I spy with my little eye something….. chocolaty and delicious!

You guessed it!  Chuao is popping up in retailers across the country and we are so giddy about it, we decided to create this sweepstakes so you can play along with us!

 

Simply follow us on Instagram and then follow these easy steps:

1. Post a photograph of a Chuao chocolate bar on the shelf at a local retailer with the hashtag #ispy

2. Tag @chuaochocolatier

3. Use hashtags for the name of the #retailer, #city and #street.

For example: #ispy @chuaochocolatier #Target #Chicago #West33rdSt

 

A winner will be announced every day and awarded a gourmet Chuao Chocolatier chocolate bar. The grand prize winner will receive a $250 gift card to the retailer tagged in their entry.

Next time you swing by your favorite local retailer to load up on  your stash of Chuao chocolate, be sure to snap some photos. The I Spy Chuao Chocolatier Photo Sweepstakes is accepting entries through this Friday, May 24, 2013. Good luck, sweet shutterbugs!!

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We a confession: we are in love with Audrey Hepburn. But who isn’t, right?  She had it all: beauty, brains, charm, compassion, grace, style and the list goes on. Every man wanted to be with her and every woman still wants to be her. Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady….We admit, our infatuation will never end.

 “Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.” - Audrey Hepburn

A chocoholic, too! Audrey’s a girl after our own heart!

So, in honor of her 84^th birthday on May 4^th, we will be baking a chocolate cake recipe worthy of her undeniable elegance and grace. Grab your filly apron & join us in the kitchen.

Orange A-Go-Go Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 cups all purpose flour ; plus 1 tbs

~1 cup sugar

~1 tsp baking powder

~1/2 tsp baking soda

~2/3 cup cocoa powder

~1 1/2 sticks of butter, at room temperature

~2 eggs

~2/3 cup sour cream

~3 tsp vanilla extract

~1 cup finely chopped Orange A-Go-Go bar (approx. 2 bars)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour two, 9 in cake rounds. (Or line muffin tins for 24 cupcakes).

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer, until pale in color. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl with each addition. Mix until well incorporated.

Add sour cream and vanilla to the mixture until evenly combined.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture; scraping the bowl between each addition.

Toss a tablespoon of flour with the chopped chocolate pieces, until evenly coated. Then fold in chocolate pieces with a spatula into the batter.

Carefully distribute batter to your prepared baking dish.

If using muffin tins, fill them until 3/4 full; approximately the size of a large ice cream scoop.

If using cake pans, divide the batter in half and pour evenly into each pan.

 

Orange A-Go-Go Frosting

Ingredients:

~3 sticks of butter, *at room temperature

~3 Orange A-Go-Go bars, melted and cooled

~4 cups of confectioners’ sugar

~2 tbs of milk or heavy cream

~1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl beat the room temperature butter until smooth and pale in color.

Slowly add the melted chocolate, until just combined. Add milk and vanilla. Scrape the bowl at this point to make sure everything is incorporated.

Lastly, carefully add the sugar with your mixer on medium speed. Mix until combined and frosting is light and fluffy.

* If frosting is not smooth add confectioners’ sugar in tablespoon increments, until you have the desired texture.

 

The cake is out of the oven and our Blu-ray is queued for our all-Audrey-all-night marathon. Which Audrey Hepburn classic is your favorite?

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We all love the story of the underdog. Every Cinco de Mayo, millions of people on both sides of the Rio Grande celebrate the story of an underdog: Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday honoring the victory of the Mexican army over French invaders. Their triumph showcased the strong-willed nature of the Mexican spirit; ill-equipped, the Mexican army was able to defeat the French, whose army was double in size. With that, every Cinco de Mayo we celebrate Mexico and everything else that is great about its culture.

One of our own lovely staffers just returned from an inspiration trip to Mexico City, where she immersed herself in the rich culture, from food to art to fashion. One of the highlights was a visit to Frida Kahlo's home, La Casa Azul, where Vogue Mexico has recently displayed some of Frida’s never seen before clothing and personal items. Brooke’s trip was just the motivation we needed to add some sass into our own wardrobe.

Embrace the flavor of Mexico with a vibrant palette, intricate embroidery and big, bold prints. We’re obsessed with Lena Hoschek’s Spring/Summer 2013 Collection, which is a fabulous nod to Frida’s iconic style.

Whether you are devouring a margarita bigger than your handbag or indulging in our decadent Chocolate Margarita bonbons (now on sale through 5.5.13), we hope you’ll join us and dress the part with a little Latin flair. How are you going to add some spice to your wardrobe?

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Spring is in full bloom and so was the San Diego Museum of Art for last weekend’s 31st annual Art Alive.  A beloved San Diego tradition, Art Alive features the work of over 100 floral designers who play with vibrant colors, varied textures and different shapes to create breathtaking arrangements, each inspired by the museum’s finest works of art. And we were there, along with hundreds of our closest friends, to take it all in and indulge our love of art, design... and parties.

Speaking of parties, the museum's Opening Celebration on Friday night was quite a celebration of the senses and we had our own display of floral beauty to share. Our limited edition Rose Garden Bonbons, handcrafted with decadent dark chocolate and filled with rosewater-infused caramel, were laid out for guests as a feast for their eyes as well as their palate. Other nibbles included edible delights & tantalizing cocktails from some of San Diego’s finest restaurants, perfecting paired with live music & dancing.

All in all, Art Alive captivated our every sense- sound, taste, sight, smell, and touch. What about Spring arouses your senses?

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We love our mothers. And if we could, we would spoil her every day.  But we do our best to spoil her every Mother’s Day.

Spoil your mom from head to toe with a fabulous gift for every sense:

 

arouse her sense of sound

Treat her to the ultimate surround sound experience with a pair of concert tickets and a box of popping fun, otherwise known as Firecracker Truffles.

 

 

arouse her sense of touch

Pamper her with a spa day and a decadent Breakfast in Bed Bonbon Collection.

 

 

arouse her sense of taste

Cater her leisurely lunch in the park with a gourmet picnic basket and a fancy Sparkling Wine Bonbon Collection.

 

arouse her sense of sight

Indulge her love of chick flicks with movie passes and tickle her taste buds with a ChocoPod Assortment, a variety of mini chocolate bars to enjoy in the theater.

arouse her sense of smell

Delight her with a bottle of her favorite luxurious scent and our aromatic Rose Garden Bonbon Collection.

 

Now that you have Mother's day covered, tell us, how has your mom spoiled you?

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Calling all citizens of planet earth, this is your yearly reminder to get out there and do what you can to protect our chocolate planet. You can go plant a tree, organize a beach clean-up, or get crafty by up-cycling your trash into treasures. Or you can start your quest to save the enviroment with chocolate.

Our chocolate was created with the intention to be enjoyed just as nature intended. “With Chuao Chocolatier, you can feel confident with each bite you are enjoying an unequaled chocolate experience while also helping to revitalize one of the world’s finest growing cacao regions. We are passionate about honoring our ancestors, our family roots, and preserving the rich heritage and superior flavor of Venezuelan Cacao.” – Michael Antonorsi, master chocolatier and co-founder of Chuao Chocolatier.

On the day that on which events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection, show your support with our Origins bar, made exclusively with 77% Cacao de Chuao from Venezuela's sustainable cacao farms and a bit of sugar. No soy lecithin. No vanilla. A truly unparalleled chocolate experience.

What are you going to do this year to protect our environment?

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Happy National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day! Always celebrated the day after taxes are due, it is the ultimate dress down day. Kick off your heels and leave the tie for another day. It’s your time to relax and enjoy the Breakfast in Bed Bonbon Collection at work, for a change.

Probably not too work appropriate, these sweet & sexy jammies from Anthropologie are best saved for counting chocolate sheep.

Marc Jacobs' pajama-inspired looks ruled the runway, and today, we’re rocking similar styles in the office.

[Photos: IMAXtree]

So tell us, what are you wearing?

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What do Justin Timberlake and our Red Wine Pairing have in common? Just like a good wine, Justin Timberlake gets better (and sexier) with age. JT was a heart throb as a Mouseketeer. He stole our hearts as a member of ‘N Sync. But as a solo-artist, Justin has met his stride. And that stride is a sensuous and soulful one at that.

If you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, Justin Timberlake’s new album, The 20/20 Experience, was released on March 19, 2013. Not only did JT sell 968,000 copies in the first week, his album is predicted to be the best-selling album of the year, with the second part of his album is scheduled to come out in the fall.

We snagged the Target exclusive version of the 20/20 Experience on our way to pick up another “pop” treat, the Firecracker bar, also available at select Target stores nationwide. The exclusive version includes two amazing bonus tracks. Bonus track or not, each song transports you to another world, one filled Justin’s silky falsetto and unique combinations of rhythm and flow. So, if you’re ready for the journey, pour some wine, break open that bonbon box, light some candles, and fill your speaker with the neo soul tunes of Justin Timberlake.

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Happy National Beer Day! (We're a couple days early, but we couldn't contain ourselves!)

We like our beer… and sometimes, we like our beer paired with more beer. But most of the time we like our beer paired with chocolate.

At Chuao, we are always on a mission to arouse your senses. So, we’ve made it easy and done the pairing for you with our Craft Beer Bonbon Collection and our Couch Potato Bar Set.

When it comes to pairing, you can leave the thinking to us... or be adventurous and try your own flavor combinations. Here is our guide to find the perfect pairing.

 

Pairing 101:

Dark Beers
Example: Porters, Stouts
Flavor Profile: Caramelized barley, toasted malt, deep earthy tones.
Pair with: Chocolate with caramels or nuts

Fruity, Spicy Beers
Example: Belgian Style
Flavor Profile: Roasted barley, nutty. Underlying fruit tones & cocoa notes will appear when paired with chocolate.
Pair with: Chocolate with fruits or spices

Malty Golden Beers
Example: Wheat Beers, White Ales
Flavor Profile: Hoppy. Bitter citrus tones when paired with certain chocolates.
Pair with: Chocolate with malt or nuts

Ok, now let’s get to the good stuff!

Tasting your beer and chocolate:

1. Pour your beer into a glass and bring your nose to the brim of the glass to breathe in the aroma.

2. Break the chocolate and put into a bowl. Give it a shake and admire the aroma.

3. Take a sip (not a gulp) of the beer. What do you taste?

4. Here’s the hard part: Take just a bite of the chocolate. Let the chocolate melt in your mouth and coat your tongue. What flavors do you experience?

5. With the chocolate still coating your tongue, take another sip of beer. How do the flavors change when combined?

6. Try different combinations and see what you like best!

 

Some pairings will enhance the flavors of either the beer or the chocolate, while some will bring out unexpected, unusual and delicious flavors. We love pairing our chocolate with the amazing craft beer from our friends (and fellow San Diegans) at Stone Brewing Co.

So, give it a whirl and tell us: what are your favorite beer and chocolate pairings?

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Chef Michael has been on a health kick for some time now. He’s always got his thermos full of fresh veggie juice with him wherever he goes. Well, the extra vitamins have proved to be inspiring.

Introducing Chef Michael’s latest creation....

Kale Krunch: crunchy kale chips and tangy vinaigrette caramel in creamy white chocolate. Yum yumm!!

(Available for a limited time only, web only.)

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April Fools!

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