It’s getting to be that time of year again, I’m afraid.

While we’re all overjoyed to be playing in the dirt, smelling spring’s blossoms and loving the bike rides to ice cream stands after dinner, warmer temperatures and singing robins mark the beginning of a summer shipping schedule at Lake Champlain Chocolates. (In other words: order your chocolates now!)

Here’s the skinny.  From May 10th until June 1st we require that all chocolate shipped outside of New England be shipped via 2-Day Air.  From June 1st until September 30th, we require all chocolate outside of New England to be sent overnight.

Why such strict regulations, you ask?  We would hate for you to pay for an adorable Chocolate Frog, gourmet chocolate truffles or some lovely Mother’s Day Chocolates just to have them melt in transit.  Shortening transit times allows your chocolate to arrive safe and sound (and solid) to be enjoyed in the same high quality condition it leaves our factory in.

So, in a manner of speaking, this is last call and my recommendation is to stock up now.  I’d hate for a Caramel Five Star Bar craving to go unchecked. 

If you do happen to order after May 10th and realize that shipping charges are a little pricier than you were expecting, remember that all of our chocolates are made by seasoned chocolatiers and are carefully packed with tissue paper, ice/gel packs and a personalized card.  We couldn’t bear to send you anything that’s less than perfect.

Think that Vermont honey is pretty sweet?  So do we!

Need something fun to do this Saturday afternoon?  Well, we're inviting you to join us this Saturday, January 23rd for a FREE honey and chocolate tasting at 2:00pm at our 750 Pine Street Factory Store & Café.  This is our second event in our Local Secret series, which we kicked off last October with the Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery.  The afternoon will start off with a honey tasting presentation by William Mares of the Vermont Beekeepers Association (VBA).  William will talk about how beekeepers collect the honey, the variety and sources of honey including the unique aspects of Vermont honey, and VBA's work with over 1,200 local beekeepers who work to sustain Vermont's honey industry. You'll be able to sample honey in its many forms including liquid, comb, creamed and whipped, something out of the ordinary for a Saturday afternoon.  Educational and fun!

Participants will learn how to taste and evaluate the varieties

of honey and engage in a discussion of the different flavors, as well as the storage and shelf life of honey (the difference between buying honey from Wal-Mart vs. Artisan Honey, for example).  Of course you'll be able to sample your favorite LCC products such as our chocolate caramels so you can taste for yourself why we use VBA's honey in our recipes.  Looks like our secret's out - again!

It's indoors, so take a break from your outdoor adventures, or come after you get back from a morning spent at the mountain to warm up and taste something sweet with us at LCC.  Our Hot Chocolate Café will be open, too – in case you were wondering – so if you want to come get some of your favorites as well as stock up on your chocolate supply you’ll be all set!

We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

Chocolate is a very poplular topic to write about. Just Google the word and you'll be amazed by what you find. So, in my e-travels, I came across a quote that made me smile. When I saw who it was attributed to, that smile turned into a laugh!

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

Very Snoopy-esque, no? So, if you don't have one, go get the other. But in my opinion, the latter of the two is easier and since you can pick out exactly what you want, it makes more sense, too! And with that, I think I'll go have a chocolate-covered caramel.

So we’ve discovered a trick here at the chocolate factory. In our break room, there is a window that looks out at one of our enrobers. It’s about 10 feet away. If you come in early, you see the folks in production in full swing and often they’re enrobing one of our Five Star Bars. Usually we all watch for a minute or two while we make a cup of tea.

Here is what we’ve discovered. If you stare for a while and you’re expression is one of enough longing and pity, there’s a good chance they’ll bring some fresh seconds out on a plate to the break room for snacking on. Mind you, there’s rarely a time when there isn’t chocolate around to snack on but the opportunity to gobble down a freshly made Five Star Bar is one I can’t resist.

And this morning, they were making Caramel Five Star Bars. And on a day when you’re not quite sure if it’s going to be a good one or a bad one, a fresh bite of Caramel Five Star Bar is enough to tip the scales in favor of good. (But maybe I should find a better word to use than “scale”…)

This is my first week at Lake Champlain Chocolates…as a chocolate lover, a dream job come true!  Today I was asked to help cover the phones for a few hours since our receptionist is out sick.  Everything was going smoothly until a tray of Milk Chocolate Pecan Caramel Clusters was put out on the coffee table next to the front desk for visitors to enjoy.  I tried my best to ignore them, but honestly will power is not my middle name.  I rationalized “hey I’m new, I really do need to try all our products” so I quietly tip toed over and took a sample.  DELICIOUS is the only word to describe them!  I did not realize however that these clusters had caramel and just at that moment the phone began to ring.  I ran back over chewing as quickly as I could, but it was too late I missed the call.  A co-worker peered around the corner to see if everything was okay, and there I was evidence in hand still not able to say a word…BUSTED!  I learned a very valuable lesson on my third day – Milk Chocolate Pecan Caramel Clusters and the phone do not mix.  But finding my new Lake Champlain Chocolates favorite was well worth the embarrassment!