French Kiss Life A Salon on Chocolate

French Kiss Life A Salon on Chocolate

A Sweet Note from Tonya What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate. Katharine Hepburn Chocolate is sexy. It s seductive. It s an exploration of the senses and a little warming of the soul. Chocolate is not just a food but an experience. All that s required is high quality chocolate, time to savor and a refusal to feel like you ve committed some heinous crime over your little guilty pleasure. And, must I remind you that women all over the world enjoy eating their un petit piece of chocolate on a daily basis while staying slim and healthy? I am delighted to share with you a prime example of a woman who is indeed French Kissing Life: Certified Chocolatier, Chrissie Bettencourt. Chrissie lives the French Kiss lifestyle by travelling throughout the world and bringing her uncompromising passion for exquisite chocolate to others, with the goal to bring back the Art of Tasting, one chocolate at a time. And, without further ado... Chrissie: Please, show us how to taste chocolate!

What exactly is it that makes Chocolate so pleasurable? Within the culinary world, one of the most sensuous pleasures, at least in my opinion, is the tasting of chocolate. Why? Well first of all, it is chocolate. You already can t go wrong with that. But secondly, it is one of the richest and decadent food ingredients out there. It emanates sensuality just sitting there. Real chocolate only has just enough sugar to allow the bean to express itself. But once you learn to taste it..you will be seduced for eternity. Chocolate is a deeply sensual experience and should be treated as such. Not rushed, but savoured. Chrissie Bettencourt is a Certified Chocolatier and avid wine student. After receiving training through Ecole Chocolate in Vancouver, Canada, her chocolate journey began! Bored with the regular path most chocolatiers took, Chrissie decided to venture into new and unexplored territory by combining her two loves: Chocolate and Wine. Over the last few years she has worked closely with various wineries in Argentina to create specialty chocolate and wine pairings specific to their wines. She also facilitates various chocolate and wine pairing workshops throughout North and South America. She is also the founder of «Awaken Your Senses», a company dedicated to helping people learn to become more present and create more magical moments in their life through teaching people the simple art of tasting, as well as the tradition and culture of food. Chrissie currently resides in the renowned wine region in Mendoza, Argentina.

Let s Taste Some Chocolate Like wine, there is a full tasting process with chocolate. It s very complex. And although I could write a novel on the topic, for this tasting I have pulled together the basic steps below to help you begin living the real chocolate experience. I can promise you that upon completion of this tasting, you will never look upon chocolate in the same again. Once you have tried this method of tasting chocolate, you will begin experiencing chocolate in a completely different way. It will elevate your chocolate eating experience to a completely new level and you will begin to taste what chocolate is really about. Here s what you will need for our Chocolate Tasting: at least one 70-80% Dark Chocolate Bar (you can purchase at a Whole Foods or a specialty grocery) and or semi-sweet or milk chocolate Record the chocolates you will be tasting below (brand, % cocoa) a glass of room temp water with lemon ( to clean your palette) A white plate or napkin a printed copy of this tasting guide a writing utensil watch French Kiss Life LIVE, so you can taste chocolate alongside Tonya & I

Step 1: Sight Chocolate has a lovely nuance of shades that most of us don t even realize are there. They vary between dark violet to rustic red. The violet or red hues depend on the varietal of bean used. Texture also comes into play here. Does the chocolate look smooth or grainy and brittle? Although it is subtle, the visual aspect of chocolate has a great impact on it s attraction. If you had to choose between a smooth, rich looking piece of chocolate or a dry grainy one, which one would you choose? 1. Take a few pieces of a dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate (or a mix of all) and place them on a white plate or napkin. 2. Observe the hues. Pick each one up, closely look at how the colours within the chocolate change. Are they reddish brown or violet brown? Dark or light? Is there any white film like substance on the top of the chocolate? (This is called bloom or crystallization). 3. Now look at the texture. Is it smooth? Is it grainy? Is it brittle? Does the piece snap when you break it? Or does it just break apart softly? Are there small holes in it? Which one is the most attractive to you? Your Chocolate Visual Notes:

Step 2: Aroma The aromas that are found in a piece of chocolate are almost identical to those found in wine. Click here for a PDF of a flavor wheel. Therefore why haven t we noticed them before? We are too busy shoveling the chocolate down or the chocolate has been overrun by sugar. Or possibly the beans that were used were low quality, and were either over roasted or under/ over fermented. Whatever the reason, it is actually difficult to find a good piece of chocolate that emanates its original aromas. However, the good news is that there is a new generation of chocolates that are not skimping on the quality and creating beautiful aromatic bars fully expressing the lovely beans that were used. 1. Take a piece of chocolate and gently rub it between your two fingers. The heat off of your fingers will help the aromas release from the bar. 2. Slowly smell the chocolate. Take in all of the aromas. Once you move past the chocolate what aromas do you find? Fruity? Nutty? Earthy? Floral? Even if you don t find any of these, just take your time to enjoy the aroma. Feel it, let it permeate. It truly is a pleasure that we don t often indulge in and worth every minute. Your Chocolate Aroma Notes:

Step 3: Taste Finally. Taste. Yes, after all of that we actually now get to taste the chocolate. However not in the same way we normally would. Chocolate has different layers of aromas that only come out when we take the time to actually let it melt in our mouth before swallowing it in its entirety. There are 4 phases of the taste phase: 1. Initial Taste: This is the first moment that you pop the chocolate into your mouth. The first 10-15 seconds more or less. What flavours do you taste? What is your first impression of it? 2. Middle Taste: This is when you begin to slowly chew the chocolate and let it melt completely in your mouth. No swallowing! And yes this takes discipline. The chewing and melting process release hidden flavours in the chocolate, and this is one of the most surprising steps. Here the fruity or nutty flavours begin to come out like a quick burst, pleasantly surprising the chocolate taster. Also note the texture in your mouth, does it melt easily, is it smooth, etc. 3. The Short Finish: This is the moment you actually swallow the chocolate and what you sense immediately only your throat. Oftentimes the chocolate, tannins, smokiness, earthiness come out here. The texture also plays an important part. It should be a nice and smooth finish. And there should be flavour still in your throat. If you have a chocolate without a finish there is definitely a problem with it. 4. The Long Finish: This takes place 60 seconds after you have swallowed. You should still feel lingering aromas and flavours. And the texture as well. What do you sense? What flavours remain in your throat? What texture lingers? Your Chocolate Tasting Notes:

ABOUT TONYA LEIGH Tonya Leigh is an admitted hedonist, internationally trained sommelier and devout Francophile who is on a mission to inspire the modern day women to Tonya writes at the intersection of personal growth and fabulous lifestyle and believes wholeheartedly that the two are inextricably linked. She feminine wisdom on the topics of home, body, mind, style, taste and culture. She is the leader of a movement against the misguided expectations of this day and age: that women should struggle with constantly improving their lives to some impossible ideal. Instead, she is leading a growing group of women who are committed to making today the best day of their lives. With a chic travel society, dynamic programs and her popular blog, Tonya is changing the way her clients think about sensuality, elegance, and luxurious living and challenging women to live their own self-made romances, one passionate choice at a time. Tonya is the Founder and CEO of French Kiss Life, Inc., has worked with Oprah and the IKEA Life Improvement Project and has spoken to audiences around the world about the power of indulgence and luxurious living. Visit www.tonyaleigh.com to learn more and join the French Kiss Life community.