Easter is just a hop away, and you know what that means...chocolate!  Chocolate Easter bunnies, chocolate Easter baskets, chocolate Easter eggs...you name it, anything chocolate...with a few delicious jelly beans mixed in.

While chocolate is traditionally what the Easter Bunny will bring this April 4th, we know there are a few of you out there who may be considering surprising your loved ones with a real live baby bunny or chick.  Before you do so though, we stumbled across this great organization – Make Mine Chocolate! – whose mission is to educate the public about the responsibilities involved with having a rabbit as a pet.  Check out their Interactive Bun to find out if a rabbit is right for your family. (I don't want to brag, but I got quite a few thumbs up from Watson!).  You can even print out a shopping list of things you'll need at the end.

And if it turns out that you're not quite ready to own a bunny just yet, don't worry we've got you covered for Easter.  From our adorable Placesetting Easter Bunnies to our Classic Easter Bunnies, to the Cruisin' Easter Bunny, and our largest - the Mr. Goodtime Bunny - you're sure to find the right one to take home.

Admit it.  You’ve had chocolate for breakfast.  No self-respecting chocolate lover can really say otherwise.  It's not something one tends to announce or have out in the open- more of a sneak here and there with your cup of coffee.  I’m not talking about chocolate hidden in a muffin or pancakes; I’m talking straight up chocolate.

There are a few occasions when indulging in chocolate first thing in the morning is seen as acceptable- mostly holidays and then maybe your birthday?  But even then you might get some flack ….you know the comments "Starting a little early huh?" "Chocolate ALREADY?" or my favorite "That’s gonna catch up with you someday."

Easter morning is one of the precious times where everyone is eating Easter candy while still lounging in their pajamas.  It’s just not that easy to bite into a chocolate bunny on the sly so why try?   And now, for those of you who might still feel a tiny bit guilty about enjoying delicious chocolate before 9am, Lake Champlain Chocolates has the aptly named Granola Breakfast Egg just for you.

With our homemade maple granola blended with dark chocolate, it is what we like to call "a healthy indulgence."  After all it does have pure Vermont Maple Syrup and granola made with almonds, oats and cranberries, and it IS an egg: all squarely in the breakfast camp.  So what if it's a chocolate egg- details, details. 

So this Easter, have your egg AND your chocolate for breakfast.   You deserve it.

Granola not your thing?  We have a Peanut Butter Breakfast Egg too!

By now maybe you’ve heard of our Local Secret events- we highlight a local partner of ours who provides us with key ingredients to make our chocolates so delicious.  So far we’ve featured butter from Vermont Butter & Cheese and Vermont honey with a presentation from Bill Mares of the Vermont Beekeepers Association.  What could be next?  Hmm, it’s from Vermont, it’s a natural, unrefined sweetener, spring is around the corner….this should be an easy guess.  Yes, you’re right- Maple Syrup!
You can’t find a truer taste of Vermont than pure maple syrup.

And so this Saturday March 13 at 2:00pm at our 750 Pine Street Factory Store & Cafe we will feature a maple syrup and chocolate tasting!  And you thought sugar on snow was good…

The event will begin with a presentation by our neighbor and long-time friend David Allen.  David has been providing maple syrup for Lake Champlain Chocolates almost since the beginning- in fact, we use approximately 36 gallons of his syrup each year!  David will talk about life as a maple sugar maker and the unique aspects of Vermont maple syrup in its different forms of liquid, sugar and candy.

Henry Marckres from the State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture will lead the tasting presentation.  He will discuss the different varieties of syrup, taking note of the appearance, aroma and texture, as well as the differences between light and dark grades.  Like David, Henry has been working with maple syrup most of his career and practically invented the grading system of maple syrup!

Of course we can’t forget the chocolate- Gary Coffey, our Director of Retail will lead the chocolate tasting with attendees sampling our very own Maple Crunch and Granola Five Star Bar, two of our best selling products that feature Vermont maple syrup.

Seating is limited so it is recommended to arrive early!

This is the third event in a series launched by LCC last fall to celebrate and feature the local farmers who provide the fresh, natural ingredients that have always played a role in our chocolates.

Psst- Easter is around the corner, so after the tasting pick up some Easter treats while you are here!  How about the Granola Breakfast Egg featuring some of David Allen’s maple syrup?

Here in Vermont, during these last days of winter, we really need festivals to keep us going.  And so this weekend, on Saturday March 6th, our friends at Ben & Jerry’s are hosting their 8th Annual Winter Festival.  There will be games, live music, ice cream samples, snow sculptures (hopefully!), sugar on snow (that’s maple syrup for those of you not in the know), American Flatbread, Umiak Snowshoe Tours and samples of delicious chocolate from Lake Champlain Chocolates. The weather looks beautiful so while the snow sculptures might suffer a bit and the snowshoe tours may turn into just hiking tours, the sunshine will make it well worth it. 

As a reminder, our Waterbury store is just down the road so check us out while you are in the neighborhood- more free samples and factory seconds too! Our friend Cabot Cheese Co-op has a store right next to us, so stop by and enjoy some Vermont cheese while you are there.  Ice cream, cheese, chocolate, pizza.  Yummmm.  With events like these, I think we’ll make it through the winter.

Giving up something for Lent is primarily a Catholic activity but everyone can benefit from a little self-restraint/self-improvement now and then.  Anyone make a New Year’s resolution that has since fell by the wayside?  Well, here’s an opportunity to renew!

I think chocolate may top the list as something people give up for Lent.  I’ve done it in the past (mind you, it was before I worked at a chocolate company!)  I ate a lot of vanilla ice cream with maple syrup during those 40 days.   And yes, on Easter morning I couldn’t wait to dive into my Easter basket.  I didn’t feel one ounce of guilt as I bit into a delicious chocolate Easter bunny, which is saying a lot for someone who grew up Catholic.

But maybe instead of denying yourself during Lent, it should be a time to start something new, pick up a good habit instead of dropping a bad one- I mean eating chocolate isn’t really a bad habit at all.  We’ve all read those reports about how good dark chocolate can be for your health, not to mention your emotional well-being!

How about walking to work everyday?  Or cooking more at home? It might just turn into something that lasts.  Let’s be honest- we all know giving up chocolate is just a temporary thing.  Who can resist a basket full of Easter chocolate?  No one I know. 

We are already a week into Lent but it’s not too late to commit to something new and stick with it. 

Let us know what you are going to do….we’ll check back in April 4th and see how you did!

Once a year despite the cold and the snow (yes, we are finally getting snow up here!), a piece of New Orleans shows up to make life a bit warmer for one afternoon in downtown Burlington.  For the 15th year, Burlington, Vermont is home to the largest Mardi Gras parade in New England, sponsored by our friends at Magic Hat Brewery.

Festivities start at noon with performances by Sambatucada and the Gypsy Swing band Caravan of Thieves on Church St.  And at 1:30 the King and Queen will be crowned and will lead the much anticipated parade which starts at 3pm.  Colorful, beautiful and humorous floats, many put together by local businesses, will wander up Church Street throwing beads, candy, beads, trinkets, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and more beads.  Did I mention beads?  And chocolate?  Sounds good, right?

Cabin fever really sets in this time of year so be prepared to arrive early if you want a good spot.  Families, students, just about everyone it seems, come out for this event to enjoy the music, floats, and to amass as many beads as possible!  For those with little ones, there is even a special Little Jambalaya Viewing Zone on the corner of Main St and South Winooski. 

Now, even though these floats will warm your heart, your fingers and toes might need a little extra help.  So head on into our Church Street store for some hot chocolate to take off the chill. Trust me, if it’s like last year, you will be glad you did.  Sunny but coooold.  Looks like this year we might have some snow to contend with …could make things interesting.  Snowballs anyone?

And it’s all to benefit the Women’s Rape Crisis Center- a good cause to boot!

See you out there!

What could be better than “Valentine’s at the Vineyard”.  The first vision that comes to mind probably is of a lovely afternoon in the Napa Valley in California.  Or maybe a day on Martha’s Vineyard.   But no,this was Valentine at the Vineyard in Vermont!   And what a lovely afternoon it was.   Cold and blustery outside yet warm and inviting inside with fabulous wine, great architecture & art, live music by our Symquest friend, Chris Peterman, and fantastic chocolates and pastries!

If you aren’t yet familiar with the Shelburne Vineyard, it’s a must-see destination for anyone passionate about wine.    Admittedly, I thought “You can’t grow grapes in Vermont much less make decent quality wine.”   Boy was I wrong!    Gail, Ken, and the team at Shelburne Vineyards have perfected their craft and produce some top-notch, organic wines.  Saturday afternoon, visitors got to take a tour, taste a flight of wines, and indulge in decadent desserts from Vermont Brownie Company, Mirabelle’s, and Lake Champlain Chocolates.   Even better, a portion of the proceeds benefitted the Shelburne Food Shelf.

The most popular chocolates of the day were the Organic Ethiopian Coffee, Mango, and Honey Fig Truffles.  This surprised me a little bit as our best sellers are Aztec and 70% Dark.  Perhaps the attendees of this event (a nice crowd of several hundred) knew that the Mango and Honey Fig brought out the quality of the Vermont-grown Riesling?     The milk chocolate and cream help to smooth the crisp acidity in this wine featuring honey, pineapple and pear notes with a nice lingering flavor of grapefruit.

LaCrescent (Breeding Barn Vineyard) was my favorite with apricot and peach aromas that leapt from the glass, flavors of apricot, and a touch of sweetness followed by cleansing acidity.    The best-selling Organic Aztec Truffle made a surprisingly good pairing  -  the spiciness of the cinnamon comes through with fruity making for a fun flavor sensation.

I highly recommend any afternoon at the Vineyard – it’s a beautiful location, warm and friendly staff, and great local wines!

It’s time to get down to business.  Really.  This is it.

You only have a few more days to pull it together.  Anyone floundering?

It’s hard to know what to give to send the right message.  Not too much, not too little, not too cliché.  It can be tough out there.  

We can help.

Lake Champlain Chocolates has Valentine's chocolates for just about any sweetheart; whether you’re celebrating many years together or have someone new to impress, handcrafted chocolates in a stunning package make a perfect gift.

Take the classic heart-shaped chocolate boxes -- such as the Grand Heart, a luxurious assortment of twenty-two gourmet chocolates including milk & dark chocolate truffles, raspberry creams, and caramels, or the Sweetheart Assortment, with two trays of eighteen sumptuous chocolates.  Both are as beautiful on the outside with bright, sophisticated designs, as they are irresistible on the inside.

Let’s face it, chocolates are a lot less expensive than a ring or plane tickets.  Who wants to spend the day in the airport?  And what if the ring doesn’t fit?  Chocolates are a classic Valentine’s Day gift and with our distinctive packaging and artisanal choices, you’ll have no worries about being too cliché- although what you write on the card is in your own hands.

PS-Last minute bonus- call us by 4pm ET on Friday at 800-465-5909 for Saturday delivery options!!  (We are open 8:30am-5pm ET)

Lake Champlain Chocolates is honored to take part in a Valentine’s Chocolate and Wine Tasting event at Hudson Terrace in New York City on February 11th.
The event will celebrate the launch of the Global Giving Circle’s Global Cocoa Project where you can indulge yourself by sampling incredible and interesting wine-infused chocolates, Coconut Almond raw vegan chocolate, chocolate martinis, a chocolate crepe station, chocolate specialty cocktails, dessert wines, rieslings, a champagne bar and…. well, you get the idea- there is going to be lots and lots of amazing chocolates and drinks to try!
You can also buy Valentine's Day chocolates and gifts at the event or online, with proceeds going to the Global Cocoa Project, making your purchase that much sweeter!
The Global Cocoa Project is a collaborative initiative produced by Project Hope & Fairness and the Global Giving Circle. The goal is to provide cocoa farmers around the world with the tools they need to improve the quality of their cocoa production. Additionally, they will be providing basic needs such as wells and sanitation systems, which will radically impact the daily lives of the farmers and their families. The project also aims to educate Americans about the realities of the cocoa industry and leverage the power of knowledgeable, concerned consumers to help make cocoa growing a profitable and sustainable occupation.
For more information please visit: http://www.globalgivingcircle.org/globalcocoaproject

Recently we joined the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA), the professional non-profit organization supporting the development and innovation of the fine chocolate industry and best practices.

And the other week, while at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, we got to attend their semi-annual meeting and meet lots of chocolate fanatics just like us!
 
It was inspiring to meet and network with others as passionate about chocolate and confections as we are!    Our friends from TCHO were there as well as knowledgeable retailers who feature Lake Champlain Chocolates like Bittersweet Café (San Francisco) and Chocolopolis (Seattle).

Of course, in addition to networking, there was plenty of CHOCOLATE!    I sampled a delicious Meyer Lemon Buttercream and some dark chocolate made from bean to bar at the source in Madagascar, full-flavored and intense with fruity notes and hints of sour cherry.

It is great to be a part of a group, not out to change the chocolate industry – but focused on celebrating our small segment of it by offering another level of support specifically focused on the best practices in fine chocolate making.   To learn more, visit  http://www.finechocolateindustry.org/.