March Dinner Pics!

As promised, I'm finally posting a review of the recent tasting dinner and the pics that Ben took at the event. I treated him to the dinner in return for all the lovely imagery. Thanks Ben! And if anyone enjoyed the dinner, I'd love to see some reply comments on your favorite (and least favorite!) courses.

Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Platter, featuring Whisky Cheddar, Ewephoria, Drunken Goat, & Gjetost, shaved salami, marcona almonds, and a sugared Spanish torta. The starter- four artisan cheeses? It's a nice place to begin a meal:)

Buttermilk-Chive Biscuits with House-made Cocoa-nib Butter. This butter was a big hit in the last dinner, so I couldn't resist featuring it again. Pretty big hit! I also sell it in a jar.

Chopped Eggplant with Candied Cocoa-nibs on Endive Spears. Surprisingly well received. I thought the smoky flavors of the roasted eggplant "pate" would have been too deep for most people, but the nibs definitely brought this one together. And who doesn't love a few adorable endive spears? They are perfect little spoons.

Roasted Root Soup with White Chocolate Citrus Creme. Probably the most favored of the line-up. Served chilled, the soup was mellow and inviting, and nicely cut by the tangy creme on top (I used a yuzu vinegar).

Chocolate Tagliatelli with Roasted Garlic Bechamel and Wild Mushroom Ragout. Definitely the most challenging of the bunch, this entree was dark and very rich in flavor. The nearly bitter pasta was tempered by the creamy bechamel, and the ragout was completed with a red wine reduction and bittersweet chocolate. I couldn't resist adding a sage-butter fried morel to the plating, too!

-

Balsamic Pink Peppercorn Torte with Bruleed Crust. A good follow-up after the entree, this deep little gem was essentially a raspberry and balsamic ganache over a chocolate pastry base, studded with the peppercorns. With a bruleed top, it's a fun dessert to dig your fork into.

Mother's Day Brunch Menu

Our latest Chocolate Tasting Dinner was last night, and the 50 people we sat all seemed to have a great time. Ben took some lovely photos of the event, food prep, and completed platings, and I will be posting them here in a few days over which everyone can drool. In the mean time, I wanted to take this chance to announce the complete menu for the next dinner on Mother's Day. The final line-up is $35 a person and includes:

White Chocolate-Citrus Sparklers

Dark Chocolate Chip Waffle with Maple Syrup and Honeyed Creme Fraiche

Cocoa nib-Corn Bread with Red-eye Gravy

Quail Eggs Benedict with Chile-burnt Caramel Hollendaise

Azteca Buttermilk Cinnamon Roll with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

And for all of you meat-lovers out there, we have an optional farm-house meat platter as a starter. After all, what's brunch without the pork? It's an additional $14 and features:

Chocolate-rubbed Bacon & Cocoa Nib-Sage Sausage

-

If interested, I would act soon. Seatings are available on Saturday AND Sunday of Mom's Day weekend at 9am, 11am, and 1pm, though the Sunday 1pm seating is already sold out!

Chinese Five Spice Truffle

For about two years now, I've ordered all my spices organically from a co-op called Frontier. They come out with a new catalog every quarter and are usually pretty down with new spice trends. Not that "trendy" is always good, but it's nice to see what flavors are "up and coming". I was like a kid in a candy store (chocolatier in a spice store?) on my last order a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to a couple of unlabeled jars harboring new and exciting aromas. While I won't disclose what's next on my agenda (a girl's got to keep some secrets, right?), I'm proud to say I've finally decided what to do with my newly acquired Five Spice Powder and Szechwan Peppercorns.

Debuting this week is a new seasonal truffle appropriately titled: Chinese Five Spice. Featuring a curious yet traditional blend of five spices, the formula of which is based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang forces in food, the flavor of the infused dark chocolate ganache could be commonly mistaken as "pumpkin pie" spices to the uninitiated. My blend consists of star anise, cinnamon, clove, aniseseed, and ginger, and leaves a toasted woodsy aftertaste. Dipped in 61% dark chocolate, the finished truffle is topped with a couple of Szechwan Peppercorns. While not a true peppercorn, these rust-colored gems have a unique aroma and flavor that is not hot or pungent like black or white pepper, but slight lemony overtones and creates in the mouth a kind of tingly numbness. I certainly don't expect this guy to have a huge fan-base (at least not like nearly any of my salted goodies!), but it's a flavor profile well worth exploring. Personally, I find the numbing quality of the peppercorn completely fascinating!

Mother's Day Brunch

Sausage and mocha gravy with buttermilk biscuits? Eggs benedict with chile-burnt caramel hollendaise? Cocoa-rubbed bacon? These treats and more will be featured at our next Chocolate Tasting Dinner! But wait... there's more! This time it's a Mother's Day Brunch!

With no space left for our March dinner, I figured it's never too early to plan for the next meal. In fact, I've already taken 15 reservations from guests even though this is the first official notice for the event.

Menu pending, this dinner will feature five chocolatey courses that glorify all things brunch. And what's a proper breakfast without pork products? No fret, veggiephiles- there will be options for anyone not on friendly terms with our porcine brethren.

Also featured will be White Chocolate Citrus Sparklers- fizzy aperitifs of white chocolate blood orange cream and Pellegrino, though guests are encouraged to bring a bottle of their favorite Champagne to use instead.

This dinner will be $35 per person and we will accommodate 24 people at each of our seatings: Saturday AND Sunday of Mother's Day Weekend (May 10th and 11th) at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. RSVP ASAP by emailing info@eclipsechocolat.com or calling the cafe direct at 619.578.2984.

Extended Store Hours!

Choco-friends and -philes...

Great news! Eclipse Chocolat is now open later to serve your cocoa-compulsions! Our new hours are as follows:

Monday-Thursday 9am-10pm
Friday- 9am-11pm
Saturday- 10am-11pm
Sunday- 10am-6pm

March Chocolate Tasting Dinner Update

Our second Chocolate Tasting Dinner in at the end of the month (Friday, March 28th) and I'm happy to say that we're nearly sold out. We have seatings at 7pm (all sold) and 9pm (8 spots left!), and I haven't even released the full menu yet. We will be taking a waiting list, so don't hesitate to call in for info (619.578.2984) because guests may cancel up to 48 hours prior to the dinner without a fee.

Here's the final line-up:
Buttermilk-Chive Biscuits with House-made Cocoa-nib Butter
Roasted Root Vegetable Soup with White Chocolate Blood Orange Cream
Chopped Eggplant and Cocoa-Nib on Endive Spears
Chocolate Pasta in a Roasted Garlic Bechamel Sauce with Wild Mushroom Ragout
Raspberry-Pink Peppercorn Truffle Round with Brulee Crust

Easter Baskets

Easter really crept up on me this year! As a chocolatier, you'd think I'd know better, but I don't exactly make decorative bunnies, either. Still, I just finished some very cute Easter Baskets. The large basket is $75 and includes:

Box of Eight Truffles (with Spring-time Seasonal infusions)
Triple Chocolate Toffee
Marshmallow Almond Rococo
Tarragon Candied Grapefruit
Salty-Sweet Walnuts
Set of Four Chocolate Bars

Small baskets for $25 also available!
-