Monthly Archives: October 2008

After a gruesomely frustrating day of trying to get a very complicated task done while being interrupted and/or ranted at by several people and at frequent intervals, I was staring morosely at the computer screen wanting to pull my hair out and scream at the world to go away.  Yeah, cranky.  Also trying to come [...]

I had a little chocolate-tasting party today – two friends brought over an assortment of Scotches to trial (10 Scotches including the ones I personally have) and I invited them to try the Armagnac, Cognac, port, etc. ganaches that I had put together yesterday.  So we got out bundles of plastic spoons (to go back [...]

Today I mixed up a 500g batch of plain dark chocolate ganache base and had a ball of a time mixing it up with various alcoholic brews: Marie Dussau Hors d’Age Armagnac Dartigalongue Hors d’Age Armagnac Cles des Ducs VSOP Armagnac Kelt VSOP Cognac Grande Champagne Reserve Cognac Bailey’s Irish Creme Chambord Graham’s “Six Grapes” [...]

I thought some of you might be interested in the process I am using for my chocolate taste-tests.  I am testing things in three phases: Steep flavorants in boiling cream. Taste.  If it tastes good and the flavor is discernible, continue.  Otherwise, stop. Determine whether to try flavor with dark, white, or milk chocolate. Reheat [...]