| Artisan Gourmet Food & Fine Chocolate Gifts | |||||
Archive for the ‘Occasions’ CategoryValentine’s Day FavoritesThursday, February 11th, 2010Over the past few weeks, our visitors have shown their preferences for Valentine’s day gifts. As expected, chocolate confections, truffles and bars were the favorite by a wide margin. But we also witnessed interest for cakes and cookies, as well as honey. Based on these findings, we’ll make sure to continue to scour and find the healthiest and most giftable items in these categories!
My Thanksgiving MenuThursday, November 19th, 2009Two years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a friend’s Thanksgiving celebration at her New York home. It was my first Thanksgiving dinner; the humble tradition of food and family and friends is distinctly American and I loved it! At that first celebration, there was a rather large turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and a lovely green bean dish with pine nuts sprinkled on top. I brought a bottle of French Bordeaux. This year, I’m back in Paris for the American holiday, but I already have in mind a dinner for my own family here -we won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving like my American friends, but I love the tradition of sharing a long, savory meal with my closest and dearest, so I’ll be doing it nonetheless. Here’s what’s on my menu: Starter: oven goat cheese and honey crostini, which features my own stash of Alilli Morocco lavender honey. Main Course: Duck Confit with oven roasted semi-sliced potatoes, each with a side of black truffles. My duck confit has a secret ingredient that my family can never quite name, but they love nonetheless: Nutmeg! A tiny bit of freshly grated nutmeg gives it “un je ne sais quoi”…
Salad: Red and Gold beet salad, with fennel, and a lovely Alili Olive Oil, with fresh squeezed lime juice and fleur de sel. Dessert: Ricotta Lemon Cheesecake. Enjoy your holiday! Oh, and don’t forget the little dishes of ultra healthy argan oil for dipping bread. Easter Egg Packaging ChallengeFriday, April 10th, 2009We’ve found this interesting article by Lindsey Partos from www.confectionerynews.com, dealing with packaging waste. It is critical to constantly bring up awareness on packaging recycling before it becomes too late to save our planet. This is why we are so proud of our eco-friendly Knipschildt chocolate boxes.
Easter 2009Thursday, April 2nd, 2009According to Christians, Jesus was resurrected three days after his crucifixion. This resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day (also Resurrection Sunday). The Easter season lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost.
The English term Easter comes from the Old English word Ēostre. It refers to Eostur-monath, or Oster monat the April month of the Germanic calendar.
Easter BunnySaturday, March 28th, 2009The symbolic Easter Bunny seems to be originating in Alsace and western Germany where it was found in writings in the 17th century for the first time. The first edible bunnies were made of sugar and pastry in the early 1800s. German settlers brought the Easter bunny in America in the 1700s. Their children were told about the “Oschter Haws” (a phonetic transcription of the German Osterhase). “Hase” means “hare,” not rabbit, and in western European folklore the “Easter Bunny” indeed is a hare, not a rabbit. The tradition wants that only good children would receive gifts of decorated eggs in the nests that they would build out of caps and bonnets and place in secluded areas of their homes. The nest has turned into the manufactured Easter basket as the tradition spread, and the placing of the nest in a secluded area has become the tradition of hiding baskets. Thus the Easter egg hunt was born.
Easter EggsWednesday, March 25th, 2009The egg was used in Pagan celebrations of Spring as a symbol of the rebirth of the earth (just as new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out) which was then adopted by Christians. The old tradition consists of dying or painting chicken eggs while modern habit is to substitute chocolate eggs. Persians have been painting eggs for Nowruz, their New Year celebration which falls on the Spring equinox, for at least 2500 years. The walls of Persepolis in Iran carry sculptures showing people bringing eggs for Nowruz to the King. As a modern society, let’s take great pride in preserving the world’s heritage by celebrating such an old tradition.
Easter Chocolate Box StorySaturday, March 21st, 2009The story of Knipschildt boxes starts in Nepal.
Beautiful handmade “paper” can be made of the inner bark of this wild bush. The fibrous paper is prized for its attractive soft texture, its exceptional durability, strength and resistance to insects. The 2000 year old art of lokta papermaking is being preserved through equal opportunity cooperatives which teach and provide income to many Nepalese.
Sexy Valentine with Eve Kitten ChocolateSunday, February 8th, 2009If you’re looking for a little something that says ‘I want you’ and that both women and men would be happy to receive, there is nothing more sexy that this trio of chocolate bars. Each bar is adorned with a silkscreen depicting Eve Kitten in her favorite lingerie outfit, to be enjoyed piece by piece. Choose all three fruity cherry, romantic rose or uplifting coffee flavors at www.savorique.com Presidents' DaySaturday, January 17th, 2009Officially titled Washington’s Birthday in 1880, it is the first holiday to honor an American citizen and was celebrated on Washington’s actual birthday which is on February 22. But in 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February following strong suggestions that the day should honor both Washington and Lincoln.
The term “Presidents’ Day” (Presidents in plural) began its public appearance in the 80′s thanks to advertisers. After all many Presidents were born in February and a few state governments had officially renamed their Washington’s Birthday observances as “Presidents’ Day”. Marketers contributed to this shift of term and this is very likely why this holiday signals big retail sales and usually a day off from school and work. Make some time to browse savorique.com where you can find the premiere chocolatiers, artisan bakers and unique vendors of those hard to find pantry items. Skip the crowds and settle in for some unexpected fun on this cool site. Valentine’s Day, Story and LegendMonday, January 12th, 2009The history of Valentine’s Day is obscure, and further clouded by various fanciful legends. So little is known in fact that the Catholic Church removed his feast day from the official list in 1969. This pagan holiday roots in ancient Roman times. Most scholars believe that Saint Valentine was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. At this stage, fact ends and myth begins. According to one legend, Claudius II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers. St. Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies but was eventually apprehended by the Romans and put to death on Feb 14th.
Ever since, lovers exchange gifts such as chocolate on that very day. Chocolate contains substances, such as theobromine, which relax and lower inhibitions while increasing desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago! Chocolate contains more antioxidant (cancer preventing enzymes) than does red wine. The secret for passion is to combine the two.
Two weapons of seduction spotted for you: Knipschildt signature fresh bonbons in its heart box, or Fauchon Heart Chocolate Box for the serious chocolate aficionado. |
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