Organic Bars from Vosges!

Welcome to another gorgeous week in Danville. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and spring is in the air. Speaking of Spring and the newness all around we have a couple of Chocolate bars from Vosges.

Habana - a 45% deep organic milk chocolate bar with Ecuadorian Plantain Chips. Delicious... reminds me of dried banana chips dipped in chocolate.

Peanut Butter Bonbon- a 45% deep organic milk chocolate with Peanut Butter. Very tasty bar it just melts away in your mouth. Careful you might eat it all in one sitting.

So stop on by while your out enjoying the beautiful weather.

Cheers,
Joshua (shift supervisor)

Events are Coming!

Keep your eye on us, I am putting together this spring's series of events and hope to have it finalized soon. There will be a chocolate tasting with Seneca Klassen, Jefferson Street will perform again, and we will finish it all with an Ice Cream Social you won't want to miss.

Remember to keep your Thursday Nights in April and May open. It will all start off with a Customer Appreciation Night April 16th from 7-9 PM.

We look forward to you joining us for the fun.

You can also get quick updates for our events by becoming a fan of our Facebook Page.

Check 'em out!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to See Jane Run which has opened up their newest store at the nearby Blackhawk Plaza here in beautiful Danville! This is their "Grand Opening Celebration Weekend" and as part of the celebration, they will have some of Bittersweet's own luscious truffles for you to sample!

See Jane Run is a holistic fitness store, specializing in women's apparel, shoes, and fitness gear. With two other shops in the bay area, they are ready to help you with all your fitness needs. If you can make it to their store for the grand opening this weekend, be sure to try some of our incredible hand-made truffles as you peruse their items, and after you're done, stop by our store to finish off your shopping with an ice-cold mocha or Classic hot chocolate...

Remember, Easter is only a couple of weeks away and we've got a ton of Easter themed chocolate goodies for all your holiday needs! See you soon!

Girls Night Out! this Thursday 5-9 PM

Don't forget this Thursday, here at the Rose Garden, is Girls Night Out from 5:00-9:00 PM. Everyone will be having some specials just for the ladies! Here at Bittersweet you'll find 20% off drinks and brownie bites and 2 for 1 truffles. What a deal!

Grab your girlfriends, ditch the kids and head out for some fun!

Chocolate is the New Sports Drink

(Here is some more wonderful insight from another one of my extraordinary crew members!
-- Jay)

Forget Gatorade, chocolate milk is the new sports drink. A recent study reveals that chocolate milk is way more effective than any "specially formulated" performance drink. And the reasons why are clear.

Alone, chocolate is an incredible source of energy. One single chocolate chip contains enough energy for an adult to walk 150 feet. An ounce of baking chocolate contains 10% the recommended daily iron intake, a mineral that binds to the center of the heme complex. This means that it increases performance by enabling the hemoglobin (the stuff in you blood that binds to oxygen) to more effectively carry oxygen to your muscles as well as by allowing cytochrome proteins to form which enable redox reactions (such a metabolism--the chemical reaction that gives the body energy). Additionally, chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine. The caffeine content is ideal because at about 5-10 mg of caffeine in an ounce of chocolate, it is enough to heighten alertness, but not enough to cause any noticeable "crash" effects. Finally, cocoa flavanols help to regulate blood pressure, which is especially important at a rapid heart rate.

But even more magic happens when the chocolate is combined with milk. Gatorade and the likes work by replacing carbohydrates, electrolytes and fluids lost in sweat. However, recent research indicates that coupling these ingredients with protein may make them even more effective. New sports drinks, like Endurox, attempted to cash in on this by adding protein to their formulas, but nothing seems to be as effective as good old-fashioned chocolate milk. In another study, cyclists biked to exhaustion, then rested for four hours and drank sports drinks and chocolate milk. They then biked to exhaustion again. The amazing thing is that those cyclists who drank chocolate milk biked 50% longer than those who drank Endurox. But why? Endurox has the same carb-protein ratio as chocolate milk. The reason is in the sugars. The chemical structure of the artificial sugars in Endurox causes them to be more difficult to absorb by the stomach lining than the lactose in milk.

Well there you have it. Chocolate milk is giving Gatorade a run for its money. And with athletes like Michael Phelps drinking it everyday, chocolate milk is sure to pick up a boastful reputation in the years to come.

A lot of people come to Bittersweet after a soccer game, but wouldn't it be a great idea to come before as well? You could fuel up on carbs, proteins, and fluids, all while getting the amazing health benefits of chocolate. And let's not forget how amazingly tasty it is.



Posted by: Stuart Camenson, Barista Extrordinaire

Hop on over to Bittersweet!

It's that time of year again; the time to decorate an Easter egg and bite the ear off a chocolate bunny, all while spending time with your family and enjoying the beginning of spring. What better place to do this then at Bittersweet Cafe, where we have an assortment of delightful chocolates and gifts to celebrate this time of year.

Whether you want a classic chocolate bunny, chocolate caramels in the shape of chicks, chocolate covered vanilla bunny cookies, or a beautifully decorated box of truffles; you can be sure that all your Easter needs will be fulfilled!

Posted by: Melissa Love, Shift Supervisor

Upcoming Events!

We have a few exciting events coming up here at Bittersweet and the Rose Garden Shopping Center. Below are a few opportunities to join us in celebrating.

Thursday, March 26th, 6:00-9:00 PM - "Girls Night Out!"
Come and join us for the Rose Garden Shopping Center's "Girls Night Out!" Specials will be held all over the center just for the ladies.
We will have 20% off drinks and brownie bites, and buy one get one truffles. What a deal! Call your friends and stop on by for a treat!

Friday, April 3rd, 7:00-10:00 PM - Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Sponsored by the City of Danville, we are happy to host a cultural event, which includes a participatory reading of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." Bring your friends, family, and a copy of the play to this free event. No theatrical experience necessary! Rookies, experts, and kids welcome! Plays are a lot more fun when they are read aloud. We will be staying open an extra hour just for this event!

Saturday, April 11th, 11:00-12:00 PM - Easter Egg Hunt
It's that time of year again and we are ready to celebrate with you! The Rose Garden Shopping Center is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny will be in attendance at Baby and Kids Company. Bring the little ones and search for the Golden Egg, if found you will receive a fantastic Gift Basket, full of items for the whole family.

More events to come and stop by See Jane Run in the Blackhawk Shopping Center for their Grand Opening, Saturday, March 28th for one of our truffles.

Come in and join the fun!

Oh the cleverness...

(As I have succumbed to a temporary chocolate overload and am unable to think of a clever post for our blog today, I have asked one of my esteemed colleagues, Joshua, to fill in today... -jay)

Oh the cleverness of Bittersweet, to be delicious and good for you too. Chocolate is a great anti-oxidant and good for your well being. It livens the spirit thus perking up the soul.

What better than on a day with a nip in the air than to venture on down to Bittersweet for a Classic hot chocolate. Or to excite the day try a hot cup of the "Spicy". Mmmmmmm delicious. Also while you are enjoying your beverage with your friends, why not test their game playing skills. Our game selection includes Clue, Chess, Checkers, Uno, Snakes and Ladders... among many others.

Hope to see you soon.


Posted by: Joshua, Shift Supervisor

Time for a Tasting?

We get a lot of requests for chocolate tastings, and while it is fun to come in to Bittersweet for one of our events, it can be just as fun and rewarding to sit down with some friends and work your way through some of our fabulous selection! To help you get started, here are links to Bittersweet's own tasting guide and flavor wheel:
Tasting Guide
Chocolate Flavor Wheel

Use them as you see fit, and above all--have fun!!

Opening Again at 8:00AM!

Back by popular demand Bittersweet, Danville will be opening everyday at 8:00 AM beginning Monday, March 16th.

Please tell your friends and come and see us.

We are happy to be open for your morning coffee.

Thank you for your support!

Hot Chocolate to Avoid Sunburn?

Okay, it sounds crazy, but apparently it's true! Here's the article from the June 2006 Journal of Nutrition:

=====================================
Last Updated: 2006-06-02 16:33:46 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Forget slathering on the cocoa butter. A cup of hot cocoa might be the key to looking younger, the results of a small study suggest.

Researchers in Germany found that women who drank hot cocoa for three months developed smoother, better-hydrated skin that was less vulnerable to sunburn.

The improvements may stem from the cocoa's high levels of antioxidants called flavonols, study co-author Dr. Wilhelm Stahl, a researcher at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, told Reuters Health.

Flavonols are a group of plant compounds found in tea, wine and a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as cocoa beans. Some research has suggested that these nutrients can improve blood flow and blood vessel function, and Stahl's team found evidence of increased circulation in the skin of women who drank flavonol-rich cocoa.

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, adds to the spate of recent research suggesting that dark chocolate may be a health food of sorts, capable of lowering blood pressure and possibly heart disease risk.

After three months of hot cocoa, women showed improvements in their skin's texture and thickness, as well as blood circulation and hydration, according to Stahl's team. Their skin was also less prone to burning from UV exposure.

Flavonols are not drugs, Stahl pointed out, and any subjective effects on the skin would be expected to be small -- although they might accumulate over time, he noted.

There is, of course, a range of lower-calorie flavonol sources. Although Stahl said he could not speculate on whether fruits and vegetables would have comparable skin effects, he noted that there are hints from other studies that such flavonol-containing foods also benefit the skin.

SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition, June 2006.
=====================================

As if you needed another reason! :-)

Our newest arrival!

No, nobody here had a baby; but just like a proud papa I am proud to announce that we are now carrying the 70% "Sambirano" chocolate bar by Rogue Chocolatier!

These chocolate bars are hand made in small batches in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Colin Gasko, who is fast becoming the "talk of the town" in the chocolate making industry. At only 23 years old, he sources and cleans, roasts, grinds, refines, conches, tempers, molds, and packages his chocolate by himself!

The "Sambirano" chocolate bar is single-origin, using a bean from the now famous Sambirano Valley in Madagascar. Citrus and raisin flavor notes abound in this chocolate, and has a complex yet very clean feel on the palate.

I am extremely happy to have this chocolate in our store and I encourage all of you to stop by and grab a bar to take home and enjoy!

(image source, Rogue Chocolatier)

mmmmMMMMmmmmm!

The sun is chasing the clouds away, clocks have "sprung forward", and the days are gradually getting longer. It's not quite summertime yet, but it is a great time for an ice cold "Classic" hot chocolate drink!

You didn't read that wrong... I did say "ice cold hot chocolate!"

Our "Classic" hot chocolate is your typical American-style dairy chocolate drink but instead of being heated up to warm you, it is poured over ice for a delicious refresher that will help you cool down as you enjoy this beautiful weather. In fact, ALL of our drinks are available over ice, so even if you're looking for an iced non-dairy chocolate drink like our "Bittersweet", an iced mocha, an iced latte, or an iced coffee, we can do that for you as well.

Last but most definitely not least, don't forget-- we have milkshakes and an *awesome* mocha shake too!

The Tropical Side of Chocolate

Have you been looking for something to satisfy your need for something tropical? The Michel Cluizel Mangaro bar can do just that. The bean comes straight from the heart of Madagascar and is grown on mango plantations, giving you the fruity, tropical, delicious flavor your body and mind craves. Every time you take a bite of this luscious dark chocolate, you can close your eyes and imagine sitting out, tanning in the sun. Michel Cluizel always brings out the best in chocolate, from the flavor to the texture it will always leave you happy and satisfied.

So on your next visit to Bittersweet, make sure to pick up a Michel Cluizel Mangaro bar!!

Posted by: Melissa, Shift Supervisor


(image source, Michel Cluizel)

Weekly Breakfast Specials!

Beginning next week we are bundling a drink and a pastry for a Weekly Breakfast Special of $4.95. This special will change from week to week and will be Monday through Friday.

What a great way to try something new without damaging the pocketbook.

Next week, March 9-13, our weekly special includes a Bittersweet and a Croissant, all for only $4.95. What a deal!

So stop by your local Bittersweet for a chocolaty treat and enjoy a pastry while you are there.

While supplies last!