Lake Champlain Chocolates Blog

 …and how we’ve established such a fervent following

 Ten:  We’re a part of the Vermont Fresh Network, which means we strive to build innovative partnerships among farmers, chefs and consumers to strengthen Vermont agriculture.

Nine: Because it’s made in super small batches by one person in one five-gallon ice cream maker.

 

 Eight: Our Maple Butter Pecan is hands down the best maple ice cream around.

Seven:  Our Ice Cream Cafes can turn any ice cream flavor into a milkshake.  What’s better, the milkshakes are made from only two ingredients: fresh Vermont milk and local Vermont ice cream.  But you can always have us add some malt powder if you like.

Six:  Our ice cream is the perfect compliment to our 75% cocoa content Tanzania chocolate sauce.  And fresh whipped cream.

Five:  We have two flavors of sorbet.  Not only vegan and low-calorie, but out-of-this-world-amazing.

Four:  Our famous handcrafted Almond Butter Crunch has made its debut as an ice cream flavor.

 Three:  You can buy pints of our ice cream along with your weekly groceries at Shelburne Supermarket, City Market or Healthy Living. 

Two:  We have three scoop shop locations in Vermont.  Visit any of our stores for a timeless treat all year long.

One:  There couldn’t be a better scoop of chocolate ice cream than the one made with gourmet Lake Champlain Chocolates.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of French explorer Samuel de Champlain's daring expedition to our region and to the Lake that now bears his name (and from which we get our name here at LCC!).  Known as the "Father of New France", Champlain was the first European to ever set foot in Vermont.  And so to help commemorate 2009 as the quadricentennial, special events - celebrating the Lake, the land, and its people - have been planned all year long throughout the state.  Right here in Burlington, the quad's International Waterfront Festival kicks off this Thursday, July 2nd and continues on thru the 14th - 13 total days of fun!  From concerts on the Lake - Tony Bennett anyone? - to theater performances, food festivals, kid's events, and so much more, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

As sponsors of the Burlington International Waterfront Festival, you'll find LCC scooping our delicious small batch ice cream at the following events:

July 3rd - Independence Day Celebration Fireworks, Battery Park, 9:30pm
July 4th, 5th, 9th & 11th - Various Performance, Champlain Valley Stage, City Hall Park
July 6th - Dan Zanes & Friends Concert, Waterfront Stage, 3pm
July 8th - Steve Earle & Aimee Mann Concert, Waterfront Stage, 7pm
July 10th - Les Cowboys Fringants & Le Vent du Nord Concert, Waterfront Stage, 7:30pm
July 11th - Ween & Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Waterfront Stage, 6:30pm

We hope to see you in Burlington!

 

In the last Blog post I shocked and amazed you with the mention that Lake Champlain Chocolates now makes Ice Cream. Since the post I’ve been inundated with questions about our ice cream so here are a few facts for you.

Our Lake Champlain Chocolates Ice Cream is a Super Premium all natural ice cream. That’s right. Not just premium but Super Premium the top tier of ice cream, meaning that you are getting the creamiest ice cream available. We craft it in small batches, sourcing all of our milk from right here in Vermont. Just like our chocolates, we only use the finest ingredients available. To say the least, this ice cream is delicious.

We first starting crafting our Ice Cream in 2001, 2 years later we decided we had perfected the recipe enough to start selling it in our retail stores. And now 8 years later we have really dialed it in, expanding flavors and distribution.

2009 spells good news for Ice Cream lovers as this year Lake Champlain Chocolates is offering our Ice Cream Pints at several retailers in the Burlington area. Right now customers can pick up pints at:

o    Shelburne Supermarket
o    City Market Coop
o    Healthy Living Natural Foods
o    Lake Champlain Chocolates Pine Street Retail Store

Pint flavors offered:
o    Vanilla
o    Belgian Chocolate
o    Vanilla Chocolate Chip
o    Vanilla Almond Buttercrunch
o    Chocolate Hazelnut

Wait, you need more flavors?

 At our 3 retail locations we offer 9 flavors:

o    Vanilla
o    Belgian Chocolate
o    Mocha Chocolate Chip
o    Vanilla Chocolate Chip
o    Coffee
o    Chocolate Banana
o    Maple Pecan
o    Vanilla Almond Buttercrunch
o    Chocolate Hazelnut

We also offer the Hands Down Best Malted Milk Shakes I’ve ever had in my life as well as other favorites such as Ice Cream Sundaes covered in our Tanzania Dark Chocolate Sauce.

What flavor will we come up with next? Why not give us a few suggestions?

p.s.
Catch Eric offering samples at Healthy Living today from 3-5:30 to give our Ice Cream a try.
 

 

 

 

After our long Vermont winter, summertime is finally just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with Ice Cream and Jazz! That’s right the Burlington Discover Jazz Fest is fast approaching. This is one of Burlington’s great events and a lot of fun for the whole town. With free Jazz shows as you walk up and down Church Street and concerts at the waterfront, it’s no wonder why so many travel guides sing its praise.

For over 10 years, Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) has been a sponsor of the Discover Jazz Fest…just one of many ways we like to support our community. LCC will be making appearances throughout the festival selling Ice Cream at several events/locations. That’s right, Lake Champlain Chocolates not only crafts luxurious Chocolates but for those of you who did not know, we have also been perfecting our small batch Ice Cream for the past 8 years.  Ice cream was a natural progression for us and another great excuse to support our local dairy farmers.  We have developed some really excellent flavors, including Belgium Chocolate, Vanilla Bean (boring maybe, but still my favorite), Chocolate Banana, Coffee, Mocha Chip, Vanilla Chip, Maple Butter Pecan, Almond Butter Crunch, and Chocolate Hazelnut.  To sample some during Jazz Fest, catch us at the following events:

June 6 – City Hall Park, Big Joe Burrell Day
June 11 – Waterfront Park Funk Tent
June 13 – Waterfront Park World Tent

In Vermont, we may endure some long, cold winters but that just gives us an excuse to celebrate the warm seasons a little bit more. Come join us at this year’s Jazz Fest which runs from June 5th to the 14th. For more information, check out www.discoverjazz.com.

 

 

OK. Consider this your two minute warning. I know I mentioned this before but I really don't want you to forget and miss out. If you live in the area or are planning on being in Burlington Thursday, July 10 (that’s tomorrow for those who are calendar-challenged like myself), be sure to check out the kick off of one of Burlington’s great summer to-dos – the 2008 Battery Park Free Concert Series.

Set in Battery Park with Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks as the backdrop, concert goers get to enjoy great live music every Thursday in the beautiful out-of-doors. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s a short walk or bike ride from nearly anywhere in Burlington so it’s green-friendly. Just one more great thing to do in this wonderful city of Burlington. For those of you who have never been here, put it on your list!

If you do come out for the fun, you’ll see us there. Not only are we a proud sponsor but we’ll be scooping up our small batch ice cream for you. Free music. The great outdoors. Handmade ice cream. Man, I love summer in Burlington. For more info on upcoming concerts, visit Burlington City Arts. I hope we see your smilin’ face there!

If you live locally or have had the opportunity to visit any of our retail locations here in Vermont, you may have sampled our ice cream. Available in a number of flavors including Belgian Chocolate (of course) and Maple Pecan, it’s fast become a favorite to locals and visitors alike. In fact, I’ve found many occasion to stop in the factory store and sample a vanilla malted milk shake made with extra extra malt. But now, the surest sign that summer has arrived to the North Country is visible– sorbet has returned to Lake Champlain Chocolates!

Don’t get me wrong, I love ice cream. I eat it no matter what the weather is. It’s just the way it is. But when summer hits, our Mango and Strawberry Sorbets are where it’s at for me. Cool and sweet with the biggest fruit flavor you can imagine, there’s nothing like it. If I had to choose just one, I’d go with the Mango. I heart mangos! But luckily, I don’t have to choose. I just have to eat my share before the leaves fall and the sorbets leave us until another summer comes.

If you’re in the area, stop in for a sample. Can I say it’s life altering? Ok, maybe not. I’m not much for the drama. But I can say it’s afternoon-altering

BTW - In talking to the girls in the factory store about the sorbet, they informed they ran out of it on the first day it was available as all the staff was getting sorbet for an afternoon treat. We know a good thing when we see it. Afterall, we are in the "good thing" business.