…Our Gourmet Chocolates were in the Oscar Gift Bags.

We were exclusively invited by Hollywood Baskets to be part of their first annual SWAG gift bag, and we provided our 15 Piece Signature Gourmet Chocolate boxes for the occasion.

Just recently, we were sent a list of the actual celebrities who received the Gift Bags and thought you might like to see it too!

Here’s a list of confirmed celebrities who received the Oscar Gift Bag with our 15 Piece Signature Gourmet Chocolates.

• Gabourey Sidibe – Precious
• Colin Firth
• Jeff Bridges
• Vera Farmiga
• Anna Kendrick
• Morgan Freeman
• Stanley Tucci
• Zoe Saldana (Actor in “Avatar”)
• James Cameron
• Carey Hannah Mulligan (Nominee for “An Education”)
• Stephen Lang (Actor in “Avatar”)
• Sandra Bullock
• Jamie Foxx
• Mo’Nique
• Ryan Seacrest
• Jon Landau (Producer of “Avatar”)
• Maury Yeston (Song Writer Nominee for “Nine”)
• Jess Dorman (Editor of “Entertainment Weekly”)
• Mendhi Eftakari (General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills)
• Erika Hampson (Producer of “The New Tenants”)
• Sam Bisbee (Producer of “The New Tenants”)
• Simon Bax (CEO of “Pixar”)
• Maggie Gylanhall
• Susan Sarandon, and
• Oprah Winfrey

We feel extremely fortunate to have been part of something so special!

…showing our Signature Box of Gourmet Chocolates in the 1st Annual Academy Awards Gift Bag!

This gift bag is presented to nominees and presenters who stay at The Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

You can learn more about Hollywood Baskets on their web site at: www.HollywoodBaskets.com.

You can also learn more about our Signature Box of Chocolates on our Web Site.

Enjoy!

…which will be held tonight, and this weekend, at the Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.

The primary focus of the event is to help the following beneficiaries:

• The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida
• Edison State College – Pediatric Nursing Program
• Florida Gulf Coast University’s endowed scholarship for pre-med program for local students interested in pediatrics.

Today, my good friend, Keegan Gerhard, from TV’s Food Network and I have been busy preparing for the event in Our Salon!

Be sure to see all of the Chefs featured in the event on the Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest web site.  You can also learn more about the:

• Beneficiaries
• Wine List, and
• Dinners & Events.

You’ll also be able to see photos from the event, as well!

About the Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest:

The Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest is a gathering of wine enthusiasts who enjoy tasting an array of wines, combining them with creative cuisine and sharing with friends, old and new…all for the benefit of local children’s charities.

The event includes two days of Wine & Food Fest fun with unforgettable Chef Vintner Dinners held in host homes from Naples to Fort Myers followed by a Grand Tasting and Auction the next afternoon. The Grand Tasting and Auction will feature the creative cuisine of our area’s finest chefs along with a very special selection of wines from a wide variety of wineries. Spirited silent and live auctions held beachside at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club will offer bidding lots ranging from wines, art, trips and more — items you simply can’t find elsewhere.

…from people in Our Salon, Facebook, and through e-mail — it’s really amazing.

Thank you to everyone who’s enjoyed our confections, and shared them with your family, and friends.

All of us at Norman Love Confections really appreciate your support!

This particular e-mail really sums it up, so we thought we’d share it with you…

Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:24:15
Subject: Re: Norman Love Confections: Order notification

Hi Mary,

I just wanted to let you know we received my husbands package yesterday afternoon.

I had to write and tell you how AMAZING!!!! From the beauty of the packaging to the FABULOUS look of the confections, that looked like blown glass and looked just to beautiful to eat. From a photographers eye I just can not say enough of the beauty. The word beautiful does not begin to pay homage to them. When we were finally able to move pass the spectacular view in front of us we hesitantly chose and placed on to the pallet, I can honestly say it was a taste of heaven!!!

We have traveled for many years in our professional career as well as vacations and we have tasted gourmet confections but I must say to find such a treasure in our own home town is an absolute delight. We commend you on all. You have given such thought and care into your business . How refreshing:)

Our experience from the care you gave when I goofed on our address by trying to rush, to the packaging, to the blown glass beauty, to the taste of heaven shall remain on our tongues for a very long time. It will be our pleasure to pass on our experience for there is no better form of advertisement than word of mouth.

I will close with just one word “mmmmmmmm”

Thank you once again.

…and my crew and learn the art of chocolate candy making?

Our classes are held at Our Salon, here in Fort Myers, and you are assisted – in every step – by my team and I in making your very own mold of candies from start to finish!

We take you through all of the steps, including:

• Buffing,
• Coloring,
• Casting, and
• Boxing.

AND – every confection you make is yours to take home, too!

I do try to be at every class, however, sometimes there are other engagements that I have to attend – but please be assured, my chefs are qualified to help you every step of the way!

If you’re interested in joining us, learn more by visiting the classes section of our web site, or give us a call at (239) 561-7215.

We’d love to see you,

- Norman

How about taking a “sip” around the world, with our BLACK sipping chocolates?

What a perfect way to warm up during these cold winter days…

The culinary adventure continues with our gourmet collection of sipping chocolates –

Fill your cup with the ultra-premium flavor of dark chocolate from the world’s five premium growing regions and experience the exotic and deeply satisfying flavors of rare Criollo and Trinitario beans from:

• The Dominican Republic,
• Ecuador,
• Bolivia,
• Venezuela and
• Madagascar

and manufactured by Max Felchlin.

Each tin of sipping chocolates contains one of the five flavors in the BLACK collection:

1. Hacienda Elvesia,
2. Arriba,
3. Cru Sauvage,
4. Maracaibo Clasificado and
5. Madagascar.

You can learn more about each of these delicious flavors on the BLACK Single Origin Dark Chocolate section of our web site.

For the ultimate exploration of BLACK, try both the BLACK artisan confections and sipping chocolates together!

Whether you’re interested in our BLACK Sipping Chocolates, or our BLACK single-origin chocolate confections, you can order both on our web site, or stop by Our Salon for a taste test!

Enjoy!

Chef Jean Pierre Wybauw visit with us, and provide us with a 3 hour lecture…

It was very inspiring!

Who is Chef Jean Pierre Wybauw?

Chef Jean Pierre Wybauw, Master Chocolatier, is perhaps the top authority on chocolate in the world.  He’s from Belgium, and was the chief technical person for Callebaut Chocolate in Belgium for 37 years!

He is the author of 6 books in 7 Languages, and today consults globally.

I found it to be a very inspiring lecture, and thought you might enjoy photos from the event.

- Norman

PS – If you’re interested in learning more about him, or reading Chef Jean Pierre Wybauw’s publications, visit his web site at: www.JeanPierreWybauw.com.

PPS – There are two more photos from the event available on our Facebook Fan Page at:

Southwest Florida International Airport – be sure to stop by Our Salon!

We’re about 3 minutes east of Treeline which is the road the airport service drive connects to.

In Our Salon, you’ll find:

• Our delicious handmade Ultra-Premium Dark, Milk, White Gourmet Chocolates,
• Speciality Coffees (such as Valencia Mocha, Spiced Butter Latte, Cinnamon Vanilla Cappuccino and more!)
• Cappuccino’s and Coffees,
• Smoothies,
• Croissants, Muffins & Danishes, and
• Cookies, Brownies & Biscotti’s.

Of course, we also offer Free Samples of our Gourmet Chocolates (one per visitor), too!

Visit our web site to learn more, and see our hours as well!

Enjoy,

Norman, and all of us at Norman Love Confections!

Even the most sophisticated connoisseurs are impressed with the beauty and flavor of these gourmet artisan chocolates, which are handcrafted from the finest ingredients fresh daily.

Our Valentine’s Day gift packages contain an assortment of chocolates from our line of 36 flavors, including eight flavors that have been fashioned into lovely heart-shaped pieces just for the holiday.

Available for a limited time on our Web Site at: www.NormanLoveConfections.com, and in Our Salon.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

…however, if you haven’t, here it is for your viewing pleasure!

If you’re looking for the perfect Chocolate Valentine’s Day Gifts, be sure to check all of our options online, and in our Salon.

Keep in mind, our selections won’t be available until Monday (February 1st), however, you can pre-order now on our web site, and we’ll be sure to ship them in time for Valentine’s Day.

Enjoy!