Leann -- 10/31/07 11:15am
Trick or Treat
It’s Halloween. Can you imagine how crazy it can get at a chocolate factory on Halloween? Not to mention that word has gotten out in my neighborhood where I work so I’m sure I’ll have just a few more trick or treaters at my door tonight. That’s OK. I love to see the costumes.
Speaking of costumes, I don’t remember them being so elaborate when I was a kid. I think my costumes were more in line with Charlie Brown dressed as a ghost with far too many holes cut in the sheet.
But just this morning, the daughter of a co-worker came by to say Happy Halloween and she was the cutest thing ever! Imagine a little 2-year old dressed as a big floppy daisy. She had this humongous smile on her face and she was running around looking like the funniest little flower you ever saw!
And this past weekend, at our Halloween event on Church Street, we had thousands of trick or treaters come to the store in costume and each one was as cute as the last. I specifically remember this tiny skunk and a little giraffe come in for candy and hot chocolate. It was so fun. We all dressed as wizards and ran around the block handing out treats and a few tricks. To be a kid again. I’m not sure if I’d ever want to go back to childhood but it sure is fun to get a small dose of it now and then.
Whether you’re heading out with your kids or answering the door at home, throw on your best sheet and have a Happy Halloween!
Comments? E-mail us at Info@LakeChamplainChocolates.com
Jill - Chocolate Intern -- 10/24/07 11:30
Halloween Festivities Are Coming to Town!
Interning here at LCC has gotten very exciting. I have just been asked to film some of the October 27th Halloween activities down on Church Street. For a girl who loves Halloween I must say, I am thrilled to be a part of this! On the other hand I must say I just heard most of our Halloween chocolates are gone, so get them while there are still some left! Ok, back to the event; from 10:30am to 11:45am kids can go trick or treating in stores that have an orange pumpkin in the window. At around 12pm the Halloween Parade will start and I have heard our LCC Bunny will be making an appearance! What I am really looking forward to is the magic, balloon animals and obviously the CHOCOLATE SAMPLES! I really hope they have some samples from the autumn chocolates leaves, chocolates of Vermont, or any of their amazing hot chocolate that I have become so fond of. Even if they don’t, I’ll most likely go into the store and get some to hold me over. This event sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m happy I’m going to be a part of it. So look for me in the crowd of the LCC “Wizards of Chocolate,” I’ll be the one with the camera. Remember to smile and wave, see you there!
PS - The image above is a chocolate scupture done by our chocolate artist Emily Jones. Come see it at the event!
Comments? E-mail us at Info@LakeChamplainChocolates.com
Jill - Chocolate Intern -- 10/22/07 12:04
What’s going on in the Factory?
As of a week ago, I have a new assignment. I’m going to be filming what goes on here at the factory down on Pine Street. Many people might not know, but we are way ahead of the seasonal chocolate making. Some might think we are getting ready for Thanksgiving, but think again. I’m going into the factory on Thursday to film some Christmas creations (Santa’s is what I’ve heard). All of our specialty chocolates are hand painted, yup Santa himself gets his fluffy white beard hand painted on (what service). That must be why they taste so good, now that is quality! So be sure to check back in for a detailed description of how they are made and what I saw in the factory.
Comments? E-mail us at Info@LakeChamplainChocolates.com
Leann -- 10/12/07 3:11 pm
Come see our sweet little Chocolate Park
Over the past few months, we’ve been going through a bit of a transformation here at 750 Pine Street. And just like when you clean out your closet at home, it has to get worse before it gets better. But now we’re coming to the home stretch and the finishing touches are going up on our renovated offices. It’s really nice. Much of it won’t be seen by most visitors but there are a few things that were designed specifically with guests in mind. For example, we remodeled and expanded our visitor washrooms and facilities, unveiling them a couple months ago to a grateful public.
One of the most recent changes now being enjoyed by our visitors is the south side exterior of our building. Formerly, there was a grassy area that ran alongside the building and adjacent to the visitor parking. It was fine. Nothing to speak of. Just some grass, some trees and a couple of old picnic tables to sit and enjoy your ice cream or chocolates. But now, much in the style of Lake Champlain Chocolates, that area has been turned into our own little Pine Street Chocolate Park.
Combining beautiful little grassy patches around our existing trees (sporting spiffy new haircuts, I must say) and brick-style walking areas, visitors are now greeted by our chocolate benches. Yup, chocolate benches. Rectangular and made of concrete, they’re painted in such a way that with a little imagination, they look just like giant layered chocolate truffles. Not only are they fun and comfy to sit on and enjoy your sweets, they’re just so darn cute to look at. If you ask me, it’s the little touches that really make the difference and I love our new little Chocolate Park.
If you find yourself in our neck of the woods (or for the locals, this side of town) drive by and check them out. Imagine yourself sitting there in our new little park with a nice coffee and a chocolate-covered caramel pretzel. Just one of the many fun things coming our way. And we hope you enjoy it!
Comments? E-mail us at Info@LakeChamplainChocolates.com
Leann -- 10/05/07 4:33 pm
The healing power of hello (and Chocolate)
Usually, when I go visiting my family, I bring a chocolate treat of some sort. It’s pretty much expected and I hate to disappoint. Besides, it’s really not worth hearing the complaints when I don’t bring any. So, they get chocolate and everyone's happy.
The problem is I have a brother who lives in neighboring NH with his wife and two children and I think they feel a little left out at times. With that in mind, I recently sent them the Try Them All Chocolate Bar Sampler. I didn’t tell them it was coming and I really had no reason to send it other than because I love them and miss them and wanted to be sure they knew I was thinking of them.
Here’s the thing. We often hear about people being the victims of bad timing. Well, this is a story about better than perfect timing. You see, while I was sending this chocolate treat to my family for no specific reason (who really needs a reason to give chocolate?) it arrived the day my niece received a hairline fracture in her foot. Yeah, that stinks. But what made it worse is she’s an awesome cheerleader and now her season is done. Major bummer. Now, imagine the worst day of your childhood being offset by a box of chocolate bars magically appearing at your doorstep.
OK. To the point of the story. You never need a reason to let your family and friends know they’re in your thoughts because there just might be a time when you share that message and it means more than you can know. I knew the chocolate would make them smile but when I heard it dried a couple tears, I was truly pleased. With or without chocolate, why not reach out to someone you’ve been missing and say hi right now? Go ahead, I’ll be here when you get back.
Leann -- 10/03/07 7:03 pm
And thus another Chocolate Snob is born.
Last month, I admitted to my newly discovered chocolate snobbery. I never thought it’d happen to me but it did. And I had to come clean. But I only told you. So, imagine the surprise of my friends when one of them offered me a piece of my former favorite chocolate bar and I turned them down. They were shocked. Was I sick? Was I on a diet? Was I cutting down on my sugar intake? To all I answered a resounding no. I just didn’t care for the taste of it any longer.
Now, I don’t want to mention what brand it was as that’s not necessary. I grew up eating this chocolate my whole life. It saw me through many a tough time. It’s the favorite of folks far and wide. And that’s great. It just isn’t for me. When I tried to explain that I no longer care for the taste, they couldn’t understand it. One friend in particular was a real skeptic. Chocolate is chocolate is chocolate, he said loudly. Wrong, I said. Louder.
So, I conducted a test with him. It was an easy little test. You can do it yourself. Next time you have the opportunity to sample different brands of chocolates together, grab a couple of each. I used a piece of milk chocolate from my childhood favorite and a piece of our milk chocolate. I had him taste ours. He closed his eyes, put it in his mouth and let it melt. He compared it to wine tasting which was good because then I knew he was really taking it seriously.
Then came the other milk chocolate. Remember, this is a chocolate that he and I have both eaten our entire lives. I’d bet you did too and still are.
He took this other chocolate, closed his eyes and put it in his mouth, treating it the same as he did with our chocolate. I waited. He chewed it, tasted it, gave it some serious consideration. Then he swallowed. It took just a few seconds for the realization to hit him. “Oh my god, it tastes like sour milk.” Bingo.
After this realization, he promptly threw the remainder of the bar in the trash. Some things are better left in our childhood. And thus, another chocolate snob is born. Good, bad, or indifferent – welcome to my world.