chocolate experiment (good or bad!). My course work is keeping me busy and this weeks assignment has already been handed in! It was all about Sourcing Chocolate. I looked in Ireland at bulk chocolate suppliers: Pallas Foods, La Rousse and Odaios. They only deal with businesses and I am most definitely not in business (and if my sorry attempt ‘pate de fruit’ is anything to go by I never will be!).

Odaios supply my favourite Valrhona and you might think 3kg of Guanaja is a lot, but actually it is not. Sur’ HoneyB was 6lb 9oz (3kg) when she was born too.

The pistoles look a little battered and bruised but just look at how delicate and unblemished the Valrhona logo is ….

My Mum bought some Callebaut for me from Pallas Foods, then she explained, ‘yes you do have to pay VAT at 21%’. All 9kgs was delivered in style and perfectly cool by my little bro. The drops are very nibbly and are perfect for snacking. HoneyB loves getting a little mini bun case full of them, all different colors.

My research assignment did lead me to Vantage House and KeyLink in the UK which carry a few interesting brands. All the KeyLink prices include delivery too, UK VAT is only 15% and the exchange rate makes them very attractive.

Any tips on suppliers on the island, please let me know ….

Valrhona Patisserie Championship

What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall at this event: The First Irish Valrhona Patisserie Championship.

Maybe a fly who falls into some bowl of chocolate heaven might be even better!! Although the last thing I would want is for someones chocolate creation to have a fly lolling about in it … might not go down well with the judges :-0

Best of luck to all who enter, maybe the winners creations will be posted online for all to drool over.

That Rugby Match

This post is a whole week late … probably because the great Irish rugby win last Saturday over-shadowed an important chocolate tasting :-0  Himself, armed with 4 bars of chocolate, headed to Limerick to watch the match and offer the one known as Picard a taste of the black stuff. ‘Picard’ has a fondness for Guinness but not chocolate.

Up for tasting for the non-chocolate-lover:
- Lindt Excellence 85%
- Valrhona Albinao 85%
- Green & Blacks 70%
- Amedei Toscano 70%

I reckoned he would like one of the dark selection (Valrhona Albinao 85% I bet) … and I was right. Thanks, consider yourself a member of the chocolate tasting committee :-)

A Pint of the Black Stuff

It’s St Patrick’s Day and a great day for savouring a pint of Guinness.  But my ‘black stuff’ today will be in chocolate format. This dark chocolate bar is heavenly (hence the half eaten bar in the photo!) and definitely as dark as any pint.

Notes from Valrhona: ‘Abinao offers a subtle balance of several sensory dimensions, dominated by an intense bitterness and backed up by powerful tannins.
Smell: deep earthy, sour, bitter chocolate smell.
Look: This bar came in new packaging: a wide rectangular box, glossy plastic wrapping protects the bar which is molded in different size squares. It is very easy to break off a square. It has a dark brown (purplish) color, satin finish.
Snap: definite snap.
Taste: The taste is something else though. This is the best 85% I’ve ever tasted. It has a deep bitter taste with sour black fruit notes, then roasted almonds, tannins like a smooth red wine.  No hint of sugar here, there are hints of vanilla though which for me take the angry kick out of the high cocoa content.
Texture: The texture is perfectly smooth, melts easily. I have found that most bars of this cocoa % are drying but not so here. With a long smooth aftertaste, this is one for the favourites list.

Would I buy it again? Yes

Source: Donnybrook Fair (€3.10)

Little Valrhona Bars

A quick stopover in Avoca Rathcoole uncovered some nice treats in the form of mini Valrhona bars. Only two varieties were in stock: dark Caraibe (66%) and milk Jivara (40%). At 20g (5 squares), they are just the right amount for a non-tummy ache chocolate hit (and a little 99c wallet hit). Sometimes it’s hard to exercise self restraint with the larger 75g bars.

They are the grown-up version of Milky Bar and Dairy Milk bars I ate as a little girl.