We dipped our toes into creating a first Advent Calendar in 2022, with an offering of just 100. When it sold out in two days, we knew we had to do better in 2023. So we started planning for it in May, right after Mother's Day. We had our friends at ASpecialty Box make us a custom calendar with an image our fabulous photographer, Winky Lewis, had created of all our Holiday confections. We loved its icy colors, and used those for the menu that provides a short description of each daily surprise, see the image above. We also upped...
For the second year in a row, we have been voted Portland's best chocolatier. That we appreciate our loyal customers' support is an understatement! We will make sure to be worthy of your confidence in our skills, both with the consistency of our existing products and the creation of new tastes. Our whole team has been a little hive of creative activity since mid May, when we start preparing for our 2024 lineup. So many new ingredients, both familiar and exotic! Blueberry, maple syrup and corn belong in Maine of course. Not so for soursop, timut pepper, lychee, Thai tea,...
Briana (left) and Kaitlyn (right) We were thrilled to add Kaitlyn Carrion to our team in March, and Briana Prothero on July 1. Both were hired as chocolatiers, which means they are undergoing our year-long training in all aspects of chocolate making from production steps to creating their own chocolates for upcoming seasons. We asked them to introduce themselves in their own words. Here they are: Kaitlyn: My name is Kaitlyn, and I moved to Portland in 2020 with the intention of working for a small business. It has always been important to me to support small businesses and becoming a...
Spring in Paris arrives about 3 weeks before spring in Portland. Getting two springs in a year is my (Catherine here) definition of bliss, which is why I like to set off for the City of Light on Easter Sunday. Our chocolate holiday rush is over for a bit, Mother's Day still seems distant, and the weather is typically exquisite. While a bit cool this year, we were able to walk and walk in what I think of the most gorgeous city in the world. The calories expanded were a weak match for the equally beautiful food, but no matter! ...
On March 21, Catherine, Sarah and Ruby made a little trip north to the Augusta State House to receive a "legislative sentiment" from our Cumberland County senator, Ben Chipman. Senator Chipman first read a lengthy statement describing our business and summarizing our successes in international chocolate competitions. It was followed by a lovely standing ovation from the whole senate chamber. We have a beautiful official document to remember the occasion, and feel so thankful for this kind recognition.
2022 was a good year for our little team's competitive spirit! In November, we won a Gold medal at the NW Chocolate Alliance for our Pistachio Raspberry chocolate, out of 9 medals bestowed worldwide on chocolate confections. Catherine started with that chocolate back in 2014, when the business consisted of just 7 chocolates, and never pulled it out of rotation. Along with Passion Vanilla and Salted Caramel, the only other "survivors" of the early days, it is just too beloved to ever retire. For the Academy of Chocolate (London, UK) Filled Confections 2022 competition, announced today, we decided to present...
