Holiday Stocking Stuffers!

New Shop in Uptown Waterloo!

Check out our new shop in Uptown Waterloo at The Waterloo Town Square Shops

New Store Renovations

The renovations have begun at our new shop in Uptown Waterloo! My husband and I got stuck in with the painting this weekend and made some good progress. We hope you can join us for our Grand Opening in November!

Halloween Truffle Favours

Delight your "Creatures of the Night" with decadent truffle favours that are eerie and elegant!

Mori ex Cacao ~ Death By Chocolate - 75% Bittersweet Truffle

Trick or Truffle - 54% Spiced Vanilla Truffle

Eeek! Halloween is Upon Us!

Jana and Larin - September 12, 2009

First, I have to say... I have the best sister in the world!!!! Friday night she stayed with me until 2am to bake and decorate Jana and Larin's wedding cake. Their wedding was absolutely beautiful and we were really proud of the cake that we were able to make for the happy couple.

Celebrate the Harvest!

ICE CREAM SALE! END OF SEASON

Chocolate Boutique Opening - The Shops at the Waterloo Town Square

It's official!  Another Eve Chocolatier Boutique will be located at The Shops in Uptown Waterloo.  I'm so excited and also a bit nervous.  The grand opening will be in November...hope to see you there!

Here's a link to view the shops...

The Shops in Waterloo Town Square

Chocolate, Alfresco

Although chocolate is considered the Food of the Gods, you may find yourself calling on a higher power to keep your sweets solid during your outdoor wedding if you're not prepared with a few basic chocolate tips.  Generally, chocolate is quite stable in most conditions but extremely hot temperatures and more importantly strong sun rays can spell disaster.  To keep your chocolates from having a meltdown make sure to keep them in a shaded area and more preferably in packaging that is not clear.  Other ways to keep your treats in tact are to carefully consider the types you offer. Chocolates that are candy coated or dusted in cocoa powder are ideal in warm temperatures and are more resilient in the sun.  But if you are more of a chocolate purist and would like to present a solid molded item or bar, opt for the darkest chocolate available.  The light the colour, the softer the chocolate and the more likely it is to run as the mercury rises.

You've heard presentation is everything and in the chocolate plus heat equation it equals relief.  Storing your chocolates in the freezer until the reception will keep them cool while the afternoon sun is at full strength.  Because some confections can lose quality after being frozen, be sure to try this beforehand.  You can also present your chocolate favours as a sweet send-off that is put out later in the evening when the sun has set and the temperature becomes cooler.  If your venue doesn't offer refrigeration, keep them in a cooler with frozen gel packs.

Planning an outdoor wedding can pose a few additional challenges but don't allow the heat to melt your dreams of the sweet offerings chocolate creates.  So powerful is the world's favourite treat that a few chocolatey fingers won't keep people from sneaking some extras!

Eve Chocolatier Boutique

The Fairbairn Wedding

The Dog Days of Summer

Another beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon at our home in the Chatham-Kent countryside. Steve was busying himself with his gardens while I was enjoying a good read. The dogs, as usual were on hand for comic relief and a good "snuzzle".

Hercules! Hercules!

Hercules!  Hercules! ...my cherished red bike Hercules will be getting a fresh paint job and a basket for some upcoming summer adventures.  I have yet to determine the paint colour...check back to see Hercules' new mini-makeover!

An Ode to Chatham-Kent Farming Traditions....

As chocolate artisans, we create our truffles by hand and know the "labour of love" that uncompromising quality requires.  Our new Country Market Truffle Collection features Chatham-Kent growers, producers and country cooks that work from the heart to create delicious and fresh ingredients that are an expression of the land itself and of the people who live here.  This collection illuminates and applauds these hard-working individuals who take pride in their craft and have an eagerness to pass on our region's traditions to the next generation.  

Mary and Gary Celebrate 50 years!

My sister and I made a special cake for some very special people. Mary and Gary truly are the "salt of the earth" and this May they celebrated their 50th anniversary. This wedding cake was designed around the dress that Mary wore on her wedding day, a tea length dress with purple and pink roses. We were asked to make this cake by Mary and Gary's children who really wanted something special because the couple didn't have a cake on their wedding day. Cheers to the happy couple!

Swept Away by the Windy City

...Yes, yes it is. My first question about Chicago was answered on my arrival, it is indeed windy... But what else? I've heard plenty about the ex-mobsters, the hotdogs and deep-dish pizza but what lies beneath the usual tourist badges that this city wears. Being as I engaged in almost tourist exclusive entertainment, I went surfing the net to find interesting things you could do on your trip to Chicago.
1. Maxwell Street Market - Continuing its long tradition of offering Chicago immigrants and locals a space to sell odds and ends, the colorful flea market hosts 518 vendors every Sunday, year-round. In addition to household goods, clothing, CDs, jewelry, power tools and produce, there are several Mexican food stands offering authentic fare like enchiladas, tacos, tamales, plantains and horchata. Live blues is played at the market weekly (weather permitting).
2. City Gallery - City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, 806 N. Michigan, presents exhibitions of Chicago-themed photographs by Chicago photographers. Chicago's most cherished landmark for over a century, the Historic Water Tower was transformed into the city's official photography gallery in 1999. Yet another example of a successful public/private partnership, City Gallery was created through the leadership of Chicago's most famous photographer Victor Skrebneski, who also helped design and restore the recently dedicated Water Tower Park which surrounds the Historic Water Tower. Marshall Field's Project Imagine also sponsored the renovation of Water Tower Park.
3. Chicago Greeter Program - Get the inside scoop on a Chicago neighborhood with a local expert. The Chicago Greeter Program offers free walking tours of the city hosted by resident volunteers. From the Ukrainian Village to Lincoln Square, the Greeter Program is a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of this dynamic city.
4. Movies in the Parks - Creating avenues for Chicago families to enjoy summer in the city, the Chicago Park District announces Movies in the Parks where more than 170 current and classic movies will be shown in neighborhood parks throughout the city, from June through September. There is no better place to be this summer than your neighborhood park. Grab a picnic basket and a blanket and enjoy the show. You bring the snacks, we'll bring the stars. All movies are free and begin at dusk.
5. Free Street Theatre - The Free Street Theatre group puts on productions in various inner-city communities throughout Chicago. Shows range from political satire to performance puppetry and admission is by donation.

Creepy Crawly Candy

Some souevenirs I brought back from my week in Chicago at the All Candy Expo.  Yes, these are candy covered bugs.  A gift (..and double dog dare) for my husband's work colleagues...these pictures make my skin crawl!

Ice Cream En Route!

Our gourmet line of ice cream produced by the famous Toronto artisan maker Greg's Ice Cream is en route to Eve Chocolatier. The cooler with be stocked and ready for Retrofest next weekend in historic Downtown Chatham. Ice Cream flavours include:
Coffee Toffee (my personal favourite)
Roasted Marshmallow
Sweet Cream
Chocolate
Chocolate Mint-O
Mango
Maple Cream
Pistachio
Lemon Meringue
PB Cups and Chocolate

As a special offer to our blog readers we have posted a coupon for $1 off any ice cream cone. (Valid until June 1st. One coupon per customer.)

Sweet Dreams and Renovation Nightmares

I am currently in the middle of a home renovation.  What had started as a simple paint and redecoration scheme for our bedroom has developed into a complete redo of our upstairs electrical.  How it all started was my husband and I were ripping off an old border on the wall, when somehow he decided to remove the wall scones.  Well, then it all begins to unravel.  He starts examining the wires and then pulls the cord from the wall, pulling a channel through the entire plaster.  Now he's in full DIY mode and has crawled up into the attic and is examining the electrical for our entire upstairs.  Prognosis:  "Honey, we've got to redo all of this electrical...it's all hack-and-slash and we might as well do it all at once."  It might be an appropriate time to mention that while he was up in the attic, he's determined that it was quite damp on the roof and the simple shingle patch job we had projected to complete in the summer must now be a complete new roof!  My husband is a brilliant man and has personally developed many trade skills while renovating our home but one skill he has never been able to grasp is the "switchback".  The idea is that in order to climb a steep hill you move from side to side and only tackle one small bit of the mountain as you switchback slowly progressing upward.  I understand his logic "Why paint and decorate when we are only going to eventually have to rip it apart later."  The logic that he doesn't understand is momentum and motivation, when you rip everything apart and then try to put it all back together it becomes daunting and it can zap your momentum to keep the project going.  Too many times I've pulled everything out of a room to completely reorganize it to only step away and feel the weight of a huge lurking job left upstairs to complete.  Never do I seem more engrossed in the television than when some large job I've started is half finished.  Anyway, while he's busy reading the Electrical Codes Manual, I've been perusing the Country Living website for some bedroom inspiration.  I've posted some inspiration photos here.  When the bedroom is finally complete, I'll share some photos (don't hold your breath though...it may take a while).

Pauline

Country Living