Truffle Guy

June 14, 2012

Kerry, They look great and I love the toast on the nuts....I think this is one of the hardest confections to make well. Do you brush them with cocoa butter to help with the humidity?

August 29, 2011

We are getting ready to move to our new store and will be adding Pastry and Gelato/Sorbet to go with our chocolates. I'm trying to find a good source for macaroon packaging as they are so delicate. Mad Mac has a great box/tray and I'm looking for something similar. I have some samples from Revere Group on the way (Acetate boxes) but would like to look at some other options. I'm looking for at least 2 sizes of boxes (5-6 and 10-12). Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks. Bill

March 15, 2011

A minute sounds about right for spinning but we don't leave it at room temperature. We use clips on the molds and put it in the refigerator and then about every minute, we rotate the mold so any liquid chocolate will flow to a new area. We rotate the egg about 4 times so it has a chance to get a good flow of the chocolate. We are in Florida so by this time of year, heat is already a problem hence using the refigerator. Time to get started on our end, I can't believe Easter is already coming up on us.

March 12, 2011

I can't believe how long it has been since I've been online...too busy. Anyway, I have a very fond memory of this thread as it is where my chocolate life really began some years ago. It seems such a long time ago that I was working in my kitchen trying to figure out how to actually temper chocolate and mesmerized by the beauty of a shiny painted bon bon. I just started appearing on HSN last month which is something I never imagined when I posted my first message on eGullet. I owe this website a great deal and I'm glad to see people still are poking around this thread.

Anyway, we do various sizes of Easter Eggs and do the human spinning as well but one way we found to combat the latent heat is to do multiple layers of thin chocolate before filling the shell, clamping and spinning. We use a heavy brush and after painting the egg, brush 4-5 thin layers of chocolate in the mold. This allows for good crystalization and then when we do add the chocolate that will finally create the finished egg, we have a good solid base that is crystallized. You just have to work very clean so you don't have edges.

I hope you can post the egg pictures....I'd love to see them. Bill

February 18, 2010

I'm excited to be invited to attend a 3 day workshop on Bon Bon's at Ecole du Grand Chocolat Tain L'Hermitage at the beginning of March. I've not been to France so I'm spending a few days in Paris before/after the training. I'd really like to visit as many chocolatiers as possible in that time. I plan on visiting Pierre Herme and La Maison Du Chocolat but would love to get any other suggestions that have made impressions on people. I'm most excited about attending the class and learning but the chance to visit the Paris shops will also be a great time and I'd like to start compiling a list so any help would be much appreciatted.

February 18, 2010

We have 4 of the racks from Tomric and they work very well. They are a bit expensive but it does help us not only to store them but also stage them when cleaning. The last thing I need is another drawer to open to look for things, I really like being able to quickly find a mold and the racks allow us to label where each mold type should go. For seasonal molds we put hem in storage bins and break them out into the racks when needed.

February 5, 2010

Kerry....why do you use the cornstarch? Does this do something different than using a gloved hand?

November 4, 2009

We were exhibitors at the New York Chocolate Show for the first time and it was a great experience. We had done 2 previous shows to prepare for the event but they just didn't have the same volumes. I went to the 2008 show as an attendee and I could tell it was not as busy this year with all the economic and health impacts. We had Halloween on Saturday night which impacted the size of the crowd and then the NY Marathon on Sunday which I'm sure had some impact as well.

We've been in business now for just a bit over 2 years and it was a great way to measure ourselves against more mature companies. I also had a chance to meet with some great chocolatiers. One of the highlights was having Norman Love come talk with me and give me positive feedback on one of our bon bon's and our overall product. It was exciting to have one of the top chocolatiers in America actually recognize me and humbling to get praise from him. I also had the chance to meet up with some other iconic american chocolatiers such as Andrew Shotts from whom I've learned so much. Donald Wressel was great to finally meet in person and a wealth of knowledge and again someone who greatly encouraged me with some kind words. I also met Tim Brown from Aroa Fine Chocolates in Boston and had a great time chatting with him for a couple days and as always....learning as much as I can.

I'd encourage anyone who is wanting to get some exposure to consider attending next year. It is expensive but well worth it to get some honest feedback on your product and where you stand in the artisan chocolate world. We had a good time with our booth next to Berkshire Bark and they were great sharing their experience over the years at the show, it really helped us prepare for each day. I'd love to hear any feedback from anyone who attended as we are always looking to improve. It's hard to believe only a few years ago I was asking what "tempering" meant and now we've come back from the the biggest show in the country....makes all the sweat and struggle worth it.

October 2, 2009

I have a customer who wants gold foil on some of the molded pieces we do as well as some cups. I can do the gold foil in the cups ok but not having worked with foil before, I'm struggling a bit with the shells. I've tried applying afterwards and it just doesn't seem to work well. I've applied to the shell but when I fill it sometimes gets flooded. Is there a trick to applying in the mold so that it will not move when the chocolate fills the cavity? Thanks for any help. -Bill

September 20, 2009

FYI....on the taste of El Rey White not being deodorized. It doesn't have a chocolate flavor as there is no chocolate mass only cocoa butter. I always felt it had a more earthy or organic taste but nothing that made it taste more like chocolate. In fact, I think you want to tell your customers as it will be different than most white chocolates they've had and they could be put off it they don't understand why. Use it as a marketing ploy.....

September 20, 2009

I've used more white chocolates than I think I can count and the type you use will depend a bit on how you will be using the white chocolate. If you are using it for molding (and especially if you are airbrushing) you will want to avoid some of the chocolates that are "too" viscous. Here are my thoughts on each I've used. I use almost all of the chocolates below so I'm not incented to push one brand over another. From my perspective here are the prices (others may get better deals) $$$=Exspensive $$=Moderate Price $=Good Value

El Rey $$- I started with El Rey and the white can be a challenge when molding as it is so fluid and while it does a very thin shell, if you are using colored cocoa butter the white chocolate shell may not be thick enough to "pull" the cocoa butter out of the shell when it contracts. Also, I do think El Rey has a more "organic or earthy" flavor to it than some of the others which can be a challenge when you are using flavored ganaches. I also had a hard time getting consistent product so I'd suggest going to El Rey directly if you use it.

E. Guittard $$- The white chocolate can be a bit thick for shells but other than that is is a very nice chocolate, one of my favorites. I was told last week by Guittard that they have a new higher cocoa % which will be more fluid.

Callebaut $ to $$- You just need to be careful that the white chocolate is fluid enough for shells. You can always add cocoa butter if needed. Very creamy white chocolate that I really like for centers.

Cacao Barry $$ - Very similar to Callebaut, works okay but I feel it is better for centers than shells...at least for my chocolates.

Felchlin $$ to $$$- Another excellent white chocolate that is smooth and tasty. It can be too fluid so you may need to "cut" it with a thicker white chocolate. They have several options although I normally only use their top line.

Des Alpes $ to $$$ - They have 3 lines you can choose from and all are suppose to be good for molding (have not tried yet). Gemline is their top line and I've had it when taking classes at The Notter School and it seems very fluid and has a nice creamy taste. I recently tried the Orchid line of white and found it interesting...it is creamy with almost a buttery finish. It is also very reasonably priced.

Valrhona $$$ - You get what you pay for. This is the primary chocolate I use. When I started, I didn't want to use it because I felt there was an "elitist" persona to the chocolate. If there is, it is well deserved (in my opinion). It is not cheap, even in quantity but it is so consistent, I've never had a problem with it. It not only is fluid and great for molding, it tastes great as well.

Cluziel $$$ - I felt it tasted great but wasn't as fluid as Valrhona. I only used it a couple times so I might have to try it again.

Hersheys $ - Just kidding

I think these are the chocolates I've used. There are no "right" answers on what to use, it just depends on your application. My perspective if primarily from one who does pretty extensive airbrushing and uses white chocolate for molds. I don't normally use the same white chocolate for centers as I do for shells as it doesn't make sense to pay $7 per lb to make a passion fruit ganache where the overwhelming taste will be passion fruit.

September 10, 2009

Ceviz,

I'm guessing I'm the chocolatier in question as I had my chocolates tested in a lab and they were free of bacteria and mold after 12 weeks. It was pretty expensive and would need to be done for each recipe but was needed for one of our large customers.

I don't add any preservatives but do use glucose and invert sugar. I never tasted the pieces but I know that in general the flavor is best for 3-4 weeks and then begins to weaken....it varies depending on the piece but that is my general observation. The preparation of the ganache and the ingredients is very important but I believe the storage of the piece after production is probably a bigger variable in the shelf life. If it is stored in an optimium environment, it will last much longer than say stored in a wholesalers location where the temperature is 74 degrees during the day and even higher at night.

Another factor to consider is the type of chocolate you use in the center. While white chocolate has a shorter shelf life than dark chocolate in its solid form, I believe it has a longer shelf life as the ganache base due to the increase in sugar content and the decrease in cream/water content in making the ganache. A caramel has a very long shelf life in general and you will see many prominent artisan chocolatiers with ganaches that in many ways more resemble a caramel. I also think one reason we got a long shelf life is that we "double" seal the bottom of the bon bon reducing the chance for air to get to the ganache. I believe it was in a class with Stephane Glacier where he said a good seal will prolong shelf life and so I try to make sure there is no thin shell or holes in the bottom of the bon bon.

There are some tricks (actually tools) that can increase shelf life that I have not seen discussed much here, namely a vacuum mixer. I think many chocolatiers consider its use a "competitive" edge and so it is not mentioned often. It's cost can be prohibitive but it can add a few weeks to shelf life which can be a significant gain if you go from 3-4 weeks to 5-6 weeks. One thing I also always do is reboil any steeped cream, I never allow it to sit out and cool then pour over chocolate. The only cases of mold we've ever had were 2 batches done when we steeped cream and then my intern poured it directly over the chocolate without reboiling. I've also often wondered if boiling cream in a microwave might have an impact on extending shelf life (although I'm sure it brings a host of other concerns). Also we never use a whisk or even a spatula to mix the ganache, we always finish it with an immersion blender or will use a vacuum mixer (in the near future).

Another factor to consider in the real (or rather retail) world is the rotation of product. I've seen people restock by filling the back and then continue to pull from the newest product leaving some aging product up front. If you sell to a wholesale account it is very difficult to manage this process. Temperature is a critical factor.....the way the lab accelerates testing for shelf life is to increase temperature. I'd guess that this probably impacts shelf life as much as the actual construction of the piece.

It would be interesting to do a study where multiple people use the same recipe and then test for shelf life while documenting other critical factors that might be overlooked such as:

1. Quality of ingredients: Did you buy your cream at a store that might not properly store it? Are you using the best ingredients or the cheapest?

2. Process: Film the process of making the ganache then compare to another person who used the same recipe and ingredients.

3. Environment: What is the temperature of your working kitchen? What is the humidity etc?

4. Chocolate used: Is there a difference in shelf life based on the brand of chocolate? Does tempered chocolate improve shelf life?

5. Cleanliness: How clean is your kitchen, how clean are you and your tools?

Just a few thoughts, I'm sure someone less sleep deprived could add more. I'm very interested in shelf life but it is of primary concern if you are wholesaling your product. My experience in 2 years is that our retail customers never have the chocolate long enough from time of purchase for any shelf life issues but our wholesale partners do sometimes have issues which often are more controlled by them rather than me. I'd also love to hear more thoughts on the subject.

August 24, 2009

I have a customer who wants a large (30") chocolate fish. My preference would be to buy a large mold rather than make it, if one is available. They are looking for a fish that could be used to make a chocolate trophy. Thanks.

July 29, 2009

Yes, I'd love to see the picture. Maybe I can just use the dried lavender as is.

Hi
There is a whole thread on candying petals. I bet it should be easy. Go back a page or two-Lana and I participated a lot- it is either her or my post. Oh and I make such a truffle but not with candied lavender just a plain lavender flower. I put 2-3 tiny flowers on top and it gives a ton of aroma and taste. I will show you a pic if you want.
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July 29, 2009

I have a customer who wants a lavender truffle topped with a candied lavender flower. I only have the dried lavender petals and wondered if anyone had a suggestion for candying them. Thanks. Bill

July 23, 2009

If they are painted molds (and I'll bet they are) and only the tops are leaving spots where the cocoa butter is not releasing from the mold it is probably a couple factors. (1) The ambient temperature of the room is too high and the chocolate is not crystalizing fast enough and contracting from the mold. (2) The shells are too thin. This could be related to the first problem as the heat of the chocolate tends to impact the top of the mold (in this case the bottom) when you have poured the chocolate in and it is crystalizing too slow. When you pour out the chocolate, the sides have begun to crystalize and are the proper thickness but the top is to thin.

I had this problem a lot before I opened the store and over time figured it out so I never have this issue. However, the guy working for me has the problem all the time and despite my showing him how to correct it...we still have a few problems per mold when he does it. To be fair, he was not a chocolatier and is a great employee and after working with the chocolate during cooler months and having everything work perfectly, it is confusing to all of a sudden have this problem.

I think I have the molds you are talking about but feel free to bring one down and we can test.

One thing that you can do to help is to only pour the shells during the coolest part of the day where you are working and then let them sit a bit longer than normal before scraping out the chocolate. After letting them sit for a few minutes inverted, put them in the refigerator to assure proper crystallization.

HOpe this helps.....See you next week. -Bill

You also might try "warming" the molds before depositing the chocolate into them, I've had the same experience as you and found a mold that's slightly warmer than room temp works better - One fellow I chatted with discussed putting the molds in a low temp oven, others suggest using a heat gun for a short period of time
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I've done this once or twice before and will probably try this tonight. Since I didn't have any trouble with any of my other molds, some of which are also new, I figured it was something about this particular shape that might have an issue.
Thanks for the tip.
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July 16, 2009

We have just started playing with making fruit caviar and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the shelf life is. I'm thinking it may be just a day or so but I'm not sure as we just made our first batch.

Any suggestions on how to keep it if there is more than a day for shelf life? Thanks. Bill

July 1, 2009

I was at Godiva yesterday and noticed they had acetate boxes that were only 5/8" in depth and they worked well with bon bons (no turning over). I've ordered from The Revere Group and a few others but their acetate boxes are always over 1" in depth. Does anyone have a source that makes clear acetate boxes in dimensions of 5/8" deep and about 1.5" wide and then varying lengths. Thanks. Bill

June 19, 2009

I took a class with him at Ewald Notter's school in Orlando. Was it worth it? YES!! I learned so much and had a blast. I'm seriously considering taking it again (but I'll probably take Schott's class instead).
Dan
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Same here, took a class at the Notter School. He is a living legend of our industry and one of the nicest people as well. You can learn a lot from the class but if you take questions about your own situation...he is a fountain of knowledge. He makes everything look so effortless...you can learn just watching his movements.

June 16, 2009

Hi All,
I bought a can of PCB colored cocoa butter, I tried to use it but the chocolate got stuck to the mold, I read the direction and it told me to warm up the can before using it, so I tried that as well and the same result.
How can I warm up the spray can and how do I know it is the right temperature???
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I bought a can recently and have used it to seal nougat bars. It seems to work and is cleaner than trying to brush on melted cocoa butter. Hope it is suppose to be used like this because it works well.

June 16, 2009

We had a great time at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon and so we will also be at the Seattle Chocolate Salon in July. Just wondering who else plans on attending...make sure to stop by and say hi. I'd love to meet some fellow egulleters in person.

June 14, 2009

It seems that no one has ever posted about making a ganache using a mojito flavoring. And I can find nothing in the major chocolate sources like Greweling, Recchuiti and Shotts. Plus I don't own Wybauw.
I have this current obsession with mojito and wonder if someone does have an idea of how to use it in a ganache.
On the other hand, perhaps there are no mojito ganache recipe for a good reason.
Thanks.
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I've wanted to do a mojito too and I think the best way to do it with so many flavors is 2 layers. I'd probably try a milk chocolate ganache infused with lime and a layer of white chocolate with the mint and rum. The milk chocolate will keep the lime from being too sweet and I think the white chocolate with mint will help bring out the mint flavor. It would be good to put some sugar on it as well as I love the sugar in a mojito. I'd love to hear how whatever you do comes out.

April 10, 2009

If you are actually going to interview be prepared like any interview. Many people don't realize that an interview is not just the employer's chance to ask questions but also the prospective employee's opportunity to ask questions. I always was a bit concerned when people had no questions, it seemed to me they just wanted a paycheck. Also...avoid questions about pay, that's best done after an offer is actually made.

If you have not gone in yet (I just noticed the date), take heart that part of the problem with the other applicants may actually be their experience. Unless it is a brand new bakery, there probably are already recipes/procedures and most likely the owner is looking for someone to follow directions and ensure consistency. I've had several employees who decided to add their own spin to my product and unless they ask me first, I find that type of experience/skill much more of a problem than someone who wants me to teach them exactly how I want things done.

Good luck and don't be shy about asking questions. Any good teacher is looking for a good student and wants to share their knowledge/experience. If you don't understand something, be sure to speak up as you will learn much more from your questions than from just listening.

Let us know how it went and what happens!

There is a local bakery in my town, and they are looking for a night baker. I applied and was upfront about not having any baking experience. They've gone through a couple more experienced applicants and they haven't worked out, so now they are down to me. They want me to come in tonight and work for a few hours "on the bench."
What does that mean??!! I am freaking out a little. I have food experience, but no baking. Any advice? Anything I should know going in?
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March 26, 2009

We went to the show (our first) and enjoyed it. My company is called William Dean Chocolates. The highlight was having Joseph Schmidt introduce himself to me and take me aside for a few minutes to talk, he was very complimentary and it was a great feeling to have a legend take notice of our work. We purposely didn't bring an inordinate number of samples as we wanted to get feedback from potential customers and not just be part of a chocolate "buffet". We had a great time and response and had sold out of everything by 3pm (except for a few of our 20 piece boxes). It was nice seeing a crowd that appreciates Pate de Fruit, we sold about 30 boxes in just a few hours and I wish my local customers had that same taste.

There were some really interesting companies with some unusual products, I wish I would have had more time to circulate. I missed Carole Bloom who was there and wish I could have met her.

As I mentioned it was our first show and we have a lot to learn but we were very happy with the response we received. There were some awards given and we were happy to be one of the winners. Here is the link to the awards if you want to see if you recognize anyone (egullets own Christopher Michael won 6 awards). SF Chocolate Salon Awards

January 15, 2009

One thing you can use for that effect is a rubber tipped brush used by artists. We use it in our shop and it will not scratch the mold. So you could pipe or airbrush a line of white then take a flat edge rubber brush and pull it through to scrape out the cocoa butter and reveal the mold so that the chocolate comes through.

However, i :wacko: t states the shell is white chocolate so it would be interesting to see if that dark line is cocoa butter or chocolate. That same effect is used on 5-6 other pieces and every one has the dark line revealed making me suspect it is chocolate that was piped and not cocoa butter.

In any case it is a neat look.

I did some chocolates for Valentine's day and I did use some piped chocolate into the molds then airbrushed etc. By mistake I scraped some of the chocolate piping out and left a nice neat line into the colored part, now my shells were of the same chocolate so it didnt make any difference, but if you like you could simply leave the gap that the chocolate piping created so whatever chocolate you use will show thru the gap.
Forgot to say that after you spray the color on the piped chocolate, it does creat a little bit of build up around the edges of the piping, it is kinda neat.
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So that might be the solution, pipe in a line, then spray - gotta try this next time I get the spray gun out.
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It looks more like it was brushed in than piped. The background image behind the photo of the chocolate is actually a close-up of the pattern. Looks like a little river of chocolate...
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