Have you really tasted chocolate? Through a guided tasting, Roxanne, New York's Chocolate Sommelier, will combine the pleasure and fine nuances of chocolate in a fun, delicious and unique experience for corporate or private guests. Discover exceptional artisan chocolates from around the world, straight-up or paired with wine. Savor single-origin, fair trade, fusion, raw, organic chocolates; learn the health benefits and chocolates origins in a truly memorable event.
Some ideas to host an event:
• Corporate-the draw & close for your presentation
• Employee recognition
• Client appreciation
• Wineries & Wine Bars
• College Alumni or club event
• Team Building
• Spa & resort
• Private home tasting
• Wine & Chocolate Pairing
• Posh Soiree
Call 631-252-0658 or email exoticchocolatetasting@gmail.com for info/rates for your own event
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Available for all public events Sent by email or snail mail
Artisan chocolate is like a fine bottle of wine; every step is a labor of love. Cooperatives of cacao farmers and “Bean to Bar” chocolate makers using old world, hand made techniques and fine rare cacao beans of single origin. The flavors of each bar are indigenous to where the cacao beans are grown, like the terroir of the grape in wine making. Exotic Chocolate Tasting offers you the experience of tasting these special chocolates from around the world at your pleasure.
Note: ECT does not represent any chocolate company, but showcase a variety that meet ECT standards.
April, 2011 - Graduated from The Windows of the World Wine School (formally at the World Trade Center) in NYC. It was a rough 6 weeks, swirling, sipping, tasting, and smelling wine! But I got through it and even delighted the class of 100 students with an Askinosie 70% from Mexico that paired well with a Vintage Porto. Cheers!
http://www.kevinzraly.com
Happy Guests
"Everyone was raving about the wines and chocolates, but most of all how knowledgeable you were and how entertaining you made everything. We are still savoring the chocolates and wines from the party this week!
Thanks again - I'm so happy you do what you do, and that I was able to find you! :)"
- Private Party in NYC
"Roxanne, thanks for hosting our company's wine and chocolate pairing event. Everyone had a great time. It was certainly a fun and different way to experience two things we already love!! Your passion for chocolate really shows in your presentation and I think we all learned a lot about how chocolate is made and why your chocolates are different from what you find in the candy aisle!"
Rebecca - Large NYC Insurance Company
Thank you very much! It was a pleasure meeting you and participating in your wine & chocolate pairing. We had a terrific time last night. Fran - Large Financial Institution - client appreciation
"Everyone should try this"
- Kevin - recent event
"All the pairings were amazing, I wouldn't change anything" - Michelle - recent event
"You just won over the biggest West Side Snobs" - Guest at a private party in NYC
"Everyone really enjoyed it and you managed it perfectly. They are a spirited group...I am now even more excited about our partnership and know that it will be a big success." - General Manager of a International Hotel on Long Island
"You were awesome. Thanks for everything. I've been fielding calls from everyone with nothing but compliments about the tasting. The evening was a great success, in no small part by you and your incredible professionalism and (obvious) knowledge, love and passion for what you do.
I can't wait to have another event and have you "do your thing" - Private Party
"I had the opportunity to see Roxanne in action and I must
tell you that she is very terrific. Her expertise is apparent and she gets the crowd interested, involved and enthused. (And yes, the chocolate and wine are good too:) )"
I would recommend that you connect with her for
networking purposes and think of her for personal and corporate events." - A's Network Endorsement
Roxanne will guide you and your guests on a journey discovering chocolates from Madagascar, the Amazon rain forest and tropical Islands paired with wine or straight up. A passport around the world from your home, office, restaurant or wine bar. An affordable luxury creating a smart and distinct event that is both entertaining and educational, providing value within budget. Have fun with friends, family, coworkers, or business associates in this palate pleasing adventure!
Tasting chocolate is different than eating chocolate
Single-origin chocolate makers rely on the flavor of the cacao bean to shine. Unique as a snowflake, each handcrafted bar will have a distinct flavor profile. Enjoy these award winning chocolates while discovering their journey from the bean to the bar, how they sustain the rainforests and its indigenous people and mindfully savor each bite for your well being.
Chocolate & wine…now that’s a perfect sensory experience! The concept of chocolate enhancing the flavors and nuances of wine is proven each time a guest has that second sip with the chocolate. An “aha!” moment follows — Infusion of flavors using all the senses will reveal a fun new way to enjoy these beloved pleasures. Beer/spirits chocolate pairings are also available. See the video below for a peek!
Chocolate & Wine Pairing Event
A Chocolate Pairing or Tasting includes:
Each event can be customized to meet your needs:
• The world of chocolate – an interactive presentation – History of chocolate, how it’s made, the health benefits, and what to look for and avoid on a chocolate bar label
• Guided tasting of flights of chocolate; from 3 to 6 organic Direct Trade dark, milk, white, fusion, raw from 60%-80% cacao from all over the world
• Chocolate tasting place mats for rating; describe the aromas, textures and flavors
Your venue or at wine bars, winery or restaurants. Details & pricing to host an Exotic Chocolate Tasting, call or email Roxanne at 631-252-0658 ExoticChocolateTasting@gmail.com
See listing of public events on the right panel in the New York area
GIFT CERTIFICATES – Available for all public events. Sent by email or snail mail. References available upon request
Perfect for foodies that want something new, or for anyone who wants to enhance their appreciation of wine and chocolate while having fun! Learn how to identify the complimentary flavors of wine and chocolate using all the senses and discover a fun new way to enjoy your favorite pleasures.
Each wine bar, winery or restaurant will be a different experience. Like a snowflake, each pairing is unique. New York’s Chocolate Sommelier does the hard work finding the pairing that will compliment…you enjoy!
Roxanne recently traveled to the Kallari Cocoa Cooperative in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest to learn chocolate making from the cacao pod to the bar. Living with a host family in their thatched roof hut in the small Kichwa village of Ilayacu, the community welcomed her interest on how they have been harvesting cacao for centuries. Her hands-on experience will be incorporated into her wine and chocolate events in the New York area.
Luis opening a cacao pod
The origins of cacao began there thousands of years ago, when the Kichwa farmers harvested and sold the valued beans to the Incas to create the “Food of the gods”. Today, Kallari Chocolate is on of the few farmer-owned chocolate bars and has created sustainable income so Kichwa people can fulfill basic family needs without logging the rainforests or giving up their land to oil companies.
The experience enriched Roxannes’ ability to convey the importance of location, cocoa bean variety and the terroir that make up the flavor profile of chocolate. Additionally, it put a face on the farmers who produce the product–an important part of the growing farm-to-plate education trend.
Most people think that fine dark chocolate comes from France, Switzerland or Pennsylvania, and don’t know it’s a fruit grown in a tropical climate.
Knowing the source of their food empowers consumers, they can make a choice between sustainable chocolate versus commercial chocolate made from bulk cocoa beans imported from West African countries that exploit child slaves.
Inside a fermented bean showing 3 varieties
Once they are aware, will consumers opt for the bar, chocolate bunny or Santa made from commercial chocolate or Direct or Fair Trade chocolate? Roxanne’s mission is to bring awareness so that they will opt for the one that helps, not hurts children from other nations.
Based on my recent trip to the Amazon, this life changing experience is now a reality for you. Not only for chocolate lovers, but for all that have a passion for adventure, exotic foods, wildlife, hiking, whitewater rafting, Inca trails, medical plants and living with an a little known culture, the Kichwa Natives of Ecuador’s Amazon jungle. These 850 families formed Kallari, a farmer-owned cooperative that create gourmet chocolate from their cacao harvest that is sold in the U.S. This entrepreneurial endeavor has provided them a sustainable income from their bean-to-bar chocolate. The Rainforest Chocolate Tour will provide additional income and bring awareness to this sensitive biodiverse region of the world.
Lin-Mar Travel offers this tour starting in February through May 2012. Visit their web site for more details and contact info.
Welcome. “Chocolate with a Conscience”is where you have just arrived. Chocolate has found its way into your heart and body, but has
Wine and Chocolate
it reached your soul? What is she talking about, I just came here to buy some chocolate online!
Not just any chocolate… the best chocolates are made by farmers that are fairly compensated and preserve the delicate ecosystem of their rain forests. (known as Fair Trade or Direct Trade) By ethical chocolate makers that partner with the farmers then transform cocoa beans with few ingredients with integrity and love to capture chocolates true essence in your dark chocolate bar.
My mission though Exotic Chocolate Tasting is to bring awareness of the people that created the chocolate, the chocolate health benefits, and to demonstrate how to mindfully savor every morsel for your well being in a guided tasting experience.
Explore this site, whether you decide to book an event or make a purchase, leave with a little more intent for your soul.
Based on my recent trip to the Amazon, this life changing experience is now a reality for you. Not only for chocolate lovers, but for all that have a passion for adventure, exotic foods, wildlife, hiking, whitewater rafting, Inca trails, medical plants and living with an a little known culture, the Kichwa Natives of Ecuador’s Amazon jungle. These 850 families formed 