Those with discerning tastes and an interest in culinary trends may have noticed an emerging emphasis on comfort food in gourmet circles. Many fine restaurants are now offering gourmet versions of traditional comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, pizza and even ice cream.

From New York’s famous 21 Club, which serves the ‘21’ Burger, to L.A.’s Spago, which serves Goulash, a traditional comfort food of German heritage, it seems almost no restaurant is without its comfort cuisine. Diners seem to love these simple familiar foods, especially with the additional flair and attention to quality provided by a gourmet chef.

At Norman Love Confections, we have a growing repertoire of sweet comfort food-inspired chocolate confections. Of the 36 signature flavors that make up our core line of chocolate confections, nearly a dozen could be placed in that category. We find these flavors come alive when combined with the finest dark, milk or white gourmet chocolate, from ice cream parlor favorites such as Cookies-n-Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, Rum Raisin and Butter Pecan to childhood classics such as Cinnamon Roll, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Vanilla Cupcake and Malted Milkshake.

Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without certain comfort foods, which is why our special holiday collections include flavors such as Pumpkin, Candy Cane, Egg Nog and Gingerbread. All the ingredients that go into these confections are handcrafted fresh daily, giving them the authentic just-out-of-the-oven flavor you may have enjoyed at Grandma’s house growing up. However, our artisans use the finest ingredients and finely tuned techniques to transform those childhood treats into bite-sized gourmet delicacies.

Our BLACK sipping chocolate and S’more Love confections are both perfect examples of simple foods made exceptional. The sipping chocolate provides the same comfortable warm flavor of the hot cocoa you craved growing up, yet with an added sophistication as it is created in the great tradition of European-style sipping chocolates. For S’more Love, we transformed the simple treat traditionally enjoyed in campgrounds across America and enhanced it by using fine Swiss milk chocolate and fresh handmade marshmallows and graham crackers. No camp fire necessary.

The next time you dine out see if you can find any comfort-food inspired menu items. What kind of gourmet twist is added? Does the meal succeed in tasting authentic yet elegant?

Finally, what do you think is behind the comfort food trend? We have a few guesses of our own and would be interested to know what you think as well. Please comment!

Our summer classes are HOT HOT HOT and they are filling up fast so sign up for your favorites today! Learn expert practices and techniques for producing a variety of delectable culinary creations from the experienced, award-winning artisans of Norman Love Confections at the Chocolate Salon. All gourmet chocolate cooking classes take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Chocolate Salon, 11380 Lindbergh Blvd., Fort Myers, FL. To register, call Lisa Mariani at 239-561-7215.

Summer Schedule – Remaining Classes:

July
21st – Truffles (This Wednesday Night!)
28th – Molded Chocolates

August
4th –  Liquid Love: Making Fondue with Flair
18th – Cupcakes (Sorry this class is full!)
25th – Molded Bittersweet 61%

September
1st – Black Tasting

Are you ready to learn the true art of creating Gourmet Chocolate delights?

If so – be sure to join us in our Gourmet Chocolate Classes where you’ll be assisted every step of the way by my team of gourmet chocolatiers.

We’ll help you make your very own mold of candies, from buffing, to coloring, to casting and boxing — and the best part?

Every confection you make is yours to take home!

I do try to be at every class, however, if I’m not able make it, my team of chefs will help you every step of the way.

If you’d like to learn more about our Gourmet Chocolate Classes be sure to visit our web site.  Please keep in mind, you must make reservations in advance as space is limited and our classes sell out quickly.

If you’d like to make a reservation, please give us a call at (239) 561-7215.

Thank you,

- Norman

Whether your dad is a serious chocolate connoisseur or simply loves sweets…

…a gift from Norman Love Confections is a great way to say “I LOVE you” this Father’s Day.

Our signature gift boxes provide an assortment of dark, milk and white gourmet chocolate confections in quantities of 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 pieces.

Sleek gift baskets include the Chocolate Lovers Gift Basket, as well as the Euro-Style Sipping Chocolate Basket and Dark Chocolate Deluxe Gift Basket featuring the ultra-premium BLACK dark chocolate line.

Gift certificates and chocolate specialties also make excellent gifts for Dad, and there are sugar-free selections as well.

This Father’s Day, remember: real men LOVE chocolate!

Be sure to order online by 2pm today, or stop by Our Salon.

Enjoy!

About 2 months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting…

…Anne Schuette, who was born on April 7th, 1905!

Anne lives with her daughter and family in Fort Myers (and in Illinois), and here she is enjoying our Norman Love Confections cake and gourmet chocolate for her 105th birthday!

Thanks for sharing your photos Anne & family!

- Norman

]]> http://www.gourmetchocolatelove.com/a-gourmet-chocolate-birthday-meet-our-oldest-customer/feed/ 2 http://www.gourmetchocolatelove.com/n-love-our-gourmet-chocolate-wedding-line/ http://www.gourmetchocolatelove.com/n-love-our-gourmet-chocolate-wedding-line/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 15:41:17 +0000 Norman http://www.gourmetchocolatelove.com/?p=223

N Love is our exclusive line of gourmet chocolate…

…wedding cakes, favors, desserts and novelties.

Our n.Love line is handcrafted by world-class artisans Mandy Butler and Rachel Godlin under my direction, and each ultra-premium N Love creation is beyond comparison, taking your breath away with its outstanding attention to dtail, artistic excellence, and sophisticated flavor.

If you’re interested in learning more about our n.Love offerings, be sure to learn more!

Enjoy.

As you may have read in one of my previous posts, we had a very special…

…contest where people nominated Mothers throughout the state of Florida to our Storybook Mother’s Day contest.

Last week, Mark Loren and I delivered our gifts to the winners of the contest, be sure to check out our photos from our journey.

Thank you to everyone who participated,

Norman

Now here’s a fun and interesting use of our Gourmet Chocolate!

Maura, our Production Manager, worked with Jennifer Hicks (and her staff) of the North Carolina Museum of Art to create a gourmet chocolate version of the Kirchner’s Panama Dancers painting!

Using 2,400 flat, square shaped Norman Love Confections dark chocolate shells filled with Tahitian Vanilla Ganache, they recreated the painting.

We used 12 colors to produce the 2,400 pieces, and then mixed and matched the colors out of cocoa butter — airbrushing them to match the painting.

They assembled the piece in the studio at the end of April (here’s the video!)

Panama Truffles from The North Carolina Museum of Art on Vimeo.

The event was on Thursday, April 29th, and the guests were allowed to eat the chocolates during the evening, uncovering the artwork underneath!

Here’s a funny photo of the male servers passing the extra chocolates out in tutu’s to match the girls!

Thinking of Gourmet Chocolate?  Be sure to check out all of our offerings on our web site at www.NormanLoveConfections.com.

We’re extremely proud to present our 2010 Mother’s Day…

Gourmet Chocolate Collection!

Our Mother’s Day Gifts feature 8 Special Heart Shaped Flavors:

1. 70% Dark Complexite
2. Cookies ‘n’ Cream
3. Passion Fruit
4. Strawberry
5. Tahitian Caramel
6. Vanilla Cupcake
7. Vanilla Latte
8. White Chocolate Raspberry

Learn more about our Mother’s Day Gourmet Chocolate Collection, or visit our Online Store to see our Mother’s Day gift boxes.

Enjoy,

Norman

Mark Loren (of Mark Loren Designs) and I are extremely proud to announce our Mother’s Day Contest –

Be sure to watch the video above to see our segment with WinkNews, where Mark and I describe the contest, and how you can get involved by nominating your mother, or a mother you may know.

Please note: This contest is open to residents of Florida only.

If you’re interested in entering the contest, you’ll have to do so by midnight of Saturday, May 1st, by:

* Going to www.WinkNews.com.
* Clicking on the “Mother’s Day Contest” (you’ll see a button on the right).

If you can think of a mother you’d like to nominate – please do!

The winners will receive a personal visit by Mark and I, and some very special gifts, as well.

Thank you,

- Norman (and Mark Loren)