341 replies to this topic

[RobertM]

I still haven't heard from the college and this is a 3 day weekend here in the States. On Tuesday morning I will contact them again to check on our status

[carsondial]

Put me down as a maybe - recent British transplant to North Carolina, looking to expand my chocolate and confection skills :)

[merlicky]

I'd love to come...made the first two, but missed last year. Put me down as a maybe for now.

Also, I'd like to see some time devoted to pâte de fruits. These things and I just don't get along.

[MarkIsCooking]

Just saw this topic and it sounds amazing. Please put me down as a maybe. Do we have to keep checking this forum or will there be periodic messages sent?

[Chris Hennes]

I suggest "Watching" this topic: click here.

[Prabha]

I would love to attend. I am not in the profession, but I'm very interested and I'm hoping to expand my confectionery skills.

[YetiChocolates]

Just curious if there was any new update on the dates of the conference? I'll be hearing next week hopefully about potential work in March, and may have the opportunity to change a flight for a trip I can't go on before October 3...

[RobertM]

Latest Update:

I verified with Joe Sofia that he will be joining us in March (Courtesy of Joe and Wilbur Chocolate) to put on a demo and to assist with technical questions throughout the day.

I've contacted Stratford University again and have submitted a second detailed request for use of their facility, I will continue to pursue Stratford, and other locations in order to allow for firm date(s).

[RobertM]

Pretty Definite Attendees
Chris Hennes +1
Kerry Beal
curls
gfron1
Gene
nolnacs
lironp
Prabha

Maybe
mjx +1
Lisa Shock
lebowitz
prasantrin
mkayahara
MelissaH
DianaM
Mette
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
AnythingButPlainChocolate
Genkinaonna
chocoera
YetiChocolates
MarkIsComing

[psantucc]

I've learned from last year not to be too enthusiastic this far out - I missed the people and events in 2011 a whole big bunch, so I very much want to come to 2012. I just don't know if I'll be able to manage.

Please put me down as a maybe. I still have the last 2 weekends in March wide open.

Here's to hoping!

Pat

[curls]

I've learned from last year not to be too enthusiastic this far out - I missed the people and events in 2011 a whole big bunch, so I very much want to come to 2012. I just don't know if I'll be able to manage.

Please put me down as a maybe. I still have the last 2 weekends in March wide open.

Here's to hoping!

Pat

Hoping to see you in 2012 Pat! You were missed at the last meeting.

[chocoera]

i would just like to say "kudos" to bob who is working like mad on this ;) way to go!

[Robdoc000]

Hi all. I'm a newbie to the forums, though a lurker for a couple of years. I'd be very interesting in attending, and March would be a lovely time to be in DC instead of Minnesota! Thank you for your work making this happen!

[Viktoria]

I would love to attend! DC is practically my back yard. is there any word on actual date yet? There's a big professional conference I typically attend in this general time frame, and I'm desperately hoping it won't conflict.

[RobertM]

I am very excited to finally be able to tell you that Stratford University (http://www.stratford.edu/) has agreed to host the 2012 Confectioners Conference at the Woodbridge, VA campus. I'm still negotiating on dates to hold the even in March, the school wants to wait after their November staff meeting to sit down and actually firm up the dates. With that said, I was thinking of asking them for the weekend of March 17 and March 18, 2012. Not to late in the month, not to early.

There has been a great deal of interest in having a sugar demo during next years conference, according to one of the chef's I've been working with, Stratford has the equipment on hand to use for such a demo, I know that getting the equipment here to the DC area could have been an issue.

There are a number of hotels in the area, I'll be visiting them soon to begin negotiating for better room rates for those of you coming in from out of town.

Because we evidently have a few weeks before I can sit down and actually firm up the weekend plans, if anyone has any further needs, desires, equipment, etc., please let me know and I will do my best to incorporate that into the contract for the space.

I know that there are many of you out there who are looking ahead to make reservations, travel plans, vacation plans, I'm sorry that it's taken up to now to get the commitment. I'm hoping that things will flow much faster now that we have a commitment from the school to host the event.



Pretty Definite Attendees
Chris Hennes +1
Kerry Beal
curls
gfron1
Gene
nolnacs
lironp
Prabha
Robdoc000
Viktoria
MariaP

Maybe
mjx +1
Lisa Shock
lebowitz
prasantrin
mkayahara
MelissaH
DianaM
Mette
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
AnythingButPlainChocolate
Genkinaonna
chocoera
YetiChocolates
MarkIsComing

[RobertM]

In my haste to say something (finally) about the school, I failed to welcome both Robdoc000 and Viktoria to "the group"; Everyone is welcome to join us, we have a great time together and we learn so very much from each other.

Pat - when you say the last two weeks of March, is that the 24th and the 31st? We missed you a lot this past spring and are really hoping you can join us in 2012, it's not the same without you (I leave on my xtabentun hunting mission next Tuesday...)

[Prabha]

Thanks for all your work, Robert! Really looking forward to it. I have just started working with chocolate and could really use some instruction :)

[Linda S]

I'n a definite maybe..

[psantucc]

Pat - when you say the last two weeks of March, is that the 24th and the 31st? We missed you a lot this past spring and are really hoping you can join us in 2012, it's not the same without you (I leave on my xtabentun hunting mission next Tuesday...)

Yes, the weekends of the 24th and 31st are both still free. The 17th would be very difficult. If that's the date that works best, though, don't hesitate!
That said, I really do hope to make it if I can make the dates work. I've been working a little on the Xtabentun recipe, too, and think an exchange is long overdue.

There's a liquor store about 1 hour from my house that stocks D'Aristi all the time. If I can make it to the conference, I'd be happy to mule some for any interested parties...

[psantucc]

Hoping to see you in 2012 Pat! You were missed at the last meeting.

Pshh, you'll make me blush. I promise, I moped all weekend. I'm working on this year pretty hard.

[patti_h]

I would like to be added to the list (+1) as a maybe. I wanted to try last year but the drive would have been tough. Washington is easier for me, yay! I am definitely in our "beginner" group! Thank you!

[Kerry Beal]

I would like to be added to the list (+1) as a maybe. I wanted to try last year but the drive would have been tough. Washington is easier for me, yay! I am definitely in our "beginner" group! Thank you!

Patti,

Looks like we never properly welcomed you - so welcome. Sure hope you are able to come.

[RobertM]

Patti - welcome and welcome - we would love to have you join us. I think you'll find that regardless of how long we've been doing this we all come to the conferences knowing we can learn something new.

The University was supposed to meet late last week to further discuss our use of their facility - I will be talking to them the coming week to find out more (I'm sure you're all tired of hearing me spout the same stuff). Hopefully next week we can start to make final plans for the conference, firm up dates, people can start to make travel plans, etc...

Pretty Definite Attendees
Chris Hennes +1
Kerry Beal
curls
gfron1
Gene
nolnacs
lironp
Prabha
Robdoc000
Viktoria
MariaP

Maybe
mjx +1
Lisa Shock
lebowitz
prasantrin
mkayahara
MelissaH
DianaM
Mette
Lior - pending Lottery ticket(s)
AnythingButPlainChocolate
Genkinaonna
chocoera
YetiChocolates
MarkIsComing
patti_h (+1)

[patti_h]

Thank you Kerry! I have been lurking so I don't think I ever properly introduced myself! By profession I am an OR nurse, but I have always loved baking. I started doing some work with a caterer and one day he asked me to make truffles. I had never been thrilled with making truffles because I knew NOTHING about chocolate. But I experimented and came up with some, and decided that I wanted to improve my chocolate skills. I took the professional chocolatier course from L'ecole Chocolat & loved it! I absolutely love working with chocolate & will love the experience of working together with like minded souls! I am also quite intrigued with sugar work and look forward to learning about that too! Also, I know that I use way too many exclamation marks, that's just the kind of person I am- I am very enthusiastic about things!

[Beth Wilson]

Welcome Patti H!

Enthusiasm is a common trait in Confectioners! It must be the kid coming out it all of us

[RobertM]

Hello ALL -

Did you think I had forgotten all about you, eGullet and the Conference? Heck NO - in fact, I want to update you all -

I finally was able to communicate with Stratford, a lovely woman has been assigned to be my liaison, and we are to meet this coming week to finalize the details and present what it is we are looking for and what we need.

It appears that the dates are going to be March 17 & 18, with March 16th our Friday get together. Please, just pencil those dates into your calendar, I'll confirm them with the school and then we can proceed with putting them down in ink.

There are several very nice hotels nearby, a Fairfield Inn and a Holiday Inn; I'll be contacting them directly to ascertain their interest in giving us a nice business/conference rate. The Holiday Inn is about 1 1/2 miles to the school - it would be a perfect resting spot.

With that in mind, and knowing that I'll be presenting our "needs" to the school next week, please let me know what type of equipment we'll need them to provide (especially if we're going to get a sugar demo). Also, let me know if you have any ideas of what we could get together on Friday afternoon and do? (in the past we've had demo's from Albert Uster and Tomric as well as a tour of a Confection Plant - just to name a few). What would YOU like to see/learn in the 2012 Conference?

I've got Joe Sofia from Wilbur Chocolate coming down to spend the day with us on Saturday - I'll be discussing details further with him.

OK folks - I know it's the Holidays, but it's really time to start planning for March 2012 - I'm very excited to be able to see my old friends and make many new ones!

[Kevin Liu]

howdy! just discovered this topic, watching it now. Please put me down as a "maybe". I'll definitely come if I'm not away on work.

Kevin

[Kerry Beal]

I'm always game for Albert Uster - they've got lots of interesting things to see!

[RuthWells]

Depending on some other major events I have to schedule, I'd love to join - put me as a maybe!

[Prabha]

Ooh, this is exciting! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and learning a lot of stuff. Thanks for all your work, Robert.