Monthly Archives: January 2010

Wine Club Release and Truffle Tasting

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Woodhouse Family Cellars welcomed us into the family once again for their unveiling of their 2004 Darighe (pronounced dare-ig), Nov. 21st 2009. Darighe is a variation on an Irish Gaelic word dearg, that means “red”. In its seventh year of limited production, Darighe draws a faithfully returning crowd.

Pie are Round and Orange you glad.. truffles were very popular with the sippers. Who, by the way, were sipping a 2003 version of said Darighe. While the 2004 was for sale, it had only just been bottled, and to avoid tasting potentially bottle-shocked goods, Woodhouse decided to let the anticipation build. They were pouring 2003 Darighe, a slightly different blend, and asking tasters to buy the new release on faith. By the clip of sales happening, it appeared that there was plenty of trust in the track record and expertise of the winemakers. The chocolatier’s pick was Jamaican Hot Chocolate to pair with the ’03 wine being served. An adaptable and full-bodied red, it was able to go toe-to-toe with this spicy truffle!

A Dickens-esque Venue for Precept’s Wine Tasting and Stock up Sale

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Remember that old scene from “A Christmas Carol” where the Ghost of Christmas Present (a “jolly giant”) sits atop a mountain of glorious-looking food and luscious drinks all around his warm circle of light? Well, it was sort of like that for us on Sunday, 15 November 2009.

No, we were not in Bacchus’ Great Hall, but there was food and drink aplenty (and the sky-scraping “Tower o’ Cupcakes”) at the Precept Wine Brands third annual “Ambassador Club’s Fall Stock-up Sale”. We think Dickens would have loved the setting, hosted by Herban Feast Caterers at their Sodo Park venue (SoDo=South of Downtown Seattle). Hundreds of Precept’s Ambassador Club members (you, too, could be an Ambassador for the price of entry to the event) gathered under the historic high-ceilinged warehouse with massive exposed beams.

Tables groaned with row upon row of wine bottles, with Precept’s many labels (based in Seattle, with many Washington wineries, but their portfolio includes wineries in Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and California as well) at great prices. Intrigue Chocolates’ table was a popular stop, where Karl and Aaron made recommendations for wines that paired well with our truffles. As usual, our Jamaican Hot Chocolate truffles were a smash, selling out completely. And even though we stocked up on the ever-popular Saint Basil truffle, we nearly moved all of those, too. We were glad to be back with Precept for our third major event together. You will be glad if you catch it next year!

Did you know? Charles Dickens was not all that into Christmas until he visited Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1842) and got a first hand taste of an American Christmas? The classic book “A Christmas Carol” was written in six weeks during 1843.

Early Subscriber Special – Extended until noon on January 15th!

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Do you love a great deal? If you sign up for our Truffle-of-the-Month-Club before noon on Friday, 15 January 2010, you will have found the best deal of the year. This is a once-in-a-lifetime sales event for Intrigue Chocolates. We don’t know what’s come over us! It could be the Holiday spirit or some kind of New Year’s folly, but mostly we just want to get some more of you on-board so that you realize the dream of receiving chocolate truffles in your mail box on a regular basis.

How much will you save? Almost 50% off of the box of truffles that you will receive each month! For those who sign up now, this discount will remain in effect in perpetuity, or as long as the Truffle-of-the-Month-Club lasts (we have no plans for changing it!), or until the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it (and I feel fine…. And you will, too, every month when your box of truffles arrives and you remember how much money you saved!). Pay $25 per month instead of the usual $48 for TMC Members!

Remember, these savings can only be captured if you sign up right now.

Early Subscriber Savings:

  • 24pc Gift Box + Shipping = $48
  • 24pc Gift Box + Shipping with a Truffle-of-the-Month-Club Membership = $40 per month
  • 24pc Gift Box + Shipping with an Early Subscriber T.M.C. Membership = $25 per month

Early Subscriber Truffle-of-the-Month_Club Member discount:The monthly cost of your subscription will retain the additional $15 discount until you choose to discontinue your membership.

Truffle-of-the-Month Club members receive a chef’s assortment of each month’s Featured Flavors, as well as occasional new flavors in development. We ship each month except during the warmest months of June, July, August and September. It’s a great gift for yourself or a friend!

Benefits of joining the club:

  • Be among the first to taste the new, seasonal flavors from Intrigue Chocolates each month, without having to meet us at a monthly event (even though we love to see you there).
  • Significant savings on chocolate each month.
  • Makes a great gift! (Be sure to get one for all your friends so no one feels left out!)
  • Become a taste tester! Help us by sharing feedback on innovative new flavors which you will be among the first to taste.

Please contact Aaron by emailing aaron@intriguechocolates.com for more information on how to sign up.5

Solidarity Means United for a Common Goal

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Logo for Solidarity DayYes, we are posting this blog a little late, but it seems continually apropos. We are now in a new year and a new decade, with hope and energy for the tasks ahead.

Launched by the United Nations in 2006 with Lech Walesa as the keynote speaker, Solidarity Day recognizes the need for unified action to effect positive global change. The man who put the word solidarity on the map, Walesa (electrician to President to Nobel Peace Prize winner) rallied Poland’s workers together, and inspired people throughout the world to join their voices. His simple message; Standing together will bring good change. Through cooperative effort hunger, disease, environmental destruction, and oppression can be eradicated.

“By simply being born into this world, we are of one inheritance and one stock with every other human being. This oneness expresses itself in all the richness and diversity of the human family: in different races, cultures, languages and histories. And we are called to recognize the basic solidarity of the human family as the fundamental condition of our life together on this earth.”
—Pope John Paul II

We reflect on this powerful quote to remember that we can all do better. We must strive to live out this eloquent message of “unity across diversity” without excluding any group. It is good to have persistent reminders that we all need to work on opening our hearts and minds to those who are different than us.

Intrigue Chocolates has a deep commitment to social justice through solidarity. We believe that individuals and businesses are responsible for bringing about positive change. As a small company we are not able to make monetary donations, but we will do what we are able and continue to be a part of charitable fundraisers whenever possible.

Truffle Making Class at Woodhouse Family Cellars

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It was a lively affair at Woodhouse Family Cellars as Aaron (Intrigue’s chocolatier) taught chocolate truffle fundamentals to a class of 16 students on December 10. The attendees seemed highly engaged in the process, asking a lot of good questions. Their curiosity made for a really fun class and they learned all about the basics of ganache (the chocolate and cream mixture that is the base of our chocolate truffles) and a simple approach to working with chocolate. The whole goal was to make truffle-making accessible to the average chocolate-lover, and inspire the students to strike out on their own.

Aaron emphasized his highest priority in truffle making: high-quality ingredients that are immediately reflected in a better end result. He also gave information about types of chocolate, how cacao is grown and then processed into cocoa and chocolate products. Featuring a step-by-step demonstration with no specialized equipment, Aaron shared his wealth of chocolate knowledge. The class was led through all the steps of making Intrigue’s Nutmeg Truffle, as well as learning how to pair, taste, and enjoy wine and chocolate together.

We’ll be teaching more classes in the future, and we hope you’ll join us!