Tango & Chocolate

We are at the Music Center in downtown LA early in June for the open air Argentine tango dance evening. The tango aficionados have pulled a few tables together and laid out picnic style all the food and wine each had packed for tonight. We place our chocolate "cake" studded with pink peppercorns next to the assortment of cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, baguettes, deserts and wines, quietly enjoying the chocolate's effect on the cheerful crowd ready to tango. Somehow the chocolate pairs up with just about every food on this table without competing or overshadowing; it simply complements the food the way a carefully picked music complements a special evening - harmoniously in tune with one's mood and feelings.

A large crowd has turned up tonight, some new to tango watching in owe as those of us more familiar with the dance move pretentiously on the wooden dance floor in our tango shoes, dressed slightly more festively than the venue and occasion call for, as the men lead and the women follow synchronized with each other in tune with the live Argentine music.

We dance, we eat, we chat, we drink; our children wonder around observing until the music stops and the crowd slowly dissipates. "Goodnight Tango People!" cries a cheerful passerby woman as we cleanup our tables, depositing empty wine bottles and trash in their respectful bins and stuffing back in our picnic baskets any leftover food not consumed tonight. 

Tango and chocolate - can't have one without the other like music and dance!

Summer, 2012 

Chocolate and Wine Pairing

We take our chocolates to the cozy and intimate wine cellar of Atwater Village's 55 Degree Wine bar to pair with their exceptional wine flights. Evening's selection of solid chocolate cakes, set up on round wooden cheese boards include the following flavors from left to right: spicy Pink Peppercorns with just the right amount of heat, aromatic and refreshing Lavender Flowers, mild and fragrant Pistachios and delicate Dried Raspberries with a hint of tartness.

Our friends join in and quickly our table is covered with 3 times as many wine glasses.

William Sonoma Farmer's Market

Featuring our chocolates with the Cheese Store of Pasadena at the farmer's market organized by William Sonoma, set up in The Commons courtyard in Pasadena. Barks in various flavors are on the sampling board. In the crate we have our dark chocolate dipped dried fruit - apricots, orange slices and candied orange peels. And on the left we are featuring our premium drinking chocolate launched this season made from finally milled pure dark chocolate. It makes a rich and velvety drink with intense chocolate flavor and aroma - pure indulgence that perfectly complements the coming holiday season.