Last Tuesday at Society Lounge, Van Houten Philippines hosted a chocolate tasting affair for chocolate aficionados and several members of the media as hosted by food blogger celebrity Lori Baltazar of Dessert Comes First. Being a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I made sure that I am present for this special chocolate tasting event. 🙂

Ia Adam-Lim of NomNom Club w/ Van Houten

Van Houten Chocolate in Three Dishes

For this chocolate “affair”, we were served three dishes which incorporated Van Houten chocolates as a major element.

The first one that I tasted from the trays of food brought to us by the waiters was a Chicken Mole Negro. I heard chicken and I heard chocolate which are both edible to me but it was the first time I tasted chicken with chocolate. It has a spicy aftertaste which is not too strong. I felt that you need to drink water after, but obvious enough to realize that the spice was at the end of the experience.

I can honestly say that I liked it because I had two more of thereafter.

Guests had tortillas on their tables with chocolate enchiladas waiting for them. It wasn’t that popular on our table because when I left, the plate was still mostly full.

Van Houten Chocolate with Espresso Shot

And finally, for dessert, we were served a chocolate sponge cake called Chocolatini (I hope I got the spelling for that cake correctly). There were actually two variants: a dark cake and a lighter brown cake.

People prefer the lighter one and they say its mocha flavored but for me there is not much of a difference having taste buds which are not that too discerning with cakes.

Generally, I liked the Van Houten dishes being appropriate for the theme. It’s not something I am going to intensely crave for often but it the experience was light and satisfying for my chocolate craving.

There were other dessert items available such as strawberry with mango ice cream and caramel popcorn but I was already overwhelmed with the whole afternoon of chocolate indulgence. 🙂

Cocoaphilia Experience with Van Houten

“Chocolate is undoubtedly one of the world’s favourite foods. Thanks to the pioneering invention of the cocoa press by C.J. Van Houten who changed the course of chocolate making with the creation of the cocoa press, the result is the chocolate bars we know and love today” says Diana Obias, Van Houten Senior Brand Manager. “Cocoaphilia is our label for one’s passion about cocoa and all things chocolate,” she added.

Van Houten Chocolates

Van Houten Chocolate Highlight

The three Van Houten chocolate dishes were just an introduction for the highlight of the event which is a pairing of a Van Houten chocolate with a shot of espresso.

The first pair is a ristretto together with a Van Houten semi-dark chocolate and the second one is a caffe lungo together with Van Houten fruits and nuts chocolate.

To differentiate the two:  a ristretto is a very “short” shot of espresso coffee while Lungo is Italian for ‘long‘, and refers to the coffee beverage made by using an espresso machine to make an espresso (single or double dose or shot) with much more water (generally twice as much), resulting in a stretched espresso, a lungo.

So we had a short shot and a long shot of espresso. A nice play of contrasts. My new found friends from IBC 13 liked the lungo. I actually preferred the ristretto but my preference is mostly based on my liking for semi-dark chocolates.

It was a delight and I hope to have more chocolate tasting events in the future with Van Houten. Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/cocoaphilia-philippines

Van Houten

Contributed by Blogger Apprentice: Ia Adam-Lim (some photos are from Cocoaphilia FB Page while source definition of ristretto and lungo are from Wikipedia)

Do you like chocolates too? Would you attend a chocolate tasting event if there’s one with Van Houten chocolates? Tell me what you think. 🙂

A yummy cool surprise greeted me last week when I flew back from Singapore – I found a set of Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection for sampling and review in our freezer. The flavors included Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey’s Kisses. Awesome!

Hershey's Chocolate Shop in Universal Studios Singapore

It quickly gave me flashbacks of the Hershey’s chocolate store I just visited at the Universal Studios in Singapore right beside Resorts World Sentosa. It was a chocoholic’s dream come true going into a shop full of Hershey’s chocolates in all forms and variants.

(Flashback ends) Ok, back to the ‘now.’ All my friends know I’m an ice cream lover, in what ever brand or form it may come. Although of course, I do prefer some flavors over another.

Needless to say, I had to try all four flavors in four different sittings. And after trying out the Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream flavors one by one, I tried them again all at the same time just to be sure in the ‘taste analysis’ I conducted myself. 🙂

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

And the verdicts are…..

Milk Chocolate

It’s Hershey’s classic milk chocolate transformed into ice cream. This is for the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate loyalists who wants it as it is and in no other way.

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Ice Cream

Milk Chocolate with Almonds

This is my better version of the Milk Chocolate variant because of the chewy chocolate chips, thicker chocolate ripples, and nutty texture care of the almonds.

However, I do believe there’s still some room for more chocolate chips and roasted almonds. 😛

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Ice Cream

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

This is the odd one among the four. But that’s just me. I’m not a fan of Reese’s chocolates which explains everything.

But if you love Reese’s Chocolates or the peanut butter flavor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t like this one as chunks of Reese’s peanut butter cups are spread all over.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream

Hershey’s Kisses

This one’s a twin swirl of milk chocolate and white chocolate ice cream sprinkled with cookie crumbles, chocolate ripples, and of course, bits of Hershey’s Kisses. I love how the whites gave my palette some rest from the slew of chocolate ice creams. 🙂

It was a hard choice for me in deciding between this and the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. In the end, I had to choose one.

There you go! Ice cream manufacturers understandably continue to try creating interesting ice cream flavors to satisfy the modern market’s ever demanding taste. But combining Unilever’s ice cream with one of the most loved chocolate brand on the world, how can it go wrong, right? 🙂

And the winner is…

All four variants has the same Hershey’s chocolate base that is undeniably creamy. But I like the mixture and added texture provided by the chocolate chips, almonds, and chocolate swirls of the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. It’s my winner with the Hershey’s Kisses coming in close second.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream (right) is my 2nd best choice

Pulling from their tagline “sarap ng weekend ‘pag may pure Hershey’s happiness,” I say weekend or no weekend, it’s an ice cream holiday for me, anytime, everytime.

Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection

The new Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection comes in 800mL (P135) and 1.5L (P240) packs and are now available in supermarkets, groceries or convenience stores nationwide. The Milk Chocolate variant is a priced a little lower at P125 and P225 for the 800mL and 1.5L, respectively.

'A Bite of Perfection' at The Meranti

I would like to share an experience when I got invited to a gathering entitled “A Bite of Perfection.“  It was a cooking demo experience with Chef Jackie Laudico a few months ago by the Saturday Brunch Club envisioned for The Meranti at Two Serendra in Fort Bonifacio.

It was a sunny morning with lots of lush green open spaces leading to the Dolce funciton room. The event started with a tour around Two Serendra. This was followed by Chef Jackie Laudico’s chocolate making demo.

Chef Jackie Laudico shared that pralines are common in Europe. These are the same chocolate pralines we see in chocolate shops like Leonidas and Godiva.These are also usually free from preservatives and made from cream, chocolate batter, and sweetener if needed. Flavors can also be added to complement with chocolate like coffee.

She also shared some choco trivia that pure chocolate melts at the human body temperature of 37%.

Chef Jackie Laudico Getting Ready

Chocolate Creation demo by Chef Jackie Laudico

With polycarbonate molds from Belgium on the table, Chef Jackie prepared Belgium and Swiss Chocolates, and a bottle of Grand Marnier (orange liquor) on the side. She started by transferring the warm chocolate from the bowl to the marble slab to cool it. Aside from maintaining the temperature stable, spreading around the chocolate continuously help good crystals are develop as well. These enables it to have proper gloss, snap, fluidity, and won’t easily melt in your hands when held.

Chef Laudico in action

Chef Jackie poured the chocolate into the mould where it is further cooled. Excess were scraped and the mold tapped. The tapping procedure removes tiny air packets from the inside.

Let it stand until a thin shell forms and pour out the excess.

By this time, you are ready to make the ganache (filling) and when the mold is ready, you can tap out the rest of the chocolates (non-shells). For pralines, it is ideal to have the shells as thin as possible, shares Chef Laudico.

Let it stay overnight to contract and have the chocolates breathe out.

The Video

And it’s done! Check out this video of the chocolate creation:

Buffet at Two Serendra

A hearty lunch followed with a buffet of roast Rosemary Lemon Chicken in white wine gravy, penne with roasted garlic with shrimp & basil, baked salt crusted whole salmon with dill caper aioli, Paella rice, free range chicken minestrone, Grilled vegetables with parmergiano, and a trio of chocolate mousse.

NomNom Club with Chef Jackie Laudico

As discussed in the Q&A with the project team, a similar concept and experience is what the creators of the Meranti have in mind – a 50 square meter Culinary Studio targeted to cater to the future Meranti residents’ cooking passion. Perhaps we’ll have another round of praline chocolates with Chef Jackie Laudico then. What a delicious idea! 🙂

Have you run out of gift ideas to give your friends and officemates? Does ordinary chocolates and candies look cheap? I always wanted to give sweet simple things, but it should look nice. But with lots of parties and events to attend to this Christmas, it’s really hard to do so – so I’m sharing this lazy bone convenient discovery with you, my nomnom friends. 🙂

Toblerone Christmas Transparent Pack

From the iconic triangular Swiss chocolate with honey and almond nougat, Toblerone releases new special packages designed specifically for Christmas. It’s a chocolate Christmas weekend! Having just blogged about Dove Chocolates and Krispy Kreme’s Holiday Doughnuts a few days ago, now here’s Toblerone’s Holiday Treats in tin cans!

The first of which is the Toblerone “Holiday Treat” pack. The triangular-shaped pack contains four Toblerone Milk Minis, three White Minis, and three Dark Minis. A gold ring on top of the box makes it easy to hang on Christmas trees as well!

Toblerone White Minis Bag

Aside from the Christmas packs, Toblerone has also released a new variant – Toblerone White Minis 200g bag! Inside each bag contains 16 bite-sized white minis.

Toblerone bars also come in beautiful tin cans with two convenient sizes—perfect for your officemates and friends. 🙂 The large tin can contains a 100g milk bar and a 100g white bar, while the small tin can contains two 50g milk bars, one 50g white bar and one 50g dark bar. Both come in holiday-themed designs. You can of course, go green and resuse these tin cans.

Toblerone Tin Cans

True to Toblerone’s thrust to encourage us to say “thank you,” Toblerone’s Holiday Treats and tin cans are perfect quick thank you gifts this Christmas. 🙂 I want each of those! 🙂

No, it’s not yet Valentine’s Day. 🙂 From the makers of long-time loved global brands of chocolates such as M&M’s and Mars comes Dove Chocolates.

Dove Chocolate comes to the Philippines at an opportune time of Christmas fit as gifts of love and care. It also comes in four chocolate variants:

• Dove® Milk Chocolate (43g)
• Dove® Dark Chocolate (43g)
• Dove® Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Almond & Raisin (43g)
• Dove® Chocolate with Crispy Rice (4og)

The plain milk chocolate has the silkiest chocolate among the four. It’s the best seller as well.

The dark chocolate is for those with a little more sophisticated taste which prefers their chocolates dark, like I do. (LOL)  🙂

The other milk chocolate with hazelnut, almond, and raisin comes next to my heart as I love good texture in what I eat.

The last one with crispy rice is a tricky choice as you must make sure you are getting new chocolates. I love rice crispies as well, though. 🙂

Me-Time Moment

Dove Chocolates

My me-time moment is quite simple. It is my habit to eat snacks while browsing sites in front of my netbook in the comforts of my home. So undeniably, my me-time moment is having Dove dark chocolate while surfing my favorite food blogs, travel blogs, and technology blogs. 🙂

All the four silky smooth Dove chocolate variants are now available for P45 at all local supermarkets and convenience stores in the metro.

Have you recently “Thanked” your best friend?

Have you shown your appreciation of your epic best friend who has been there ever since, through thick and thin? With or without chocolates? 🙂 Toblerone has actually done a similar campaign last year with a Thank You Day Photo Contest.

Well, Toblerone encourages you to do so. Tobelerone prods you to thank your super best friend now.

Your favorite triangular Swiss chocolate encourages you to say “thank you” to your best friend through simple things that show your appreciation. And why don’t you let the world know about it too! 🙂

Talk about how you met your epic friend, the adventures you’ve gone through together and especially why you are thankful for your relationship with him or her!

Mechanics:

1. “Like” the Toblerone Fan Page on Facebook
2. Upload a photo of you and your epic friend
3. Tag yourselves and TobleronePilipinas
4. Post your answers in the Comments section of your photo
5. Have your epic friend to “Like” the post as well!

Winners:

Ten winners will be chosen based on the number of people who “Liked” your post as well as the feedback from the Toblerone team and a special panel of judges.

Prizes:

Winners will be treated to Toblerone gift packs and a full day of fun and exciting bonding activities, featuring body care treatments at The Spa, with their epic friends.

Isn’t that a great and unique way to start saying “thank you” to your best friend! The contest will run from July 5, 2010 to August 11, 2010. Check more about this promotion at www.toblerone.ph

Gratitude, like friendship, should not simply be a one-day deal. Let this “thank you” opportunity from Toblerone inspire you to think of many different ways to show your friend how much you appreciate all he’s or she’s done for you.

The 1st Philippine Chocolate & Ice Cream Show in the Philippines will soon open its doors to chocolate addicts & ice cream lovers like me.:)

There has been a lot of food shows and trade fairs in the past years but never before was there a food show that concentrated on these two heavenly comfort foods. As if chocolates are not enough, they paired it with a similarly delectable ice cream.

The website adds:  “Attendees to this event will look forward to the best chocolate and ice cream shopping in the Philippines.  Consumers and entrepreneurs will discover the remarkable and surprising range of chocolate and ice cream products that the Philippines and the world have to offer.  Visitors will be able to savor the widest variety of chocolate and ice cream delicacies under one roof for three straight days!“

1st Philippine Chocolate & Ice Cream Show

Exhibitors profiles include Cacao Bean Growers, Suppliers of Nuts, Preserved Fruits, Jams and Fillings, Chocolate Manufacturers-Suppliers & Distributors, Suppliers of Chocolate Processing Machineries, Equipment Manufacturer, Distributors of Kitchen Supplies & Equipment. Furthermore,  Ice Cream / Sundae Manufacturers Suppliers & Distributors, Ice Cream Machineries, Supplies & Equipment, Culinary Schools, Logistics & Distribution Companies, Authors on Books of Food, Publishers & Distributors, among others.

The event also hosts the 1st Hotel-Hostel And Restaurant Expo Philippines. Moreover, attendees will get to witness a Chocolate Spa Treatments conducted by professionals and experts in the beauty industry.

Registration Fee is P100 but you may pre-register here until June 30 (extended to July 10), 2010 and get 50% off.

Check out more details from their website here.

From the organizers of Outdoor Advertising Philippines 2009 and Bakery Fair, BMT Events Solutions, in partnership with Pastry Alliance Of The Philippines, presents the First Philippine Chocolate & Ice Cream Show happening on July 14 to 16, 2010 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Chocolates and sweet delicacies are now everywhere with the Valentine’s just two days away. And different commercial establishments are brimming with their own individual promotions and gimmicks.

We’ll peek through some of them including Ministop, Red Ribbon cakes, Krispy Kreme, and Delifrance,

Ministop Valentine's Madness Promo

Ministop’s Valentine Madness Delight Promo

Ministop have the Valentine Madness Delight Promo wherein lucky customers get a chance to win a romantic getaway for two for every single-receipt purchase of any of Ministop’s participating products. Customer must write his contact details and affix his signature at the back of the Ministop Official Receipt, and drop the receipt at designated drop boxes.

There will be four winners of a trip for two to Boracay, with airfare and accommodations at the Grand Boracay Hotel; three winners of a trip for two to Cagayan De Oro, with airfare and accommodations at Malberry Suites; and three winners of a trip for two to Busuanga, with airfare and accommodations at Busuanga Island Hotel. The Valentine Madness Delight promo will run until   February 28, 2010.

Red Ribbon Roses & Kisses Cake

You can also express your love in full bloom this year through Ministop’s flower delivery service, which offers next-day delivery of farm fresh roses to major key cities nationwide. Romantics can choose from 8 stunning colors. Available at popular prices, the roses are available in 3-stemmed, half a dozen, one dozen, and two dozen. You may also choose from the new flower color combination for 1 dozen and 2 dozen all meticulously grown by Ministop’s partner, Island Rose. Ministop’s delivery service is available 24/7 for special occasions all year round in Ministop stores in the metro.

Red Ribbon’s Roses & Kisses Cake

Krispy Kreme Heaert-Shaped Doughnuts

The Roses and Kisses Cake is only available on shelf from February 12-14, 2009. It’s a chocolate pound cake shaped as a lovey-dovey heart and decorated with edible sugar roses and Hershey’s milk chocolate Kisses on top. Made beautiful inside-out, it is made with layers of chocolate fudge filling sprinkled with chocolate chips.

Truly a seasonal cake just for this valentine season, the 6 diameter white heart is priced at P330.

Krispy Kreme Heart-Shaped Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme wants you to share the sweetness with their  limited edition Valentine heart-shaped doughnuts with Hershey’s Kisses chocolate which started Feb 4 . Other favorite heart shaped doughnut varieties will be available up to Feb 14. These include New York Cheesecake, Hershey’s Dark Chocolate, Hershey’s Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter & Kreme, Blueberry Cheesecake, Snickers Classic, Chocolate Custard Filled, Chocolate Kreme Filled, Sugar, Caramel Kreme Crunch and Chocolate Iced With Sprinkles. Share a dozen for only P365

Delifrance Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

Delifrance’s Cinnamon Rolls

Delifrance comes up with its Frosted Cinnamon Rolls. A box of 12 is P450. Yummy!

There you go…an almost endless list of Valentine’s Sweets madness. 🙂