The Art of Tasting Chocolate

Four Seasons Hotel: Wedding Fair’s Chocolate Veranda

The culinary staff at the FOUR SEASONS SAN FRANCISCO  always manages to come up with the cleverest ways to deliver chocolate treats to their guests.  Of course, we crave their chocolate martinis.  Two of these during a wedding reception and you won’t care who steps on your Blahniks while you dance the night away. 

What do these cocoa magicians hold up their fudge-smudged sleeves?  Last year it was chocolate cream puffs assembled a la minute.  This year it was VALRHONA  dark chocolate soufflés, baked to order. 

The soufflés are pre-assembled in mini soufflé dishes.   It looks like the dishes have been buttered and dusted with white sugar first before the chocolate mixture is piped in.  They are then placed in this tabletop convection oven (the 21st century’s version of a Suzy Homemaker Oven).   Seven minutes later,  et voila!  Your hot soufflé is ready to be sauced with either Really Dark Chocolate Sauce or Brandied French Cherry Sauce.

Chocolate Veranda Highlights:

We were pleased to see that COCOABELLA  has expanded their wedding favor and reception chocolate offerings.  Imagine a chocolate buffet, which includes confections from AMEDEI , ORIOL BALAGUER  (we love the crispy corn in milk chocolate), MICHEL CLUIZEL  and CHRISTOPHER ELBOW ?  I really do think it would be best to have someone from CocoaBella host the table or Auntie M is going to scoop a tray of Cluizel Champignon into her Judith Leiber minaudier before you can say ‘ganache’.

Chocolate Fountains

I first heard about chocolate fountains from a friend who lives in LA.  They began to appear about five years ago at over the top Hollywood parties.  They are still with us.  And they definitely get the chocolate WOW vote.  They smell great.  You be the judge.

Chocolate Cupcakes

I once wrote that cupcakes were the puppies of the food world.  People go nuts when they see a platter of cupcakes.  They quiver.  They giggle.  They look from side to side as they reach for one as though they expect their hand to get slapped by mom.  They stuff them into their faces as fast as they can.  Very silly behavior around cupcakes. 
The cupcake was represented by SIBBY'S CUPCAKERY  again this year. 

Chocolate Martinis

First you shake it, then you pour it, then you christen it with a chocolate kiss. CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE.

For the Bride who Loves Chocolate

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO and Bridal Network are hosting the fifth annual San Francisco Wedding Fair. It takes place this Sunday, January 13, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We attended last year because we just couldn’t miss out on the Chocolate Veranda. The press release says that there will be chocolate fountains, edible chocolate place cards and chocolate chandeliers. Frankly, we don’t remember the place cards or chandeliers from last year so we will be sure to report back to you on those fun new finds. What I do remember from last year were the many chocolate martinis I consumed. Cheers!

Valet Parking will be available at Four Seasons Hotel at a discounted rate of $20.00 for Wedding Fair guests. Tickets for the fare are $25.00 (a real bargain considering the wonderful contacts you will go home with) or $35.00 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit SF Wedding Fair and click on ‘Registration’ or call (510) 499-0881. See you there!

CHOCOLATE, BRIDES AND MARTINIS

The phrase ‘chocolate hangover’ took on an entirely new meaning for us on Monday morning. Wow, what an amazing Bridal Event the FOUR SEASONS SAN FRANCISCO hosted Sunday. (See previous posting ‘Brides and Martinis’ for event details). The choices available to a bride these days to create a truly memorable day are overwhelming. From creative table settings to wedding bouquets to harpists the range of choices of what you need and want at your wedding are endless. The Four Season catering staff really out did themselves yesterday. The passed hors d’oeuvre were delicious - especially the mini burgers and the mini chicken and green chili quesadillas. For our own selfish purposes we spent most of our time on the Chocolate Verandah, sipping chocolate martinis and sampling wonderful chocolate from the following vendors:

COCOABELLA CHOCOLATES: We love the CocoaBella concept. Michael Freeman travels the world and brings back the world’s greatest confections for us. Brides can decide exactly what confections they want to share with their guests and have them beautifully boxed to order.

THE CHOCOLATE MESS: Fountain after fountain of flowing chocolate, just begging to be dipped into. Choose your chocolate, choose your dippers. So decadent and perfect for not only the wedding but bridal showers as well.

RICHART CHOCOLATES: In the chocolate world it hardly gets any more elegant than Richart. Beautiful designs, stunningly creative packaging and delicious chocolate.

  SIBBY'S CUP CAKERY: MOIST chocolate cupcakes with a myriad of fillings and icing choices. I emphasize moist because my main complaint with most of the cupcakes I have sampled since this craze took hold is that they are dry. I was assured by the Sibby folks that her cupcakes are baked the morning of the event that they are ordered for. No freezer cupcakes here. And they deliver.

CAKEWORK: While not part of the Chocolate Verandah crowd I must still include them. Charming cake designs, whimsical colors and most importantly, delicious moist chocolate cake.

And last, but not least, we loved the cream puff station staffed by the charming Chef Marco.

BRIDES AND MARTINIS

What a lovely combination. If you, or someone you know, became engaged over the holidays you will want to attend the SAN FRANCISCO WEDDING FAIR '07 at the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL in San Francisco this Sunday, January 14, 11am to 4 pm. The price is $25.00 per person if you register on-line, $30.00 at the door. Hosted by the Bridal Network and the Four Seasons Hotel it will showcase the hotel’s elegant facility as well as ‘upper-tier’ wedding services. What caught our eye was the Everything Chocolate presentation. Lots of chocolate related vendors there to share their wares and give the bride-to-be great ideas for her special day(s) ahead. And while you are there be sure to try the Four Seasons signature Chocolate Martini (recipe below). See you at the bar!

Seasons Chocolate Martini Recipe

2 oz. Vanilla Flavored Vodka

1 oz. Godiva Dark Chocolate Liquor

1 oz. Vemeer Dutch Chocolate Liquor

Splash of Cream/Splash of Simple Syrup, Hershey Kiss Garnish