What Makes Chocolate So Darn Good, Anyway?

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Francis Pitt

All right, who doesn’t love chocolate? Aside from dogs (it’s toxic!), chocolate has proven one of the most beloved creations on the planet Earth. It tastes delicious, has well-documented antioxidant properties, is surprisingly good for your skin and can go with just about anything. Whether it’s baking chocolate for a birthday cake, chocolate truffles for a loved one or your favorite candy bar when you’re down, gourmet chocolates have a special places in everybody’s hearts (but seriously, don’t feed any to your dog). Let’s take a look at gourmet chocolates and the business that has kept the world turning for centuries!

Where Did Chocolate Come From, Anyway?

Let’s start off with the elephant in the room: were gourmet chocolates truly descended from the heavens or not? Believe it or not, divine origin was actually considered at one point in human history. Chocolate first came in the form of hot chocolate, used in ceremonial rites as well as everyday life back in Mayan civilizations. It wasn’t until the relatively recent 16th century did cocoa beans and all their different iterations find their way to Western shores. Originally dedicated to the upper class, it didn’t become part of the mainstream until many decades later. Additives, such as vanilla and sugar, are relatively recent and many still enjoy the naturally bitter and tart properties of chocolate.

How Has Chocolate Been Implemented Today?

From powerful ceremonial rites to wealthy intrigue, chocolate has gone through quite a few variations in its long history. Nowadays it’s considered one of the most popular desserts and is enjoyed by people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is not naturally sweet! It is naturally rather bitter and needs to be supplemented with anything from vanilla to milk to give it the creamy and sweet consistency we’re so familiar with. It’s a popular ingredient in many sectors and has given rise to some of the most famous desserts as we know it — chocolate fondue fountains, chocolate cake, hot chocolate, your average candy bar, you name it! A single cocoa tree can produce over 6,000 flowers per year, so thankfully it’s highly unlikely we’ll run out any time soon.

Where Does Chocolate See The Most Business?

Did you know the United States alone accounts for at least 20% of the world’s chocolate consumption? Stand aside, baseball and apple pie — there’s a new competitor in town! When it comes to net cocoa imports, the United States still stands tall as the world leader and shows no signs of being toppled yet. The average Brit or German citizen will eat an average of 24 pounds of chocolate per year, however, even beating out their significant seafood industry. We can’t forget about holidays, of course, as over 90 million pounds of chocolate are purchased every Halloween. Christmas and Valentine’s Day are also popular days for gourmet chocolates!

Where Do I Get Good Chocolate?

While chocolate is pretty easy to find, gourmet chocolates go the extra mile to give any special occasion or person the class and decadence they deserve. There are many organic dark chocolate and baking chocolate suppliers in the United States alone, working night and day to provide their customers with the highest quality stock around. You can even buy in bulk, to ensure that your demand is met in full and for an affordable price. Next time you’re planning a wedding or throwing a birthday party, consider looking at chocolate wholesale businesses and see if you can’t go the extra mile. After all chocolate has done for us, it’s only polite to return the favor!

When Planning a Wedding, Beware Hidden Fees

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Francis Pitt

What party venues have you considered for your wedding? Of course, to book a party for any celebration can become stressful especially when the guest list is large. But with a wedding ceremony and reception, a bride wants things to be exactly as they imagined, whether that is an elegant evening party or a sunny morning brunch. Different party venues can offer different options, so it is important to do one’s research.

This Is Going to Cost Me HOW MUCH?

Weddings are infamously expensive. The average budget (meaning between the lowest and highest) is $28,385 for the wedding ceremony and reception not including food, favors, dress, rings, or the cake. Some couples may see that number and think, “Oh okay. That sounds about right.” Other couples may think, “Yeesh. Is there anyway we can bring that price down by a few…thousand?”

There are little ways wedding costs can add up and put the whole party over budget. Which means there are also ways to keep costs low. Any big celebration at any of the party venues in any city will cost money. But if a reasonable budget is set it can be possible to stick to it and still have a romantic wedding.

How to Save Money Without Cutting Out the Cake.

One trick is to try and find those party venues that offer packages. Some golf courses, for example, have catering options for the weddings they host. But they may charge a fee for outside food to be brought in. It is beneficial to ask questions about everything. Ask the event manager about corkage fees, about security fees, about set up and take down fees, etc. These are not necessarily “hidden fees” so much as fees that may not occur to someone who has never planned a wedding reception before.

One important factor to consider is whether the wedding will be indoors or outdoors. For larger wedding guest lists, an outdoor reception may be a requirement if your chosen venue cannot comfortably fit everyone inside. Hudson Valley Weddings surveyed brides and discovered 35% of couples plan outdoor weddings.

The Timing of the Wedding Affects Its Price.

One way to lower costs is to have an early wedding. A morning wedding ceremony takes advantage of the time of day when most businesses charge less for their services. Party venues like the timing because they can book more parties. Caterers also are known to charge a bit less for brunch-like foods. Still not sold? Consider asking the baker to make one, smaller, decorative cake to cut into and having large sheet cakes in the kitchen to serve to guests.

When you begin to plan your wedding, it is important to have a clear picture of what you want. No wedding will ever go 100% according to plan, but it can help the process along. Determine what you are comfortable compromising on, such as colors or cost, and decisions will be easier.

A Brief History of Ice Cream

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Francis Pitt

It is no secret ice cream is everyone’s favorite frozen treat. The average American will consume it 28.5 times per year, and over 90% of U.S households are the ones indulging. Additionally, in any given two week period 40% of Americans will eat ice cream! It is hard to resist going out to an ice cream or frozen yogurt shop, with the cuteness overload that comes with it. There are the mini tasting spoons, colorful paper cups, and if you’re lucky the little gelato spoons that look like a colorful mini shovels. But, where did ice cream come from? Read on to learn a little bit more of the history of this frosty treat.

Ice cream’s origins have been known to be traced back to the second century BC, although no specific date has been recorded. It is possible the first version was shaved ice with flavoring. This method was enjoyed by Alexander the Great, who dabbed a little honey and nectar on his dessert. Additionally, during the Roman Empire Nero Claudius Cesar would send runners into the mountains to get ice and then flavor it with fruits and juices.

Over a thousand years later, explorer Marco Polo returned to Italy with a recipe from Ancient China that closely resembles today’s sherbet. Historians believe that this eventually evolved into modern day ice cream in the 16th century, with England enjoying the delicacy of what was known as cream ice. This was only enjoyed by the royals, and wasn’t made available to the general public until 1660.

The first official account of ice cream arriving in the Americas was in 1774. Ice cream soon ballooned in popularity with advertisements in local newspapers. There are even reports of George Washington spending $200 for ice cream during the summer of 1790.

Just like in Europe, ice cream was a dessert only enjoyed by the wealthy until the 1880s. It was then that insulated ice houses were invented, and soon after manufacturing ice cream became an industry. And it just grew from there! Today, about 9% of all milk produced by dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream so it continues to be a popular dish despite its elitist roots!

6 Fun and Interesting Facts About Cookies

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Francis Pitt

Hardly anyone can say they do not like cookies. In the United States, nearly two billion are eaten every years. That makes about 300 cookies for every person. It has been estimated that nearly 93% of all households have cookies in their kitchens and pantries. That is a lot of cookies. They are great for snacking and giving away. From being eaten at weddings to given asandnbsp;corporate gifts for employees, there are cookies for every kind of event or occaision.

Fun Cookie Facts:

The Oreo is the world’s most popular cookie and is a knock off. Most Americans have heard of Orea and the similar cookie called the Hydrox. Because Oreo is so well known, many people assume the Hydrox cookie was made to look and taste like the Oreao cookie but it just is not true. The Sunshine company introduced Hydox cookies in 1908 and the name is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. Nabisco did not introduce the Oreo cookie until 1912.
“Famous Amos” was a real person. There are so many “people” in food products that are not real that you can be forgiven for not knowing that the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies are named after a real person. Wally Amos learned how to coom and bake from his aunt. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the William Morris Agency where he became a talent agent. To set himself apart from other agents, he sent prospective clients a box of his homemade cookies. that were made from his own cookie recipe. In 1975, after getting a loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy he opened his own chocolate chip cookie business, “Famous Amos.” Amos had to sell the brand in 1988 but has recently come up with a new delight and makes “Unkle Wally’s Muffins.”
Lottery numbers have been found in fortune cookies. Have you ever considered playing lottery with the numbers you see on a fortune cookie? In 2005, there were 110 people who won the United States Powerball drawing. There was one winner for the full jackpot of $13.8 million but 110 people got the second prize. When so many people came forward with winning numbers, a fraud investigation was launched. When that proved nothing, the winners all received their prize. They had all gotten their numbers from cookies made by Wonton Food, Inc. The accompanying fortune read, “All the preparation you have done will finally be paying off.”
Animal crackers are vegan treats. The very popular cookies were invented over a century ago. The iconic box for Nabisco’s “Barnum’s Animal Crackers” was designed to hang on Christmas trees as an ornament. There have been at least 53 different animals to have been featured as animal crackers. If you pick up a box today, you will have lions, monkeys, giraffes, tigers, bears, zebras, horses, camels, crockodiles, elephants and seals. In 2001, after running a contest to pick a new animal, Nabisco briefly put in koala bears.
What’s in the Japanese Unagi Pie? Unlike other kinds of cookies and pies, this Japanese treat, which is often given as corporate gifts for employees, is made of fresh butter, garlic and crushed eel. These are popular throughout the country and are often sold as souvenirs and some fans think these cookies are aphrodisiacs. Their wrappers call them a great snack “for nights.” Businesses will sometimes send these as corporate gifts for employees.
Cookies were invented to be testers. A long time ago, when kings and queens (and other important people) feared their food would be poisoned, they had staff around to taste it for them. When cakes were made, the cook would take some batter and bake it separately to give to the royal taster. These were the world’s first cookies.

Cookies are popular all over the world. They can be made for any taste, allergy or occasion. You can find recipes for gluten free cookies. They also make great gifts. Companies sometime make special cookies to be given as unique corporate gifts for employees. The list of how you can make cookies and the ways you can use them to celebrate any occasion is nearly endless.

What Makes the Best Wedding Menus?

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Francis Pitt

What separates the best wedding menus from the average and the forgettable? When there are so many choices, it can be difficult to decide. Although it would certainly make the planning process easier, there is no specific formula. The key element that will push your reception from predictable to memorable is to put your own spin on the event. But this requires the happy couple to discuss their likes and dislikes, and what they envision for their wedding.

Cocktail Hour Puts Everyone at Ease.

When the reception is set up as a cocktail party, it encourages guests to mingle more freely than a sit-down dinner can allow. It does require some forward planning as to the hour of the party and what to serve. To put things plainly, it is pleasant to have a drink and a few items off the hors doeuvres menu in the late afternoon or early evening. If served during dinner time, it may cause a few guests to be busy plotting where they will stop to grab a “real bite” to eat on the way home. You want your guests to admire the food and decorations, not thinking about how hungry they feel.

Once the hour is planned, it is time to think about what to serve. You are not limited to the standard fare. Caterers are becoming clever with their offerings. Some of the best wedding menus feature unexpected items, such as tiny triangles of grilled cheese perched carefully on a shot glass of chilled tomato-basil soup. This is an example of a couple who wanted to serve their guests childhood favorites; mini hotdogs and ice cream cones also made an appearance on the menu. But the food can be elevated to something finer: roasted baby lamp chops, just big enough for two or three bites, and miniature crab cakes are also items served with the aim to surprise and delight.

Served Plates Are Always Elegant.

The menu for a wedding reception used to be fairly predictable: something would be fried, probably a pork chop, and covered with a heavy cream sauce. The choices were usually a piece of beef or dry piece of chicken (hence the sauce). Now, perhaps due to the proliferation of food shows, there are more interesting choices. Guests may be served appetizers of bruschetta with fresh mozzarella, or Thai chicken skewers with a peanut sauce.

When the reception dinner is served, event menus are more formal. With this option, it is better to time the reception to coincide with dinnertime or brunch. A day-time wedding is growing in popularity among the wedding set; it is generally thought to be slightly less expensive and more casual than an evening wedding. It also allows for menus featuring mimosas, bloody marys, and specialty pancakes or omelets. For couples whose favorite meal of the day is breakfast, a day-wedding could be just the thing.

The Familiar Buffet Is Convenient For Everyone.

Who hasn’t been to a wedding reception with a buffet? They are perhaps the most popular way to serve food at a wedding. The fare does not need to be tired offerings though. The menu for weddings utilizing a buffet can take the route of the cocktail party: numerous small bites. The only thing that changes is how the items are served to the guests. This has the added benefit of making it easy for guests to find the food, instead of stealthily stalking the servers.

The Wonderful World of Stations.

The last option is a combination of buffet and cocktail party. Serving stations give guests the freedom to easily find the exact food offering they want to try, instead of waiting in line. And it helps avoid that long line that forms when everyone lines up to get a plate of food that happens at every buffet. The best wedding menus for stations feature items that offer an impressive visual view as well, such as meat carving or a chocolate fountain.

You will notice that while how the food is served plays a major role in determining the menu, it is really only limited by your imagination.The best wedding menus take into consideration what the couple loves. It will reflect their personalities, and because of that, it will be unforgettable.

How to Approach Sushi for the First Time Ever

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Francis Pitt

Japan has so much food to offer. A traveler could get lost on an eating tour around the country. One of the top cuisine items it has offered is sushi. Sushi can be eaten in so many ways.

There are so many ways to get sushi now. You don’t have to wonder, “how do I find sushi that delivers around me?” Even curbside service is more than happy to deliver those little pieces to your car.

However, the thought of eating raw fish can be a turn off to the average person. But there is much more to sushi than raw fish. Once you get over that thought, sushi will be like Heaven dancing on your tongue.

You are probably asking, “Are there any vegan options near me?” And there are!

You don’t have to worry. There are so many ways to approach sushi for the first time. Here are some little tips to guide you when ordering sushi:

Trying sushi for the first time can be an interesting experience. You need to ensure that you were eating a good sushi restaurants or you could get a very bad experience of this seafood platter. Don’t settle for the first seafood restaurant that you come across. Good sushi restaurants will specialize in top cuisine and fresh seafood. Sushi is one of those things that people either love or hate it but it is also an acquired taste. Don’t be surprised if you don’t like it at first. There are about 3846 sushi restaurants that are located in the United States but about 45,000 in Japan. This tells you something. Sushi originated in Japan so when you were looking for good sushi restaurants you need to make sure that the owner is Japanese or at least very well trained and knowledgeable in Japanese cuisine.

Cooked Sushi
Eating raw seafood can be very different from anything that you have encountered before so you might want to try the cooked items before delving into the raw ones. There are some sushi that are cooked such as eel which is typically served with a sweet and savory sauce. California rolls usually only have imitation crab meat as well as avocado and cucumber. Grilled squid or octopus and shrimp is a good place to start. Keep in mind, however that the rolls are typically made with seaweed between them so there may still be a strong fish flavor. You can ask your waiter to see if any of the rules can be cooked differently.

Begin with what’s familiar
This is always wise when trying new food but especially with sushi. Trying to think of sushi is just another type of fish. If you like grilled salmon then try a roll of salmon sushi so that you were getting the sushi experience without going too far out of your comfort zone. If you like calamari then try the squid role. Many people like scallops and scallop sushi is almost exactly like the seared scallops served in any other restaurant; fried on the outside, raw in the middle. By starting with what you know you will introduce your taste buds to the way that sushi is made and the flavors that are used without overloading or overstimulating yourself with new flavors.

Start mild
Starting out with the milder food items is a good idea too. Red snapper, halibut and tuna are all great place for beginners to start at good sushi restaurants. These fish or a very mild tasting fish and very common for sushi restaurants to carry. If you were extremely adventurous starting out with a mouthful of mackerel maybe to your liking but it may put you off sushi for life if it is not what you were expecting. Keep in mind that the less oily the type of fish is, the less fishy it will taste. This is a good rule of thumb when trying out sushi for the first time.

Cut rolls
Maki, or cut rolls is a way of serving sushi so that all the components of the role are inside. This might be more appealing and easier on the mental side of eating sushi. If you were hesitant about trying sushi then coveralls are the way to go. They are covered in rice which helps the texture and flavor as well as sealing all of the food inside. This is a perfectly acceptable way of eating sushi until you become more comfortable with the idea of raw fish. It may take you awhile to really get in to the whole concept and that is perfectly fine.

Everyone has different tastes and ideas about food, especially when it comes to seafood so there is no good or bad way to approach sushi for the first time. Keep within your comfort zone but don’t be afraid to take a few risks a little at a time. Sushi may be one of those things that has to grow on you and you may eventually grow to love it but there is nothing wrong with you if you hate it. Also, good sushi restaurants are used to people trying to sushi for the first time so they will have some great recommendations for you.

Party Appetizer Ideas Why We Love Hummus

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Francis Pitt

Where is hummus from? What is its ethnic origin? We find this popular dish in a variety of ethnic cuisines: Greek, Israeli, Lebanese, Egyptian, all claiming hummus as their own. To whom does hummus truly belong, and why is this centuries-old recipe the subject of such a heated argument?
Whether you’re eating a Lebanese dish or a Greek dish, the primary ingredient in the hummus will always be chickpeas. What few people know is that Canada is one of the top exporters of chickpeas in the world. In 2012 and 2013, Canadian farmers grew 158,000 tons of chickpeas in response to a higher demand for hummus.

Besides its smooth and creamy texture that pairs perfectly with a base of pita bread, hummus is gaining popularity due to its health benefits. A 2014 study shows that people who choose to snack on hummus are 51% less likely to have high blood sugar than those who select other snacks. Not enough protein in your diet? Canada’s Food Guide states that three-fourths of a cup of hummus is the equivalent of one serving of meat.
Because hummus recipes vary so much from one type of cuisine to another, there is an infinite number of unique dishes one can prepare using hummus as the fundamental element. Hummus is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and kosher. With so many things to celebrate here in Canada, why not include hummus in your party appetizer ideas?
We all know that hummus can be used for dips and spreads, riding on the backs of pita chips or raw vegetables. However, there are many creative uses for hummus spread that will keep your party fresh and fun.
Try adding some hummus to the filling of your deviled eggs, or spreading it on toasted bread for a Mediterranean bruschetta. Hummus also makes an excellent substitution for mayonnaise on sandwiches or in wraps.

So, to whom does hummus truly belong? It belongs to you. Use it in any delicious form you choose, and share it with the world as party appetizer ideas or just a quick snack.

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