Chocolate Contest Winner!!!

Thanks to everyone for their great entries!  You all did a super job of celebrating Chocolate Week!  I celebrated by consuming WAY more than my share of Reese's eggs and chocolate dipped Easter shortbread cookies from Target (I reviewed them last year and they are back again!). 

I choose the winner the way the National Confectioners Association suggested - a random drawing.  I couldn't think of a better way - the stories were great - but the recipes were great too and how can you compare the two?  And Cheryl is a chocolate hero - spreading the word to her students.  Check out all the comments to see the terrific stories posted.  And there were a few of you who have been long time readers - argh!!!  How to choose?  So the random drawing it had to be.  I put all the entrant's names in a bowl and had my sweetheart draw one out.  And the winner is.........

Kiddocare!!!!

Woohoo!  I'll be sending her address to the NCA and they'll send her chocolate package out to her.  Thanks to all of you for taking the time to enter and for helping us celebrate Chocolate Week!  And thanks so much for sharing!!!!

The Chocolate Contest Continues!!!

Okay Gang - post those stories or recipes or whatevah!  The big Chocolate Week contest ends on Sunday at midnight!!!  I got my bag from the National Confectioners Association today and it is cool!!!

It has a great tag from the mysterious and all powerful Chocolate Council:

Looks like a bag of cacao beans:

And here are all the goodies - you could win!!!!  Come on - your odds are really, really good!

I've never seen these adorable mini Green & Black's bars:

This one was toffee and was so so delicious:

Now, remember, the actual contents may vary - but what the heck - it's free and it's chocolate!  Life is good!  Post an entry and you could be opening a great goodie bag like this one!

And don't forget to check out http://www.thestoryofchocolate.com/.  Here's a tidbit from the site:

There is no scientific evidence, however, that chocolate is addictive. Instead, people who desire chocolate likely do because of its sensory properties, its melting sensations and intense taste. Its aroma and flavors are highly complex. More than 500 compounds responsible for aromas have been found in roasted cocoa beans, and chocolate has more 1,500 flavor compounds—three times the number found in wine.

So see?  We are not addicted to chocolate, we simply love the way it tastes.  And clearly, it is more complex than wine, which makes us even cooler than those snobby wine people.  Chocolate lovers of the world - arise!!!!!

Woohoo! Great Chocolate Giveaway!!

I swear, motivational speaker, Denise Ryan, based in good ol' Raleigh, NC is still alive!  Easter is the last big candy holiday and I just can't stand to miss it!  So I'm going to try to get some posts going.

I hope you all will love this one -  I got a great e-mail from Monica at the National Confectioners Association writing on behalf of the Chocolate Council.  (How cool would it be to get to hang out with the Chocolate Council?  OMG!  Think of the great conversations!  The whole chocolate world is in their hands!  Oooh - the power!)  But I digress.

The big story is that next week is American Chocolate Week (not to be confused with Russian Chocolate Week or Swiss Chocolate Week).  And to commemorate the week - the council is launching a new website http://www.thestoryofchocolate.com.

The Savor section was my favorite part of the site.  It talks about how to taste chocolate and why it's just so dang irresistible.  There's no peanut butter tab, but hey, I'm sure the Peanut Council is on it.

So let's get to the giveaway!!!!  Monica is offering YOU, dear readers, a chance at a Chocolate Gift Pack from the Council!!!!  See below:

I don't know if you all can really tell from the pic - but this is a lot of stuff!  Now, Monica said that what you get may not be exactly this assortment, but who cares, right?  It's FREE chocolate!!!!!  And a lot of it!  Are you with me?

So what do you have to do?

Monica suggested you all share your own "Story of Chocolate" - could be a memory, a favorite recipe, something about how you enjoy chocolate now - be creative!  I'm going to put all the names of everyone who submits something that took a little effort and pull out one at random. 

If you just post something like "I ate chocolate for breakfast today" - that is too lame.  Give me something good - I know you all have talent!

I'm thinking anyone who takes the time to do something has a pretty good chance at this!  I'm going to give you all Chocolate Week - that means through midnight the 26th.  You can enter multiple times with different stuff if you want.

If I pick you, you'll give me your address and NCA will mail you the packet - how awesome is that????

Good luck, my beauties!!!

And you can always check out my cool website at www.firestarspeaking.com

I'm Not Dead Yet!

Sorry, gang!  I had six speaking engagements this week and have been CRAZY busy!!  And I've been trying to get enough work done so I can be out of the office next week for CANDY EXPO!!!!  Okay, officially the Sweets and Snacks Expo.

I'm going to take as many pics as they'll let me and here are some of the new things I'll get to see (and share with you all):

Tabasco Truffles
Bubble Chocolate
Chococones
York Peppermint Pretzel Sandwich Dips
Clark Bar Dark
Reese's Minis
Pop Rocks Chocolate (GLAACK!)
Butterfingers Snackrz
Campfire Marshmallow Zebras
Chocolate Covered Pumpkin Peeps (oh dear God)
And a whole lot more!!

I'm also going to several keynote sessions - one that discusses all the latest products, one that talks about the psyche of the candy shopper, one on chocolate (yay!), and one featuring Marc Summers from Food Network's Unwrapped.  You'll get all the details.

There are almost 500 exhibitors!  The show is as big as 10 football fields!  OMG!  What a beautiful dream!

So hang in there - it will be worth it!!

Live from Chicago - It's Candy Expo!!

Oh my God.

I am overwhelmed. I have never seen so much candy in one place in my life. My head is spinning and I have ingested enough chocolate for 10 people.

To give you an idea of how big Candy Expo is, the NCA (National Confectioners Association) press release says the Expo "encompasses nearly 10 football fields." Ten. Think how big ONE football field is. This is ten. Holy God.

Believe me, that is a lot of booths. I realized early on I was going to have to focus only on chocolate to have any chance of making it through. (Jonny and Matty I have failed you - but I do have all the scoop for next year. And Haribo had a tasting bar - like a Haribo buffet. I wept that you weren't there. We'll have to talk.)



I don't have pictures for you - they are weird about that, but I might try to take some tomorrow. Some of the booths are pretty amazing. All are colorful and gorgeous. And look how much candy I have:

Do you see that? It's amazing and disturbing all at the same time. How will I ever blog about it all? How will I make good on all the promises I made to get the samples? What if some of the nicest people have the worst candy? I do think I might have sold my soul to get candy today. Well at least part of my soul. Or maybe I just prostituted myself.

It's not that there weren't plenty of samples everywhere. It was that sometimes I really wanted the good stuff. And it's not like I'm a buyer. These people are there to make money, not deal with random motivational speakers who blog. What the hell is that about anyway? So sometimes I had to make promises. Basically I was charming people into giving me the good stuff. (Yep - I'm a chocolate 'ho.)

But let me tell you - overall - this was one great group. Master Chef Michael Antonorsi fixed me a cup of fabulous hot cocoa and sat down and talked with me about his philosophy of chocolate making! He was gracious and wonderful and brilliant and kind. The Mars representative for Seeds of Change - I will have to get her name tomorrow - gave me one of all of their full sized bars! That would be seven different flavors! We discussed distribution and positioning - it was cool! Erik Hemp and Kathleen Wells of Nestle hooked me up with their new product - Baby Ruth Crisp - which totally rocks!! You'll have to get your hands on one of these when they come out. I might have to go by and get more tomorrow. I am a sick, sick woman.

I also attended a blogger luncheon (thanks Carl and Susan) and an official Mars press conference. YAHOO!! At the press conference, they talked about their new chocolate relief act - where they are giving away free chocolate and are making all their products with real chocolate (not fake chocolate which is what's in so many candy bars today). Check out http://www.realchocolate.com/ to read more and find out about your free chocolate. It's really sad that we THINK we're getting chocolate, but some candy makers are substituting cheaper ingredients for the cocoa butter. Bastards!

All the M & M's were at the press conference (no Naked Cowboy in sight) and we all got cool give away bags with more candy. And get this!! M & M's are coming out with two new flavors - coconut and strawberry & peanut butter. They are in the bag and I'll be reviewing soon!

Snickers has a fudge bar - I also have and will be reviewing soon.

Nestle has cranberry Raisinets (although can they be Raisinets if they are cranberry?) Who cares - I'll be reviewing them also.

Dove Promises are now available in peanut butter! YUM!

Reese's Dark is coming out. Also York Peppermint Patty Pieces and Almond Joy Pieces and Hershey Special Dark Pieces. Also Hershey's Bliss will be out in white chocolate.

Tootsie Pops are out in banana - limited edition.

How cool is all of this? I also came across many companies I had never heard of. And I skipped over all the gum and snack and sour and all the other crazy candies. I snubbed Russell Stover and Palmer because you know how I feel about them. But I may go by tomorrow for the hell of it. If it wasn't chocolate, I didn't bother. It's just all too big!

I need to go through all the literature and business cards I picked up and try and put everything in some kind of order. I'll be at the Expo all day tomorrow, then I have to fly out to Alabama for a speech on Thursday. Thursday night I'll be flying back to Raleigh. So it may be a few days before I post again, but trust me, it will be worth the wait!

YAHOO!!!!

Off to ChiTown

You know you are a slackard when your friends are writing to see if you are still alive. My sincere apologies. It is due to a way packed schedule, technical difficulties which have me contemplating killing something, and a love interest. What can I say?

Yes - things are still good on the dating front. I was taken out for a REALLY nice b-day dinner (yay!). This time last year I got nothing - oh, wait - I did get a call from Afghanistan. I should have known when he didn't even bother to send me an e-card. But things are looking up!! At some point I'll post a pic for you guys, but I'm just not ready to bring that up yet. I don't want him to think I'm insane. I try to hide that for as long as possible.

I'm leaving in the am for Chicago where I plan to take a chocolate tour on Saturday. I just got in (someone canceled - I was on a waiting list) to a special breakfast at Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House - how cool is that? I love FLW and this should be really amazing. More FLW on Monday and at some point I want to do an architectural riverboat tour. Then Tuesday and Wednesday - CANDY EXPO!!! I cannot wait!

In the meantime (I still have to pack, so forgive me!!), I have to show you the bag of candy I won from the National Confectioner's Association. This was a damn fine prize, let me just tell you!

I mean - look at all that candy! It's truly beautiful, isn't it? The bag was PACKED and it was a great assortment - LOTS of chocolate - Green and Black's, Reese's, Ghirardelli, Lindor Truffles - this was fantastic!! The National Confectioner's Association ROCKS!!!

Closing thoughts:

Try for the prize - you can't win if you don't enter.

Work hard, but plan a random silly adventure for yourself. It keeps you interesting.

I do have to say I think anyone who reads this crazy blog must be interesting. I wish I could take all of you to ChiTown with me!!

Thanks for your patience and support and I will do my best to post from Chicago. In the meantime, seize the chocolate!

Creative Idea for Meetings

I'm so excited! My new friend Carl Weaver at the National Confectioners Association has a great blog and he talked about me! Check it out: http://candydishblog.com/2008/10/16/chocolate-and-decision-making/ Carl posts some great stuff including a neat list of places to visit for candy-loving travelers. Thanks, Carl! (Somehow I think you may hear more about Carl and the NCA.)



I'm also excited because the people at the Metro Atlanta Payroll Association are so dang creative! I spoke for their group Friday and the theme of their meeting was "Constructing a Payroll Team." (Okay, that didn't really grab me either.) But what they did with it! Hardhats filled with candy, Bob the Builder stuff, nail hammering contests, orange cones and vests everywhere to pay homage to Atlanta's eternal road construction, and on and on. Even their vendors did great giveaways based on the theme - stress hammers, ADP gave away measuring tapes - it was terrific! And they had visited my website and knew I had the chocolate seminars. Look at how creative and cool this is:




White and milk chocolate tools and construction trucks - two for every attendee! (That's 200!) I also had some chocolate needle-nose pliers and a bulldozer, but I ate them on the way home. (Hey - it's a long drive from Atlanta to Raleigh!) And they were excellent! Barbara Bozeman (a very loyal association member) and her daughter made them. If you want to order something like this - call them! (Onie's Treats 770-898-6970)


I speak at many conferences and it's rare to see the theme so well done. The attendees had a blast! See how much fun chocolate is? It brings out the kid and the fun in all of us. (And how many people can say they've eaten a pair of pliers?)