Sunday's are Fundays at Bittersweet!

In the New Year we are trying something new. Every Sunday beginning January 4th, is Family Game Day at Bittersweet Cafe, we are calling it Sunday's are Fundays.

Here's the scoop:

Between 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, when you buy a drink and a pastry you will receive a copy of the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle

and then..

Between 12:00 - 8:00 PM, it is Family Game Day. Stop on by to check out our board games and see what special we will be running that day. January 4th's special will be 10% off our Classic Hot Chocolate. What a deal games for everyone and hot chocolate to boot.

So come in from the cold on Sunday's and have some family fun time. Sunday's are Fundays and Bittersweet Cafe Danville in the New Year.

Happy New Year!

Bittersweet Cafe Danville would like to thank you again for making our first five months here a success and for welcoming us with open arms. We would like to wish you and yours light and joy in the coming new year.

I would like to remind you of our holiday hours. Bittersweet Danville will be closing on New Years Eve at 4:00 PM and will be closed on New Years Day, so we may recover from the festivities. We will see you bright and early on January 2nd, at 7:00 AM.

This is another reminder that we are changing our opening hours during the week from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, beginning January 5th. This makes our opening everyday at 8:00 AM.

Thank you and stay safe.

White Chocolate Dream?

We, here at Bittersweet Danville, get a lot of people in asking what is a White Chocolate Dream? Other than a wonderful sleepy time experience, it is a wonderful, creamy white chocolate hot chocolate.

Since we make all our own mixes here at Bittersweet Cafe, we know exactly what goes into our drinks. We don't use powders or pumps, we use real honest to god, chocolate. The White Chocolate Dream is made from milk, white chocolate, and dulce de leche, which adds a nice caramel flavor. We even make our own dulce de leche from scratch. It spends hours on the stove becoming a wonderful creamy caramel. We use the dulce de leche with our pudding as well, also made in house. The last ingredient is cardamon. A little spice to add some depth of flavor.

The White Chocolate Dream is sweet and creamy and really good over ice. One of the favorite ways to order the drink is with a shot of espresso. What a great way to start the day.

We Were Mentioned in the Wall Street Journal

Recently the esteemed newspaper The Wall Street Journal did and article about places to visit in three cities in our nation. San Francisco was one of those cities chosen and Bittersweet Cafe was one of those places to visit. We are proud and honored to be chosen to be a part of this list.

Please follow the link to the article to see the other places chosen out of our unique and wonderful Bay Area.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122937787368408365.html

Holiday Coloring Contest Winners!

Happy Holidays! Bittersweet is happy to announce that we have chosen our Holiday Coloring Contest Winners. Come by the store to see the winners and pick up your prize. They are currently being displayed on the pastry case.

I hope everyone has had a nice holiday and are looking forward to the New Year. I know I am. Please remember that we will be closing early, 4:00 PM, on New Year's Eve and will be closed for New Year's Day, so we may recover from our own revelations.

Once again, a reminder that Bittersweet will be changing it's hours beginning January 4th. We will be opening at 8:00 AM during the week instead of 7:00 AM. Please make a note in your calendars. The other hours will be remaining the same.

Thank You and Happy New Year!

Thank you for attending on Saturday!

I would like to thank everyone who attended our Coffee & Chocolate tasting event last Saturday. It was a great time. Seneca picked out some chocolates to match the Ecco Caffe coffee we were tasting and it was amazing. Here's what we tried in order.

Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Beloya - Abdullah Bagersh

Natural process . Sun dried

- Gorgeous apricot tones , elegantly sweet , strawberry noted finish . Mild rounded acidity .

Floral . sugarcane , berry basket aromatics .Rich syrupy body
Paired with Bittersweet Origins Puerto Plata Bar

Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Konga Coop / Operation Cherry Red Reserve lot / special red ripe cherry sorting /preparation

Washed process

- Intoxicating floral, honey , stone fruit and jasmine aromatics segue into a gorgeously sweet and balanced cup. Very clean , long complex sugarcane finish . Notes of ginger . Rounded , balanced peak of season , stone fruit acidity

Paired with Republica Del Cacao Manabi Province 75% Dark Bar

Organic Ethiopia Korito Koran Cooperative - Sidamo Region / Dara District

Natural Process / Sun dried

- Tantalizing cassis/ currant, cocoa noted aromatics carry through to the cup . Very clean , sweet and balanced . Long lingering body , Medium - high , very balanced acidity .

Paired with Divine Dar Bar

Brazil Fazenda Cachoiera Yellow Bourbon - Taste of the Harvest Reserve Lot

Pulped natural process / Heirloom variety / Sun dried - African raised bed process

- Sugarcane , honey and caramel aromatics. Lovely notes of bittersweet chocolate buttery mouth feel ,caramel noted finish. Rounded. Very soft , sweet balanced acidity

Paired with El Rey Caoba Milk Chocolate Bar and Valrhona Palmira 2007


I would have never thought to pair a fuller bodied coffee with a milk chocolate bar, but it worked. For those of you who missed the fun we will be doing it again in the spring. What an eye opening event. I have a new appreciation for good coffee and how it can pair with chocolates and even a for a bar I didn't like before.

Again, thank you to all who attended and I look forward to our next event in February.

Holiday items are going fast!

Wow, the holiday's have really picked up and we are busy, busy. If you are looking for our wonderful stocking stuffers and holiday items, they are going fast. We have run out of a number of really cute and yummy items, but there are a few left, so come on by.

If you are looking for that perfect gift we still have one or two left. One of the neatest items is our Spa Package Basket, which contains a Burke Williams Gift Certificate and some luxurious chocolates. The perfect items for your someone special who deserves to be pampered.

Just a note on our holiday hours, Bittersweet Danville will be closing early, at 4:00 PM, on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day. We will be open bright and early on the 26th at our regular store hours.

Happy Holiday's and Seasons Greetings to you and your loved ones from all of us at Bittersweet Cafe. Have a safe and healthy holiday.

This Saturday Coffee & Chocolate!

Our final event of the year is coming up this Saturday, December 20th from 2-4 PM. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet with Ecco Caffe's Andrew Barnett and taste some of his fine coffees as well as chocolate pairings by our own Seneca Klassen. This Coffee & Chocolate cupping event is not to be missed, especially for all of you coffee conoisseurs.

Please stop by and join us for an experience you will certainly enjoy.



Todays soup is Broccoli Cheddar.

Holiday Shopping Night Tomorrow Night!

Tomorrow night is the last event as part of our Mid-Week Mayhem series. It is our Holiday Shopping Night where you can receive a 10% discount on all drinks and merchandise and we will have various treats for you to snack on and maybe a little something for you to drink. This event runs beyond our normal business hours on a Wednesday. It is from 6-9 PM.

This is a way for you to shop in a calm relaxed environment and find everything that you need to stuff those stockings. There will also be no Holiday music playing, so that you don't overload on those fine tunes.

Please come and join us in our second to last event of the year. It is going to be a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyable.


Thank you to all who attended our Spirits & Chocolate event on Sunday night. It was really informative and a whole lot of fun! I can't wait to do it again.


Today's soup is Chicken Coconut Curry....mmmmmmm!

Howdy Hoooooooo!

Let me introduce you to one of our more special holiday treats we have in stock, Bittersweet's little "Marshmallow Fellow."

Those of you out there who watch the TV show "South Park" may notice a slight (but purely coincidental) resemblance to one of the show's more enigmatic characters but let me tell you, our little guy here is 100% completely edible (except for the felt hat and wooden stick upon which he's perched, of course...), and 100% delicious.

Three fluffy marshmallows on a stick are dipped in milk chocolate and hand decorated to make this appealing treat, and we plenty on hand for stocking stuffers, treats for the kids, or even a small snack. We even have some Marshmallow Fellows dipped in white chocolate as well!

Come on by and check out this and the many many other holiday sweets we have available for your holiday gift giving needs!

Our soup for the day is Hearty Beef and Vegetable Stew. Yum!

Next up - Spirits & Chocolate!

Thank you for all who attended last nights event! It was a great success and I'm sure a lot of fun.

Our next event is coming up this Sunday, December 14th from 7:30-9:00 PM. It is our Spirits & Chocolate: A Perfect Pair tasting and workshop. It also has limited seating, so please sign up now. This time Seneca Klassen is poised to talk about the joy of pairing spirits, like scotch and whiskey, with chocolate. I must say that I am new to this subject, but it really works for me.

Also, all that day we are running our charity event for the Athenian School Robotics Collective, where 15% of all proceeds by Athenian School Parents goes toward this great club. This year they are competing nationwide with their robot Chet VII. Go Team! We are very happy to help support this great group of kids.


Today soup is Split Pea with Ham.

Don't Forget This Thursday Chocolate 101!

Time is running out to sign up for Chocolate 101 with Seneca Klassen this Thurday, December 11th from 7-9 PM, spaces are filling up fast. It will be an evening of tasting and learning about all things chocolate. This will be a nice change from the fast paced holiday season.

Seneca is an owner of Bittersweet Cafe and our resident Chocolatier. You may be following his work on our Twitter blog. This is a great opportunity to learn from a man who knows chocolate and often travels to lecture about it. and if you have any questions about how to make chocolate or how we make our chocolate this is the perfect time to get those questions answered.

The fee is only $5 and you will receive a 15% off coupon to use in the store at your leisure. What a deal. Just call, email, or come in to sign up.


I am sorry to say that we are out of soup today until our delivery tomorrow.

Chocolate Ornaments Are Here!

What a unique and special gift, a chocolate ornament that can beautify your tree and you can enjoy eating instead of packing it away after the holidays. Bittersweet has two varieties to choose from.

One style of chocolate ornament is a dark chocolate ball covered in foil that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

The other style is made to look like a light bulb from a strand of Christmas lights and are filled with chocolate covered sunflower seeds. These seeds are really yummy and colorful.

This is a gift that is a definite pleaser and conversation piece, something that most people have not seen. We have a limited supply, so please come down and pick out your favorite.


Today's soup is broccoli cheddar....

December Chocolate Bar Pick

I am going to go a little lighter for my chocolate bar pick for this month. Another of my favorites is from the French Chocolatier, Michel Cluizel, and his plantation Vila Gracinda bar from the island of Sao Tome in central Africa.

This 65% single origin dark bar is as smooth as you can get. Like most of Cluizel's chocolates, it is conched (ground) to a very fine nib that just melts in your mouth. This one lingers with hints of licorice, wood, and ripe tropical fruit, especially banana. This really is a great bar to savor and let sit on your tongue while you experience all the flavors.

If you are looking for chocolate to bake with all of the cluizel bars are a good choice. They can handle the heat a little more than some of the others, before burning and the quality is there to make your desserts special.

Come in and taste the Michel Cluizel "Vila Gracinda" 65% dar bar. I know you'll enjoy the experience.



Today's soup is Broccoli Cheddar.....mmmmmm

Dec. 20th - Coffee & Chocolate

Yet another amazing event this month.

Saturday, December 20th - 2-4PM "Coffee Cupping" with Ecco Caffe
The art of coffee cupping is not just for aficionados, but for coffee lovers of all walks of life. Similar to wine tasting, coffee cupping teaches the palette to appreciate coffee's body, substance, mouth feel, and subtle nuances. Andrew Barnett, owner of Ecco Caffe, and Drew Cattlin, coffee expert, will lead the event, giving you the opportunity to fully enjoy Ecco coffees with a chocolate pairing thrown in.

Come and join us for a unique experience.



Today's soup is Chicken Coconut Curry.......

Dec. 14th - A Very Big Day of Events!

Wow! This just in! December 14th will be a great day to come.

We will be having an all day charity event for the Athenian School Robotics Club. 15% of proceeds from Athenian School Parents will go toward helping the Robotics Club and Chet VII take the title at the Championships. Go Chet VII!

And this one you won't want to miss, from 7:30-9:00 we will be holding an after hours event. The store is closing slightly early to accommodate Spirits & Chocolate: A Perfect Pair, by Seneca Klassen. Ever wondered about how to pair wine with chocolate? Or if that single malt scotch would taste good with dark chocolate from Grenada? Pairing chocolate with spirits is a delightful way to entertain this Holiday season: Bring a friend and learn how with Seneca, our resident chocolate guru!

Sign up today, there are limited spaces available. Call, email, or come in to sign up!

See you at Bittersweet!

Holiday Coloring Contest On Now!

Our Thanksgiving Coloring Contest was so successful, that we have decided to have a holiday one as well. Bring your kids in and have them express themselves.

There are 3 pictures to choose from and our friendly Baristas would be happy to give you your favorite. Once again there are 3 categories; under age 5, 5-8, and 9-12. The prize is once again a $10 Gift Certificate for Bittersweet Cafe. The contest ends Christmas Eve and winners will be posted in the store on December 26th.

By the way, you can find the crayons hidden in the drawers of the tables, so you can always make your own drawing.

For the winners of the Thanksgiving Contest, the winners are posted in the store, so drop in and see if you or your child won.

Happy Coloring!

Don't Forget Your Frequent Buyer Card!

This holiday season is a great time to be a Bittersweet Frequent Buyer.

Not only do you get every 11th drink free, when making those holiday purchases you get advantages as well. For a $30 purchase or more you get 10% off and for purchases of $100 or more you receive 20% off.

What a deal!

Just ask your friendly barista for a card or present yours before your purchase.

Stop On By!

I am really looking forward to Family Game Night tonight from 6-8. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Also, we have Date Night next Wednesday Night from 6-8 PM and then on Thursday the 11th from 7-9 is Chocolate 101 with our own Chocolatier Seneca Klassen. Sign up now as spaces are going fast. There is a $5 fee for the tasting, but you will receive a 15% off coupon to use at your leisure.

Tomorrow night is the Rose Garden Shopping Center Holiday Shopping Night from 5-9 PM. You'll find some great deals.

There is a lot going on in the month of December here at Bittersweet Cafe, Danville. Just on the calendar is a Chocolate and Coffee Tasting with Ecco Caffe to be held on Saturday the 20th, from 2-4 PM. Andrew Barnett, the owner of Ecco Caffe, and Drew Cattlin, coffee expert, will be in attendance to answer your coffee questions tell you everything you would like to know about coffee.

Please put these events on your calendar and have a very chocolatey holiday season.

See you soon!


Today's soup is Chicken Coconut Curry.....

Family Game Night!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

This is a reminder of tomorrow night's Family Game Night from 6-8PM here at the Cafe, as part of our Mid-week Mayhem series. We will have Uno, Connect Four, Candyland, Monopoly Express, Clue, and more. Please come by for 10% off our Classic hot chocolate and some fun times.

I hope to see you here!


Today's soup is hearty beef and vegetable stew...