Walking on the Wild Side (Zoofari edition)

Eating Kakao Chocolate can be sort of an adventure, don’t you think? Sometimes our flavor combinations are kind of wild. We work to put as much effort in making it fun to eat our chocolate as we do making it delicious.

This Friday, June 21, Kakao Chocolate joins a whole herd of regional food purveyors to help the St. Louis Zoo celebrate their bi-annual Zoofari fundraising event.  You can get more information about this ticketed event, which runs 7 – 11 p.m.,  at http://www.stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents/zoofari/.

The St. Louis Zoo is one of the most exotic sites in St. Louis, and we are a perfect fit for this creative black-tie event. In the past we’ve seen formal wear from coats and ties, or tails and claws, to spots, stripes and animal patterns of all kinds. (We’ll be easy to spot in our Kakao Chocolate attire.)

Preparing for Zoofari has put some wild thoughts in our heads. We’re going to be sampling our Zebra Bon Bons — our special caramel with macadamia nuts, dried cherries, toasted coconut, and pretzels, dipped in dark chocolate. They’ll be decorated with white Zebra stripes, to fit in with the theme of this year’s event.

But we also can’t help but think about our recent Peculiar Pairings, with an exotic Latin American flair developed by our team of confectioners. We had Guava Moons and Pineapple Churros and Dulche de Leche Bon Bons, among other treats. These particular Kakao Chocolate confections have come and gone, but we’ll have similarly delicious treats when we launch our Taste of India Peculiar Pairing this Friday (stay tuned for our flavor listings). 

Of course, whenever you visit Kakao — just like when you visit the zoo — you are sure to find something unique you haven’t seen before.  We hope to see you at Zoofari this Friday, but if you can’t make it, stop by and see us at one of our Kakao Chocolate locations.

Father’s Day Secret

We know a secret, and it is about your dad.

Your dad loves chocolate.  We know you thought it was just your mom, but it’s really your dad, too.   

Yes, all year he manages to convince you that it’s your mother who needs the chocolate for the holidays or a birthday party. But really it is for him.

We’ve seen your dad at Kakao Chocolate, and for the longest time, he had us fooled, too. We figured it out one day when we forgot to put the tray of Sea Salt Caramels in the display case, and he thought we were out of them.  (We’ll spare you the gory details about his meltdown, but it was then and there that it was obvious this guy had it for chocolate.)

Information is power, and now that you know what your dad really wants for Father’s Day, you need to plan to stop by and see us and so you can get him exactly the perfect gift.

Of course, Sea Salt Caramels, dark or milk chocolate, are always a winner. But if you want to venture out and try some new treats, we have plenty of suggestions.  Make your dad giddy with our some Marshmallow Pies.  Or add a bit of sophistication with our new Caramel Marshmallow Pies (yes, the best of both worlds!).

Does dad like a nice stiff drink at day’s end?  We have the perfect gift:  Bourbon or Single Malt Scotch Truffles.  Is dad a wine connoisseur? Why not get him a bottle of his favorite wine and our Wine Pack with his favorite caramels? Or maybe you want to just get him a gift card?  

And if you want, you can put some fishing tackle or a tie in the box, too, just so he doesn’t suspect that you’re on to him.

Stop by soon, Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 16^th.

 

 

Taste of Maplewood 2013

Our summer dance card is starting to fill up, and you are just as likely to find us out of the shop as you are to find us in the shop.  There’s so much going on we feel like we’re On Tour, but we’re excited to be part of some of the area’s summer festivals.

One of our favorites is the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce Taste of Maplewood on Saturday, May 18, from noon to 9 p.m. in downtown Maplewood.  Joining us that day will be dozens of Maplewood businesses in an open-air street festival that runs down Sutton Boulevard just south of Manchester.  You will also meet some of our neighbors (and partners!) like Maven (candles, soaps and gifts), Schlafly (beer!), Vom Fass (flavored vinegars, oils and liqueurs), Travelin’ Tea (well, tea, obviously) and Pie Oh My! (pies, naturally). These and many other businesses, like Kakao Chocolate, are independently owned and play an important role in the Maplewood community. 

Enjoying some ice cream at Kakao Chocolate

Did we mention that there will be live music and entertainment throughout the day? And surely we said that admission is free.  This event is a great kick-off to get you in the mood for summer.

Now, this event is called the Taste of Maplewood, so you can’t just show up and not eat something. You might be tempted to fill up on all of the tasty food items available throughout the festival, but we strongly encourage you to pace yourself because we are bringing a very special confection: you won’t want to miss our Toasted Rosemary Truffles with Candied Chocolate Mint Leaves. We got the rosemary and chocolate mint from the Schlafly Farmers Market last week, and we’re so excited about them we’re entering them in the Taste of Maplewood competition. Of course you’ll be able to purchase them to enjoy at the Taste, or to take home.

Bonus: our Maplewood shop is only two blocks away, so if you decide you need to get some more chocolate — or ice cream! — as you are leaving, just swing by the shop at 7272 Manchester.

You’ll find more information about the Taste of Maplewood at http://maplewood-chamber.com/taste-of-maplewood-event-page/

Lots more events in the queue for us — stay tuned for more news about where to find Kakao Chocolate around town this summer.

Off-White Wedding

Are your wedding bells ringing in the not-too-distant future? Is it time for you to start planning that very special day?

And are you looking for something to make your wedding special, maybe a bit non-traditional?

Lucky for you, the Off White Wedding Show 2013 is taking place on March 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and March 10th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mad Art Gallery. (Ooh, we love the name of this event — it reminds us of our marshmallow confections, off white, you know.)

This show is loads of fun (even if you are not getting married), with lots of great vendors who cater (yes, that, too) to people who are looking for something unique for their wedding. Vendors serve all aspects of weddings, from planning to catering to custom-designed wedding gowns; all with an emphasis on handmade, eco-friendly and truly personal services. And you’ll find Kakao Chocolate nestled amongst the other vendors, showing off what we can do for your dream day.

Who wouldn’t want Kakao Chocolate at their wedding?

Some vendors will have items available for sale during the show, so come ready to shop! But come ready to taste, too: we’ll be offering Kakao Chocolate truffle tastings!

Okay, we see that perplexed look on your face asking, what is Kakao Chocolate doing at a wedding show?  Well, first of all, we fit right in with the other vendors who all provide personal service, a handmade artisan focus and a commitment to being eco-friendly. But imagine our chocolate truffles and sea salt caramels in cute little gift boxes, on fabulous table displays, and in great goodie bags for your guests. If you want your wedding party to have a memory they will cherish, we can also offer a unique opportunity for you for a special event with your bridesmaids and groomsmen:  a tasting party at Kakao Chocolate.

If you are planning a wedding but can’t make it to the Off White Wedding Show, stop by and see us at our shop and we can help you customize gift boxes, tasting parties and dessert offerings. Kakao Chocolate will make an elegant and delicious addition to your special day.

Outfitting your Valentine Adventure

Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go . . .

Valentine’s Day is burning a mark on the stark and barren February calendar as if it were molten lava; you cannot ignore it, nor should you. It’s not just a day, it is the destination of a long journey, and you want to share that moment with the person who got you there.

Kakao Chocolate is a trading post for that destination. We hope to be on the supply list of every romantic adventurer, especially yours.  Whether you are on your first time out or you have developed a high level of expertise on love’s adventures, we can help.

First and foremost, you must bear chocolate.  Yes, flowers are nice.  Jewelry is fabulous.  Chocolate — Kakao Chocolate — is essential.

Unlike red roses or diamonds, which send distinct messages, Kakao Chocolate sends a message that simply says, “I thought of you and I thought about everything that would make you happy.”  So, don’t worry about accidently turning the volume up or down on your romantic quest by presenting Kakao Chocolate as part of your Valentine’s offerings.  Our award-winning confections, like Kakao Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, delectably flavored truffles, or the rich and slightly savory chocolate barks, will all serve you well and please your beloved without going overboard (or underboard).

Still nervous?  Let us guide you.

Looking for a gift box for the jewelry you have selected?  We have chocolate gift boxes — yes, boxes made of chocolate — in several different shapes and sizes.   Placing your gift in the Kakao Chocolate chocolate gift box is like giving two gifts. After your giftee dons their new jewelry they will kick back and delight as they nibble on the gift box. Win-win.

Looking for a special treat for the man in your life? We’ve got just what you need — a manly assortment of truffles flavored with bourbon, scotch, beer, smoke (as in smoked tea), chile peppers and lavender (for his softer side).

Go beyond the tastebuds and suggest a day of indulgence involving Kakao Chocolate Scrub and Lip Balm from Maven. Another win-win.

Keep it simple and select a box of assorted truffles tied with a beautiful ribbon.  Undoubtedly a win-win.

Or heart-shaped marshmallows or caramels, dipped in chocolate. Or regular marshmallows in vanilla bean, fruit, or even candy cap mushroom flavors (yes, it’s true), a treat by anyone’s standards. Or some peanut-butter-and-chocolate-swirled bark. Win-win-win.

Or, just come on by the shop and let us outfit you for your romantic quest. We’ll make sure you are prepared and fully equipped for February 14.

Traveling Tea

You do not have to be the Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey to enjoy a spot of tea — it has universal appeal.  Tea is one of the simplest of hot beverages to prepare but the ingredients can be daunting.  Tea offers a myriad of taste sensations made rich from spices and herbs that delight you with each sip.

Of course, you want to do your tea right.

At Kakao Chocolate, we offer Traveling Tea.  Traveling Tea, like Kakao Chocolate, is an artisan business, locally-owned and managed.  Traveling Tea is made from tea leaves grown (mostly) in Asia, but never with any artificial ingredients.  Most of their custom blends use no flavorings at all, so they’re safe for those concerned about gluten and how flavorings are derived. Because organic and fair trade practices are important to Traveling Tea (as they are here at Kakao Chocolate, too) their selection is primarily organic, and fair trade whenever that option is available.

The flavor selection is constantly being updated, which makes it exciting for regular tea drinkers to try fresh and new flavors.  The winter, of course, is the best time to indulge, and if you are looking for that hot drink to warm you up, many of the flavors are naturally caffeine-free.

If you are wondering what to have with your tea, many of our Kakao Chocolate confections are well-suited compliments. Lavender truffles are silky and creamy and pair well with the smooth herbal essence of many Traveling Teas. Or, take a real time out and curl up with a steaming cup of tea and one of our Kakao Chocolate Dark Chocolate Barks and simply enjoy the distinct flavors of the tea and the texture of the chocolate.

Of course, you can take the traditional route and pair Queen’s Cuisine Scones, sold in-shop at Kakao Chocolate, with your favorite tea. Now you nearly are the Dowager Countess at High Tea!

Stop in and see the selection of teas we offer and we will help you find the best one for you.

Holiday Confections

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow . . . is there an app for that?  Probably, but we are offering you some tactile and unplugged options to make the kids from 1 to 99 smile and enjoy the holidays.  You won’t need to log-in to bring glee and delight to all if you simply stop by our shops and get a real taste of the holidays.

Our Kakao Chocolate holiday confections are multi-purpose.  Hang some Holiday Tree Lollies around the office or decorate your home for the holidays. Get the wee ones excited by leaving them one of our chocolate Santa’s Boots on their pillow or place one in their lunch box.  Our Nutcrackers, while delicious and should always eventually be eaten, make festive additions to gift wrap.  Our Little Santas are perfect for placing around the holiday dinner table, but make sure there is one for every guest. Hang the Snowflake Lollies and Holiday Light Bulbs on the tree — but don’t forget they are more than decorations!

The Kakao Chocolate Giant Santa and Giant Chocolate Nutcracker are the ultimate stocking stuffer or holiday table centerpiece.  Don’t just deck the halls with holly — add some Kakao Chocolate confections to your holiday décor and dazzle your guests as they walk through your door.  Of course, these are all available in dark or milk chocolate.

Our Kakao Chocolate holiday confections make your holidays bright as lovely hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, tree decorations, and holiday cake decorations or put together a collection of offerings in a gift box.  If you need help, our elves, um we mean, our store staff, can help you make the best selection.  Stop into our shops and see what we have in stock to stuff those stockings and fill those holiday gift bags and boxes.

Gooey Butter Cake

Don’t look now but we have a TV star in our shop, and you can take that star home with you!  Yes, this is true — voted “Best Gooey Butter Cake” on the Food Network’s Food Feuds, we are now offering Park Avenue Coffee’s Ann & Allen Gooey Butter Cake.

 

Most anybody from St. Louis is familiar with Gooey Butter Cake not everybody is familiar with chocolate Gooey Butter Cake. If you’re not from St. Louis (or you have been living on celery stalks) then you need to know that Gooey Butter Cake consists of a dense yellow “cake-like” base (the crust) and it is filled with a mixture of powdered sugar, butter, cream cheese. Then more all natural ingredients are added, like Kakao Chocolate and Kakao Sea Salt Caramel.

Yes, we said Sea Salt Caramel!” We know how much you love our award-winning sea salt caramels, so we took them to the next level for you, and our friends at Park Avenue Coffee baked them into a delectable gooey butter cake.

Like Kakao Chocolate, Park Avenue Coffee’s Gooey Butter Cake has roots in the love and goodness of creating the very best. They will tell you that when they opened their cozy local coffee shop in the heart of Lafayette Square, St. Louis, they started with two simple principals – good people serving good coffee. They quickly realized that a family favorite – their mother’s traditional gooey butter cake – would make a great addition to that mix.  Today, they sell it across the nation, and of course, at Kakao Chocolate.

In both shops you will find lovely Park Avenue Coffee Gooey Butter Cakes ready to take home, be it Kakao Chocolate Dark Chocolate or Kakao Salted Caramel. Just another way to enjoy our delicious chocolates and caramels!

‘Twas the Night Before Kakao

If you haven’t seen our holiday window display at Kakao Maplewood, you should. If you can’t, here’s the poem our own Jen Weinman wrote for us, and for you. Happy Holidays, everyone!

 

Twas the shop in St. Louis, just there in town,
Where tremendous confections were made by the pound.
The chocolate was tempered and poured into molds
In hopes that our customers would be so bold.

The caramels were nestled all snug in the case,
Their salt-topped crowns glittering, neigh, dancing in place.
Packagers packaged and confectioners dipped,
Hot chocolate was steaming and ribbons were clipped.

When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
We jumped from our tasks to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows we flew like a flash,
Peered into the night each batting a lash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to street signs below.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a throng of people heading right here!

Young folks and old folks and families too,
We knew in a moment there would be a queue.
More rapid than eagles the customers came,
We whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Marcia! Now, Pete! Now, David and Jane!
Come, Dennis! Come, Josie! Come, Donna, Elaine!
To the sidewalk! To the front door!
Come in everyone!  Come and explore!

So into the shop our friends they flew,
Hungry for chocolate and excited too.
Hustling and bustling they flooded the door,
But all were polite as they entered the floor.

And with a smile we welcomed them in,
Offering samples and seeing their grins.
As we took our posts and readied our hands,
They squealed with delight and jumped at the chance.

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And filled all their baskets with nary a smirk.
Barks, hot chocolate, caramels too!
Marshmallows, brittles and bars – who knew?

They shopped and they shopped, their favorites abound,
Then Santas and Snowmen were none to be found.
Steadily tables dwindled with goods,
All had their fill, as at Christmas, they should.

After we closed on that magical night
We got quite a thrill once we turned out the lights.
Walking home we glanced into windows nearby,
And saw in each stocking, a Marshmallow Pie.

We knew we’d done well, and shouted “Hooray!”
For our chocolate had stirred every heart that day.
Come see us this season for confections so true,
Happy Holidays from Kakao to you!

 

Panforte anyone?

Jokes about fruit cake are as perennial as Christmas carols wafting through the airwaves starting the day after Halloween. Some will boast they have built fortresses with the holiday “treats” they have accumulated over the years, and others use them as anchors on their summer boat down at the lake.

The Fig & Walnut Panforte we have at Kakao, which is imported from Italy, won’t last long enough to build anything but a desire for more, and will anchor your craving for sweet holiday treats that will surpass the traditional holiday season, causing you to never utter the words “fruit cake” again.

Panforte is a classic Italian Christmas treat we started serving last Christmas, and is again available by the slice at Kakao Chocolate.  Just like everything else we offer our customers, the Panforte is made with all natural ingredients. While the diced figs and walnuts are the earthy, hearty stars of the panforte, their co-stars — wheat flour, honey and spices — deserve equal billing. Together this cast of simple all-natural ingredients make a rich, dense treat that is perfect to curl up with while sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee, or as we recommend, a Kakao Hot Chocolate.

Sure, having it all to yourself is best, but you may consider that it’s the holidays and try putting your head around the idea that the Fig & Walnut Panforte is best shared. This is by far one of the best holiday after-dinner offerings ever. Create a holiday dessert platter with our delightful confections and truffles, adding the Fig & Walnut Panforte as the centerpiece. Offer it with fresh-brewed Stringbean Coffee and your guests will sing your praises.

We can help you find the best Kakao chocolates to beautifully and deliciously compliment your slices of Panforte, giving you a  holiday dessert platter that will round out the holiday celebration perfectly, or simply put:  panforte perfettamente!