Chocolot

@Jim D. Yes, I make a Maillard caramel for my cut caramels and a burnt sugar caramel for piping. I too am chicken when it comes to using my guitar to cut:). I use a large diameter roller knife. I really think the texture of the caramel is important to cut with guitar. Also, the exact final cook temp. I guess with practice, changing wires isn't so much of a problem?:). Great that some have figured how to do it without a lot of wire changing.

On the caramel issue more generally, do you also find that a few degrees makes all the difference in the world? Do you have trouble achieving consistency from batch to batch? I make Maillard caramels and take them to 232F at 5000 ft. French caramels I take to 244F plus. If my ingredients are consistent, so are my caramels.

That is a French caramel. You cook those to a higher temp than a Maillard. Cook 2F less than at sea level. In caramels, that is a big difference.

Jim, are you making a french caramel like Jean Maries, or a Maillard caramel? What is your altitude?

No idea:)

Another option for you is to use Costco gift cards. You don't have to be a member to use them. If you have friends or family that are members, have them buy gift cards for you. Also, my membership allows me two others to join for free.

I used to use honey all the time before finding invert. Only objection was too much "honey" flavor and cost.

You can use a propane torch to clean off cocoa butter and chocolate from marble or granite.

I like Glarus Gourmet. You get an ounce more for the same price as Chef Rubber. I am a proud owner of an EZ temper and I can tell you it is a game changer. Don't know what I did before I got one.

Didn't say. JMA had his in the spray room and it was HOT!! Thought that was strange.

Atelier Melissa Coppel. Beautiful facility. In the group photo, the arms in the back belong to our own Kerry Beal.

A visit to Jinju Chocolates, then a class with Jin at her kitchen. She is meticulous in her work. #jinju

Melissa put a piece of plastic wrap on her granite to place her used thermometer, spatulas and such so they didn't get the granite messed up. I think she wiped with damp cloth first so it stayed in place. i also learned that some chocolatiers alphabetize their flavorings:)

If I don't put these down, I will forget. When you have chocolate left in a bowl after scraping, pop it in the freezer for a few minutes. That releases the chocolate so you can reuse, but also keeps it from going down the drain. Don't leave in too long or it will pick up moisture.

Someone correct me, but I didn't see any of them temper the cb. They just put the bottle in the freezer for a few minutes until it was at the right temp. 32C ?