341 replies to this topic

[tikidoc]

That is really made of CHOCOLATE??? Amazing.

My list for things to bring: molds, liqueurs, air brush/compressor (so I can learn how to use the darn thing), a couple books, tonga beans I picked up on Amazon in response to this thread, sample candies and WINE. I'm fairly local and driving up, is there anything else that would be helpful? I work about 15 minutes from a Penzeys, if there are any spices that anyone has been itching to try in a chocolate. I'll try to roast an extra pound or so of coffee this weekend and bring that up too.

Jess

[Kerry Beal]

If anyone without access to a Wegmans wants something from there - I can grab stuff on my way through Buffalo.

[curls]

If anyone without access to a Wegmans wants something from there - I can grab stuff on my way through Buffalo.

Or they can get it while they are in Virginia for the conference. Wegmans has several locations in Virginia and Maryland! The closest one to our conference location is Wegmans Potomac in Woodbridge.

[Kerry Beal]

Well in that case I can leave getting the stuff I need from Wegmans until I arrive.

[susanmc]

Robert

Sandy and myself (+1 Saturday dinner) got dropped from the list of attendees. Thanks.

Susan

[carsondial]

Gah, sorry guys, my wife and I are going to have to drop out, I'm afraid; things have come up which we can't avoid :(. Next year!

[RobertM]

Yes, I'm coming, booked the room and transportation

Chris Hennes (+1)
Kerry Beal
Chocolot
curls (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
gfron1
lironp
lebowits (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
patti_h (+1)
chocoera (+1)
Mette
Tikidoc (+1)
Sue Casey
LindaS
Viktoria
Sarahdwyer
Prabha
Fran
Kathy
Sandy
Susanmc


Friday (Daytime activity)
Kerry Beal
curls
Mette
Chocolot
Viktoria


Pretty Definite Attendees

Robdoc000

Maybe

Lisa Shock
prasantrin
MelissaH
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
AnythingButPlainChocolate
Genkinaonna
MarkIsComing


Can't Make it
mjx +1
mkayahara
YetiChocolates
Ruth Wells
Kevin Liu
nolnacs
MariaP
DianaM
Gene
Carsondial (+1)

Edited by RobertM, 11 March 2012 - 04:35 PM.

[AnythingButPlainChocolate]

Hi, I won't be able to make it this year, I had my little one the end of January and my body (and sleep patterns) hasn't recovered enough yet for a transatlantic flight sadly. I would love to be there this year, but hopefully next year will be more do-able for me, I might drag all the boys along (inc hubby) on the pretence of a holiday at the same time (or get my company to pay for a "conference"). I look forward to reading all about the conference though!

[RobertM]

Yes, I'm coming, booked the room and transportation

Chris Hennes (+1)
Kerry Beal
Chocolot
curls (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
gfron1
lironp
lebowits (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
patti_h (+1)
chocoera (+1)
Mette
Tikidoc (+1)
Sue Casey
LindaS
Viktoria
Sarahdwyer
Prabha
Fran
Kathy
Sandy (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
Susanmc (+1 for Saturday Dinner)


Friday (Daytime activity)
Kerry Beal
curls
Mette
Chocolot
Viktoria


Pretty Definite Attendees

Robdoc000

Maybe

Lisa Shock
prasantrin
MelissaH
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
Genkinaonna
MarkIsComing


Can't Make it
mjx +1
mkayahara
YetiChocolates
Ruth Wells
Kevin Liu
nolnacs
MariaP
DianaM
Gene
Carsondial (+1)
AnythingButPlainChocolate

[RobertM]

The weatherman was just on; he is projecting beautiful partly sunny skies and temps in the mid 70s for the entire weekend!

[Sue Casey]

Hi Robert

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to the conference. I will miss your caramel demonstration :( I really enjoyed the demo you did last year. Hopefully all the good folks who are going will take lots of pics/videos of the conference so I can live vicariously through them :)

To all who are attending, have a wonderful time - you'll really enjoy it.

[RobertM]

Yes, I'm coming, booked the room and transportation

Chris Hennes (+1)
Kerry Beal
Chocolot
curls (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
gfron1
lironp
lebowits (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
patti_h (+1)
chocoera (+1)
Mette
Tikidoc (+1)
LindaS
Viktoria
Sarahdwyer
Prabha
Fran
Kathy
Sandy (+1 for Saturday Dinner)
Susanmc (+1 for Saturday Dinner)


Friday (Daytime activity)
Kerry Beal
curls
Mette
Chocolot
Viktoria


Pretty Definite Attendees

Robdoc000

Maybe

Lisa Shock
prasantrin
MelissaH
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
Genkinaonna
MarkIsComing


Can't Make it
mjx +1
mkayahara
YetiChocolates
Ruth Wells
Kevin Liu
nolnacs
MariaP
DianaM
Gene
Carsondial (+1)
AnythingButPlainChocolate
Sue Casey

[curls]

What is the address for the East Moon Asian Bistro?

[RobertM]

13352 Minnieville; Woodbridge, VA

In a shopping center across the street from WaWa

[chocoera]

bob, don't suppose you can summarize the conference in one post so we don't have to try to flip through multiple pages to figure out whats going on can you? :) ex: what's going on friday, who needs to meet where at what time(s)? same for sat/sun (just general time frames of course) so people like me, who like to print off all her information before flying, feels slightly organized. you don't need to go over what class times we're doing what demos/lectures etc, just an approx time frame, room number and what not, especially since i'm not sure what's going on friday afternoon and/or pm? as well as what time sat dinner is? and any specific dress code for anything? i remember one year we went out to eat and it was best if we didn't wear work clothes for that particular outing. thanks so much! can't wait to see you!

[RobertM]

Curls set up Friday; I will ask her to fill in those details.

Friday dinner is at East Moon Asian Bistro (see above)- parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged. I will be there ~6:00 and then head over to the Mariott Sprinhill Suites to relax, meet everyone, have some wine; renew old friendships; have some chocolates and enjoy some wine (yes; I said it twice)

Stratford University 14349 Gideon Drive; Woodbridge, VA at 8:30 Saturday; Stratford is supplying lunch

I expect we will go until ~5:00

I will put up signs where to go; but we will be on the 3rd floor

I haven't heard from the chef as to what time dinner will be served; but we will eat at the school; dress code is jeans or whatever is comfortable

Anyone wishing beer/wine, etc with dinner should plan on bringing that with them

Sunday we will start again at 8:30. I know many people need to leave early to make plane reservations home; but we have enough to go all day as well, or until everyone leaves to go home

I'm working on my phone; I hope I hit what you were looking for; if not let me know....

Bob

[lironp]

I'll be arriving on Friday afternoon, hopefully in time for the afternoon activity, and definitely for dinner.

[patti_h]

Kerri- hate to ask you to put something else into your pile, but if your isi whip is small, I would love to see you make an aerated chocolate!

I am pretty sure I have grand marnier so I will bring that along. I also have a 3/4 size shoe mold (from Tomric) so I will bring it along as well.

I made some cacao nib nougatine the other day so I will bring some of that too.

I am SO EXCITED for the conference!! Can't wait to meet everyone!!!! Hope no one minds my chocolates with the backroom finish- I promise they taste yummy!

[RobertM]

I have an ISI whip packed for aerated chocolates - no worries

[Prabha]

I have started gathering my stuff for this weekend! First thing in, wine for Friday evening! I'd love to join the Friday afternoon activity too.

[Kerry Beal]

I have an ISI whip packed for aerated chocolates - no worries

Good - cause I'm already here - and I took a cream siphon out of the trunk of the car before I left home.

[curls]

Do to a series of interesting events, the Friday pre-dinner event is a bit different from other years. Since it looked like we had a small group and one large SUV to travel around with, we put our heads together and came up with a tour of interesting sites to visit in Maryland, DC and Virginia. There are two more seats available in the SUV and others can follow along if they can provide their own transportation.

Based on the interests of the group and the driving route that may be the most logical, we concocted the following plan:

• meet and pickup at the Woodbridge hotel (around 9:30 / 10am, start time based on traffic I encounter along the way)
• Albert Uster Imports
• Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop (it is next to Co Co Sala and has great cheese & other items)
• Co Co. Sala
• lunch somewhere in DC probably in the Penn Quarter area (near Co Co Sala & Cowgirl Creamery)
• Ace Beverage
• Artisan Confections
• around 4 pm begin return trip to hotel in Woodbridge

So, who would like to join us? Either reply here or locate Kerry, Ruth, or Mette Friday morning to claim the last two SUV seats or to follow along. I can bring extra copies of the locations and their addresses if anyone will be joining us in a separate vehicle.

Edited by curls, 14 March 2012 - 07:25 PM.

[YetiChocolates]

Do to a series of interesting events, the Friday pre-dinner event is a bit different from other years. Since it looked like we had a small group and one large SUV to travel around with, we put our heads together and came up with a tour of interesting sites to visit in Maryland, DC and Virginia. There are two more seats available in the SUV and others can follow along if they can provide their own transportation.

Based on the interests of the group and the driving route that may be the most logical, we concocted the following plan:

• meet and pickup at the Woodbridge hotel (around 9:30 / 10am, start time based on traffic I encounter along the way)
• Albert Uster Imports
• Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop (it is next to Co Co Sala and has great cheese & other items)
• Co Co. Sala
• lunch somewhere in DC probably in the Penn Quarter area (near Co Co Sala & Cowgirl Creamery)
• Ace Beverage
• Artisan Confections
• around 4 pm begin return trip to hotel in Woodbridge

So, who would like to join us? Either reply here or locate Kerry, Ruth, or Mette Friday morning to claim the last two SUV seats or to follow along. I can bring extra copies of the locations and their addresses if anyone will be joining us in a separate vehicle.

I'm so jealous that I can't make it! Hopefully next year! On a side note, I saw you're planning on going to Cowgirl Creamery on Friday, and I just went to their shop in the San Fran Ferry Building last weekend. Amazing cheeses! I highly recommend the wagon wheel and mt. tam, both quite delicious. I hope you all have a fantastic time, and hope to see a full report on here on how it goes! Have fun!

[susanmc]

Friday looks like a great day! Also the cherry blossoms should be appearing with this warm weather. Wish I could join you but will see everyone on Saturday.

Susan

[curls]

Friday looks like a great day! Also the cherry blossoms should be appearing with this warm weather. Wish I could join you but will see everyone on Saturday.

Susan

Sorry you won't be able to join us but thank you for reminding me about the cherry blossoms. Hopefully we will be able to swing by the tidal basin or Haines Point.

[tikidoc]

Jealous about Friday, it looks like a fun day. We will arrive tomorrow evening, in time for treats and WINE (that's for you, Robert).

Is anyone thinking about making anything that could require eggs? I couldn't think of anything but the hens have started laying and I have an extra dozen or so of our lovely free range eggs. I have to bring a cooler anyway, so can throw in a dozen if they might get used...

I feel sorry for my poor husband, one of our LaMancha does (goat) is very close to kidding, and unless it happens tonight (may well happen, her udder got enormous over the last 24 hours or so), he will be playing goatie midwife. He is not thrilled.

Jess

[Prabha]

Curls, I'd like to join you for the Albert Uster part of tomorrow's activities.I'll be driving on my own from Reston. What time do you think you'll be there? 11 a.m. ish?

I'm going to have to go back home after that, but I'll see you all again at the meet and greet tomorrow night. Can't wait to meet everyone!

[curls]

Prabha, not sure what time we will be at Albert Uster tomorrow morning. Why don't you PM me with your phone number and I can let you know when we are leaving the hotel. That should give you a better guesstimate of our arrival time. FYI we are just picking up some orders at Albert Uster, no demos scheduled for us tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow, another Northern Virginia eGulleter!

[RobertM]

Everyone - let's try and meet up at the restaurant around 5:30 tomorrow night, which will hopefully be enough time to get dinner and back to the hotel. Hopefully I will be done with my chores (thanks to Chocolot) but I will be there for the meet and greet...

[Tri2Cook]

I know being jealous isn't a good character trait... but I'm going to go ahead and be it anyway. Looking forward to the reports.