New Store Hours!

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, April 21st, we will have new operating hours!

We will be open--
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm, closed between 1-2pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9am-5pm

We wouldn't still be here if it weren't for all of you, so we'd like to say thanks for all your continued support!

We had a great time at Pixar!

What a greeting from life size LEGO versions of Buzz Lightyear and Woody!

On Tax Day, last Thursday April 15th, we attended an event for Pixar employees, the chocolate event to end all chocolate events. Bittersweet was one of 12 guests showing our wares and sampling out our products. What a cool environment to spend the day. The people we met were so nice and inquisitive. They asked so many great questions, what a joy. We were happy to sample out little Bittersweet Hot Chocolate's and Coconut Chill's and of course our very own Bittersweet Origins Chocolate Bars.

This was the first time we have taken drinks on the road and it was very successful. I think we may do it again sometime.

Thank you Pixar for allowing us to be a part of your Chocolate Day!

Lower Your Belly Fat By Eating Chocolate?

This just in....

BellyFatAnswers.com reports:

According to Prevention Magazine and Web M.D. there are 5 food groups that fall into the category, “Flat Belly Foods” that will help you lose belly fat.

One serving of these foods, each packed with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA's), at each meal will help reduce excess weight in your mid-section and protect you from various diseases.

Nuts and seeds, olives, avocado, dark chocolate, and healthy oils (olive oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil to name a few) are all included on their belly fat busting list. Make an effort to include these foods in your daily diet plan.

Now if you just pick up a bag of our Almond Bark, made with 61% Dark Chocolate and Almonds, you are set to bust the fat.

The list as to why I need to keep chocolate in my diet just keeps growing longer. Oh darn, I will just have to force myself to continue with my chocolate habit.

I have a regular customer of the Danville Bittersweet to thank for turning me on to this.

Have a great weekend!

There's More....Coffee Facts!

Here are just a few of the facts on the CocoaJava.com website. Enjoy! I found them pretty informative.


"Cowboy coffee"? It was said they made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock and immerse it in cold water and heated over campfire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.

Caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances. Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee. Ouch! Any coffee athletics out there?

The word "coffee" was at one time a term for wine, but was later used to describe a black drink made from berries of the coffee tree. This black drink replaced wine in many religious ceremonies because it kept the Mohammedans awake and alert during their nightly prayers, so they honored it with the name they had originally given to wine.

Turkish bridegrooms were once required to make a promise during their wedding ceremonies to always provide their new wives with coffee. If they failed to do so, it was grounds for divorce! (Ouch!)

Espresso has 1/3 of the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee.

During the American Civil War the Union soldiers were issued eight pounds of ground roasted coffee as part of their personal ration of one hundred pounds of food. And they had another choice: ten pounds of green coffee beans.

Cafe Procope was the first true Paris coffeehouse. It was opened in 1689 by a former lemonade vendor, Francois Procope. The cafe faces the Theatre Francais, where it drew the artists and actors of the day.

Ugandans mix green beans with sweet grasses and various spices, dry them, and then wrap these in grass packets, which were then hung in their homes. It serves as talisman and as decoration.

Coffee most exacting rite of passage is known as "cupping" or cuptasting. It is the act of assessing the qualities of a particular batch of beans by freshly roasting, brewing, and tasting it. It is the work for serious and talented professionals.

There is a difference between the strength and body of the coffee? The strength of the coffee refers to how much coffee is there in the brew, whereas the body is a measure of the richness (or heaviness) of the coffee taste.

In the old days in Constantinople, the first coffeehouses were called qahveh khaneh (schools of wisdom) because they were the meeting places of men of arts and literature.

The requirements for making of good espresso is summarized by the 4 "M"s: Macinazione (the correct griinding of coffee blend), Miscela (coffee blend), Macchina (the espresso machine) and of course, Mano (barista).

Beethoven who was a coffee lover, was so particular about his coffee that he always counted 60 beans each cup when he prepared his brew.

When coffee supplies became scarce during the American Civil War, soldiers desperate for a cup of coffee used roasted sweet potato and Indian corn as a substitute!

Have a great weekend!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

I found this recipe on epicurious.com and tried it out a few weeks ago with delightful results. Top it off with a little creme fraiche or some raspberry gelato and you've got yourself a great after dinner dessert to treat your guests with!

• 4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus additional for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper.

Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate.

Dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve with sorbet if desired. (Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container, 1 week.)

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Flourless-Chocolate-Cake-14478#ixzz0kMQjl1SA

Easter Is Upon Us!

Easter is this Sunday, April 4th! Wow, time flies. We still have some great and very cute items in the store, but time is running out. Stop in today to pick up your favorite treat before they are all gone. We still have Solid Chocolate Bunnies in all sizes and in both milk and dark, little gift collections and various Chocolate Pops and Eggs. I picked up the cutest little Bunny Ears for place settings at the Sunday Easter dinner table.

Items are disappearing, so please don't delay. Your little chicks and honey bunnies deserve the best chocolate in their baskets.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all!

Bunnys and chicks and chocolates, oh my!

Easter Sunday is fast approaching, and we are your store for last minute Easter gift shopping! From solid milk (and dark!) chocolate bunnies in all shapes and sizes to peanut butter filled chocolate easter eggs, we have the what you'll need to make this holiday weekend extra special for your loved ones.

Have a happy Easter from all of us here at Bittersweet Cafe!

More Coffee Facts

I have been having fun scouring the internet to bring some fun and insightful information to you. Here is another site with some fun facts about coffee, whose trading at one time ruled commerce.

* When shopping for perfume, take some coffee with you in your bag and have a good sniff in between smelling each perfume to refresh your nose!

* Sprinkle spent coffee grounds around the base of your garden plants and it will stop snails and slugs from munching them!

* A mixture of coffee grounds and sugar, fed to a pot plant and watered regularly, will revive houseplants that have turned yellow in winter.

* Some of the worlds most powerful business, including Lloyds of London and the New York Stock Exchange, started life as a coffee houses.

* The aromas in coffee develop at the 10th minute of roasting.

* Coffee increases in volume during roasting by 18.60%.

Coffee is...

• The second most widely used product in the world after oil.
• It was worth 6 million tonnes per year in the mid 90's.
• It is worth €30 billion per year to the producing countries.
• It is a living to more than 100 million people.
• It is consumed at the rate of 1400 million cups per day.
• The world's second most popular drink after water.

Check the justaboutcoffee.com site for more fun facts.

Have a great week!

Thanks again!

On behalf of everyone here at Bittersweet Cafe Danville, I'd like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules yesterday to donate blood.

Thank you for helping us help those who need this precious commodity.

Blood Drive Today!

Today is the day! Your chance to give blood and get a truffle in return. We have slots available between noon and 3:30. Please stop by or go by the website to sign up. It is a great day to help others.

Have a wonderful day!

Fun Easter Facts

Here are some fun Easter/Passover Facts and Traditions that I found on a website. It is neat to find out why we do some of these things. Enjoy!

- Many pagan traditions have found their way into Christian religious observances. Rabbits are one such symbol. Rabbits symbolize the fertility of springtime. The rabbit is also the symbol of the Egyptian moon — and the moon is used to determine the date of Easter each year.

- The hare (rabbit) is a very important Easter symbol in Germany, almost as important as Santa Claus is in the United States for Christmas. The hare is responsible for laying eggs and hiding them. This probably evolved from children hunting for Easter eggs and scaring away rabbits which happened to be in the area. The hare and egg provide a link between the pagan faith's welcoming of spring and Christianity's Easter celebration.

- The custom of decorating eggs goes back many thousands of years. When you add a few strokes of icing to the surface of a chocolate Easter egg, you are carrying on an age-old tradition. Long before the Bible was written, the egg was a sacred object and it was ornamented as part of numerous religious and superstitious practices.

- The word "Easter" is derived from Eostre or Ostara - the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn. The festival in her honor was celebrated on the first day of spring. It was she who changed a bird into a rabbit, and thus this four-footed little creature joined the egg as another Easter symbol. In our Easter baskets we always include delightfully decorated eggs and rabbits. At the beginning of the 19th century, the first sugar and pastry Easter bunnies became popular in southern Germany.

- In France, children carry eggs to their churches on Holy Saturday at their first confessions for the priests' blessings. Other children hunt for eggs in the church garden, for it is said the eggs had been dropped by the church bells that were silent from Maundy Thursday.

- Although there are no records of Easter eggs as a general custom in Western Europe before the 15th century, there is a tribe in Africa that colors eggs at Easter. They are Mohammedans now, but were once Christians hundreds of years ago. It is also recorded that in the year 1307 King Edward I of England had 450 boiled eggs dyed and covered with gold leaf.

- Like Easter, Passover is celebrated in the spring. The Seder, the traditional meal celebrated in Jewish homes on the first day of Passover, includes the eating of hard-boiled eggs as a symbol of the hope and joy that things are to grow again. It is likely that Jesus' Last Supper was a Passover meal.

- While candy and confections are not identified with the Jewish celebration of Passover the way they are with Easter, many Seders are ended with the eating of chocolate products that are "Kosher la pesach" — Kosher for Passover. No corn syrup or lecithin can be used in the preparation of this chocolate that can be either dark or light — Kosher dairy. Passover confections include chocolate bars with nuts, raisins and dried fruit. Recently, Matzo bread (an unleavened flatbread), dipped or half-dipped in chocolate, has become a popular product.

- Every time you purchase, make or consume chocolate eggs and rabbits, or give Easter baskets or Passover chocolates, you are joining with your ancestors in helping to welcome the arrival of spring — and the joyous Christian and Jewish festivals of hope, rebirth and deliverance. Be proud of your glorious traditions, which link you to an ancient and honorable past.

Thank you!!!

I'd like to give a big huge THANK YOU to all of you who came to our acoustic show Friday night and to the Jefferson Street show tonight! Good times and great music were shared by all!

I can't wait for next month!

The Easter Bunny Has Arrived!

It is that time of year again and on April 4th, the Easter Bunny officially does his duty, but until then, swing by Bittersweet to get all those little gifts that you need.

Looking for a cute little something to give to a coworker or friend? We got it! That special little gift that shows you care? We got it! Or the tasty treat for a loved one? We got it!

Spring has definitely sprung. The beautiful weather is the perfect time to get your garden back into shape. Bittersweet has the gifts for the gardening gurus in your life.

We even have a fun Bunny Hunt Game with chocolate rewards. This one is fun for the whole family to play together. And for the little baker in the bunch, a cute bunny or chick filled with cookie cutters and chocolate.

You may not see any chocolate bunnies in this post but we have them aplenty in the store, milk and dark. Every size and shape you are looking for, including the cute little placesetting ones that are so popular.

And in this time of sun and warmth don't forget to drop by for a fabulous milkshake or sundae. The perfect way to cap of a lovely day in the park.

See ya soon!

Just a reminder...

Howdy folks,

I just wanted to give you all a reminder that our first (hopefully of many) blood drive is going on next Thursday, March 25, from 11am-5pm. We have a sign up sheet at the store, and if you can't make it by here to sign up, you can still do so by clicking here! It's as simple as that! Spread the word!

We will have a table set up so that everyone who donates will get one of our incredible hand-made truffles to savor afterwards.

I look forward to meeting you all, and I would personally like to extend my gratitude to all of you for taking to the time to help us help others!

Thanks!

How much caffeine is in chocolate?

I recently came across a posting by the California Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Chocolate Exhibition, about some interesting chocolate health facts. Here are a few excerpts. Feel free to follow the link to get all the information.

"Does chocolate cause cavities? Not necessarily. According to a recent study, cacao contains antibacterial agents that actually fight tooth decay. However, most mass-produced chocolate contains sugar, which probably counteracts the benefits of these agents."

"Will the caffeine in chocolate make me jittery? Probably not. Cacao does contain a number of stimulants, such as caffeine and theobromine, but in small amounts that are diluted even further when processed into chocolate. In fact, one ounce of milk chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine as one cup of decaffeinated coffee. Interestingly, one study has shown that the smell of chocolate may actually relax you by increasing theta waves in the brain."

"Will I live longer if I eat chocolate? Perhaps. A Harvard University study found that men who ate chocolate lived one year longer than those who didn’t. Scientist think that chocolate contains chemicals that help keep blood vessels elastic and increase beneficial antioxidants in the bloodstream, but research is underway and no conclusive results have been found. "

Enjoy!

Follow Our Coffee Blog

We are proud to announce Bittersweet's new Coffee Blog! Ian Riley our roaster extraordinaire is blogging about his exploits and discoveries in the world of coffee roasting.

If you would like to learn more about how it is done, check it out and follow along.

Join the team!

We are looking for a hard-working, outgoing person who has a love for all things chocolate & coffee!

The barista position is part-time, averaging about 12-20 hours per week with the possibility of receiving more. Prior café experience is a definite plus, but we are ready to train the right person.

If you're interested, please stop by and drop off your resume!
We look forward to hearing from you!

Chocolate May Make Some Strokes Less Likely

Yet again another health benefit to eating dark chocolate.

In news, reported by HealthDay, that's sure to delight chocolate lovers, a Harvard study finds that a couple of squares of dark chocolate a day might reduce the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke, by 52 percent.

"There are several possible mechanisms, but the effect of rich cocoa on cardiovascular health seems to be through its effect on blood pressure, and the capacity to improve the flexibility of the blood vessels," said study author Dr. Martin Lajous, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

"In the context of an appropriate intake, eating small amounts of cocoa could be beneficial," Lajous said. "There are several possible mechanisms, but the effect of rich cocoa on cardiovascular health seems to be through its effect on blood pressure, and the capacity to improve the flexibility of the blood vessels."

Wow! Good for your brain and for your heart. Why wouldn't you eat dark chocolate daily?

Schedule of events for March!

What's coming up here at Bittersweet Danville...

Thursday 3/4: Chocolate Club Meeting with Bittersweet chocolatier Seneca Klaussen. Seats are still available for this informational event!

Saturday 3/6: The musical stylings of Justin Fitch

Friday 3/19: The City of Danville and the VYC present their monthly Acoustic Show (performers TBA)

Thursday 3/25: Bittersweet Danville teams with the American Red Cross for our first blood drive! We need as many people as possible to donate blood and help us make this a success; won't you please help us help those in need? Click here to sign up!

Breathable Chocolate?

Who would have thought they would come up with this one? NPR reported yesterday on a new product available online. It is called Le Whif and it has gotten some favorable reviews. It definitely is new and interesting. It is chocolate in the molecular form and placed in a tube. Open the tube and inhale, you get all the smell and flavor of chocolate without eating it. There are 8-10 "whiffs" per tube.

But does it really satisfy?

Check it out and decide for yourself. I still prefer the edible kind.

Chocolate Club Meeting postponed...

We regret to announce that tonight's meeting has been cancelled but has been rescheduled for next Thursday, March 4 at 8pm! We apologize for the inconvenience.

Chocolate Club Meeting is TOMORROW!!!

Hey folks!

Just wanted to give you all a friendly reminder that tomorrow from 8-9:30pm is our next Chocolate Club Meeting! Taste great chocolate and get insight from Bittersweet's own chocolatier, Seneca Klaussen. Ask him about anything chocolate and he's sure to have an answer for you... :)

Seats are only $5 and are limited to 20 per meeting so make sure you stop by the store and sign up today!

It's wet out. Have a Dry Soda.

Many people who come into the shop are intrigued by our vast array of chocolate bars and goodies from all over the world. One of the most intriguing things that we sell isn't even chocolate at all!

I would like to introduce you all to Dry Soda.

Based out of Seattle, Washington, Dry Soda Co. produces a line of outstanding thirst-quenching beverages that goes beyond your everyday sparkling water or soft drink. With hints of herbs or fruits (depending on your choice of flavor), these all-natural, caffeine-free, and low in sugar drinks are sure to satisfy. We have them here at the shop so make sure to try one out on your next visit!

Shopping For Quality Chocolate in the East Bay

The Monthly, East Bay's Premier Magazine of Culture and Commerce, has posted a wonderful and informative article about finding great chocolate not far from home. Of course we are proud to be mentioned among some other local favorites.

Valentine's Day may be over, but the love of chocolate continues. This is the perfect Chocophile's "Cacao Crawl". Take a day and discover what amazing chocolate is near you. The article lists some of my favorites and, who knows, maybe you can show your someone special where to shop for you next year.

Chocolate and Salted Caramel-- A Match Made in Heaven.

Pizza and beer.
French fries and ranch dressing.
Beans and rice.

All great flavor mixes, but I can't think of a better combination of two flavors than chocolate and salted caramel; and now we have a drink that brings the best of both together!

Our hand-made caramel uses all natural ingredients with an ever-so-slight touch of fleur de sel to compliment its sugary sweetness. Combine that with our already awesome chocolate and what you get is divine goodness in a cup.

(It's even MORE awesome on ice...)

The caramel is not limited to this drink though! Now you can have our artisan caramel in ANY of our drinks for an additional $1.00! Stop by today!

Chocolate Club Meeting on 2/25/10!!

There are still a few spots left for our second Chocolate Club Meeting on February 25th! We are limited to only 20 seats per meeting so make sure you come by and sign up now!
The knowledge and insight you will gain by tasting different chocolates, in addition to the information given by Bittersweet's chocolatier, Seneca Klaussen, will be invaluable when you go out and have your own chocolate tasting adventures!

Spots are only $5 per person, so reserve your seat today! Hurry, because they're going fast!

Wowzers!

We've relaunched the Bittersweet Cafe website, and I must say it is AWESOME. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!!!

Did you know...?

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine. This chemical is a stimulant related to amphetamine and is released when people fall in love.

This led to the "Chocolate Theory of Love" after researcher Michael Liebowitz published his 1983 book, The Chemistry of Love. The book stated that chocolate is "loaded with phenylethylamine".

Phenylethylamine - one more reason chocolate is a great Valentine's Day gift!

Chocolate Club Mention

Diablo Magazine came by for a little talk and gave a nice mention in their recent issue. It is about our fabulous Chocolate Club (meeting coming up in two weeks!). This is an event that is so much fun and a great way to get together with friends to have a good time while eating and learning about chocolate. What could be better?

We are meeting Thursday, February 25th at the Danville store from 8:00-9:30 PM. Be sure to sign up early as space is limited for each meeting. We look forward to seeing you here!

Valentine's Goodies Are Here!

Now in the stores are those unique chocolate gifts that can only be found at Bittersweet Cafe. It is that time of year again. Really, the day that is for gifting chocolate, Valentine's Day, the day to celebrate love.

We have some very cute gifts for everyone you know and those little unique collections for your special Valentine. As you can see, there are beautiful Chocolate Hearts, and fun Conversation Pops, then we have amazing Truffles to choose from and more.

Come in and find that perfect gift for everyone on your list, from grandchild to life partner. We select only those chocolates that we ourselves would be proud to give, quality chocolate that will satisfy the most discerning palates.

We look forward to seeing you in Bittersweet and helping you find your perfect gift.

Chocolate & Beer!!!

Come join us on February 6th for a classic but underexplored combination! Tickets and more information here...

Treat your Valentine!

Times are tough... but you want to get your special Valentine an awesome gift that will satisfy their sweet tooth at the same time.

What can you do?

Never fear, we're here to help! From now until closing time on Valentine's day, February 14th, all you have to do is tell us that you "saw it on the blog" and we'll give you 10% your entire order! Bring your significant other by for a warming "Classic" hot chocolate or choose a chocolate bar from our wide variety of choices and get 10% off!

Just for saying that you saw it here on the blog! No coupons to clip, no text messages to show... nothing!

(Offer is good until 7:00pm, Sunday, 2/14/10. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, including the Frequent Buyer Program. All discounts subject to manager approval.)

Chocolate pudding

Who doesn't love chocolate pudding? If you can't stop by the store to try some of our velvety, rich, decadent chocolate pudding with dulce de leche, here's a recipe for a delicious pudding that you can make at home!

Chocolate Pudding

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1/3 cup natural cocoa powder
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  

Directions

Put 1 1/2 cups of the milk, the sugar, and the cocoa in a nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a simmer, over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of the milk, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla in a bowl. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat whisking constantly, until the pudding comes to a full boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and continue whisking until thick, about 2 or 3 minutes more.

Pour the pudding into 6 small cups. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight until set.

(recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com)

We're Celebrating!!!

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Bittersweet Cafe's first store in Oakland! For those of us on this side of the mountain, we are celebrating by having an "Anniversary Special" of our own!

All day today, you can get 2 of our "Classic" hot chocolate drinks for $5.55!
(These drinks are excellent over ice as well...)

Come bring all your friends and family down to the store and celebrate with us!

Our Second Acoustic Show!

On Friday, January 22nd, the Bittersweet will be holding it's second Acoustic Show featuring young talent from throughout the Diablo Valley! From 7-9 pm we will have great music, great friends, and drink specials throughout the night!

Happy Anniversary Bittersweet Rockridge!

This week, it will be 5 whole years since the very first Bittersweet Cafe opened up on College Ave. in Oakland. Isn't it amazing how time flies?!?

To help celebrate this momentous occasion for our company, on Thursday, January 21, we are offering 2 of our delicious "Classic" Hot Chocolate Drinks for $5.55!

Please stop by and celebrate with us!

Puerto Plata Bars for Haiti!

We here at Bittersweet want to do our part to help the people of Haiti. Our own Bittersweet Origins Puerto Plata Bar comes from the Dominican Republic and that is why, starting tomorrow and for the next week, we are donating all of the profits from the sales of that bar, both 65% & 75%, to the International Rescue Committee's Haiti Fund.

The International Rescue Committee has deployed its Emergency Response Team to Haiti to deliver help to the devastated city of Port-au-Prince. Their team includes experts in emergency health, shelter, and children’s welfare. They will be working with local aid groups to provide vital help to survivors of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti January 12. Meanwhile, the IRC has committed to raising $5 million for reconstruction work in Haiti over the next year.

Please help us help others in their greatest time of need.

The many faces of ganache

A question I hear a lot of customers ask at the store is, "What is ganache?"

Simply put, a ganache is a mixture of chocolate and cream that is used to act as a filling, an icing, or a glaze. I personally make ganache to pour over a cake when I don't have time to spread frosting. What makes it so great is that when chilled, a ganache can be used to make delicious truffles for your friends and family.

Ganache Recipe (Courtesy of joyofbaking.com)

8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces

3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter

1 tablespoon cognac or brandy (optional)

This simple recipe can be tweaked for your own personal tastes by substituting other flavored liqueurs such as Grand Marnier or Chambord, or various spices such as cinnamon or cayenne pepper (but not too much!)

The magic that is the Barcelona Bar

The Barcelona Bar takes you on a magical journey...first you are swimming through the deep blue ocean and then you find yourself frolicking through a mystical forest...wherever it takes you, we can guarantee you'll be satisfied! This bar has the perfect combination of sweet and salty, with hickory smoked almonds and grey sea salt. The rich, deep milk chocolate effortlessly blends the flavors into one succulent treat!

Start a new journey this year, and let the Barcelona Bar guide your way!


Melissa Love
Lead Supervisor

It's time for the next Chocolate Club meeting!

Want to extend your knowledge of chocolate? How about having some private time with Bittersweet's own chocolate guru to discuss the different nuances between chocolates and the art of chocolate making? Well we have something for you! The next wave of Bittersweet's quarterly Chocolate Club meetings!

The Rockridge Chocolate Club will be on February 4th, the Danville store’s next meeting will be on February 25th and the San Francisco Club will have its second meet on March 18th!

Each location's Chocolate Clubs will be limited to 18 regular members plus seven open spaces reserved for on-the-spot sign-ups for each meeting. Spots are only $5 per person and are sure to fill up quick, so make sure you sign up now!

For more information about our clubs, check out our post from the first meeting!

Time To Get Healthy In The New Year!

It's that time again. Time for resolutions and changes to keep healthy and stay on track. This recent article by RealAge.com spouts, yet again, the health benefits of chocolate and why we should be making it a part of our regular diets.

Apparently there are 3 new reasons to keep eating dark chocolate.

• Chocolate makes you smarter. Ample research suggests that the flavonols in dark chocolate increase cerebral blood flow, which in turn may trigger the creation of new blood vessels and brain cells. And a new study showed that older adults performed better on cognitive tests after eating small portions of the sweet stuff. Talk about a nourished noggin! (Here's why opting for semisweet or unsweetened chocolate may be even better for your brain.)
• Chocolate weakens heart attacks. Although more research is needed to confirm this one, a new study showed that regular chocolate eaters who had heart disease were less likely to die following a heart attack compared with the people who didn't treat themselves to the dark and dreamy stuff. (Here's more on chocolate's heart-smart qualities.)
• Chocolate has a cavity-fighting compound. Okay, so you don't necessarily want to trade in your toothbrush for a chocolate bar. But some interesting new research shows a compound in chocolate -- theobromine -- may be just as good as fluoride at hardening tooth enamel. So the compound could find its way into toothpastes and mouthwashes one day. Until then, keep in mind that most commercially prepared chocolate has lots of sugar in it. Get healthier teeth and gums with these three easy dental tricks.

Most of us knew it was good for your heart, but fighting cavities and making us smarter? There is no reason not to eat dark chocolate, in moderation. That is the key. Anything you eat can be overdone and it is easy to do with the delectable taste of chocolate, but keeping it to a daily moderate level will still give you all the health benefits you need.

Happy and Healthy New Year!