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With Gratitude
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
Time is a blur to me most days. The work making all of our chocolate treats, the markets, the orders whizzing by. It’s stunning. To think we’ve grown from a sweltering Summer selling an orange and chocolate truffle to the diversity we have now and what is coming is amazing. We wouldn’t be here without you and I thank you, the family thanks you. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRDdgV88rTA (youtube link) Read more
Chocolate Brownie Bites
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
What comes to mind when you think of a brownie bite? Maybe it’s a brownie biting you as you wake up from an obsessive chocolate dream–oh wait, that might just be me. Early in our culinary chocolate expedition we wanted brownies–but not just any brownies. We thought about going down a lot of roads to start but whether it was a nutty fudge or a caramel drizzle we kept having a problem feeling comfortable bringing them to the market–or shipping them for that matter. I can’t quite recall what brought... Read more
Infusion Series: Lavender Chocolate Truffles
Infusion Series: Lavender Chocolate Truffles
On By Robin Ciordia / 0 comments
It’s Time to Relax with Chocolate Truffles Infused with Lavender Soothing, calming, a walk through the garden. Descriptors I use for our lavender infused chocolate truffles. Balancing Lavender Chocolate Ganache... Read more
Infusion Series: Spearmint Chocolate Truffles
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
For the past two Summers we have run a delightful Spearmint chocolate truffle. As a child I was a big fan of Andes Candies. These little mint chocolate squares we’re just a favorite. Then over time I started finding that I had a mild allergic reaction to them. Maybe too much of a good thing, maybe the ingredients shifted into something cheaper and that created the issue. Whatever the case I could no longer have something I really enjoyed. Until The Secret Chocolatier that is! The Mint Monster Our Spearmint... Read more
Carving Out a Chocolate Space
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
Since we turned our sights in January to getting our own space to create chocolate in Charlotte it’s been quite a ride. Our plans have been approved by mentors around the city, we hunted with the The Nichols Company for a space and are now working with architects Bryan & Jen Shields to design the shop. With any luck we’ll be bringing on Clay Gordon of The Chocolate Life (and author of Discover Chocolate) to help consult us through this new stage of development. Other Chocolate Shops Robin and I... Read more
Chocolate at Charlotte Area Markets
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
Looking for Chocolate in Charlotte? If you are an area market goer, or been looking for a reason to get out and explore our markets here are a few that we participate in. You can order chocolate online and pick it up at any of these locations as well. Atherton Market at Atherton Mills Formerly the Charlotte Tailgate Market. Lynn Caldwell’s efforts have crystalized with the help of Avant and Eden creating a lovely space for regional farmers, artisans and crafts people. They have renovated the old Charlotte Trolly Barn... Read more
Trials of Making a Chocolate Business Plan
On By Andy Ciordia / 0 comments
Anyone who has ever developed and made a business succeed knows the difficulty involved. Entrepreneurship is both awesome and terrible at each and every stage along the way. For those who don’t really know us we’ve been in business to this point for three years in June. From a single market testing our truffles to now.. 4 markets, 5 retail accounts, a number of commercial clients, and our happy chocolate for weddings. Where does that leave us? Growing Pains, Kitchen Strains During the Christmas holiday rush this past year we... Read more