Chocolates with that showroom finish, 2004 - 2011

[YetiChocolates]

What I need is a book or resource that holds of on the recipes and focuses solely on the methods and techniques. Rodent have to be a massive encyclopedia, just a good reliable reference for when I'm experimenting and trying new things.

Well when you find that book, let me know, because to my knowledge, the only one that might be close is "Chocolate Decorations" by JP Wybauw and it's $850+ (in the states at least) if you want it translated into English. The German version Schokoladendekore is a lot cheaper (in the $80 range), but unless you know how to read German the pictures would probably be the only thing helpful.

I would say that if you are only interesting in methods and techniques then finding a class that focuses on just that would probably be your best bet.

[mostlylana]

So I've read through this thread probably 5 or 6 times in the past few years, and most of the comments have been really helpful, but I don't remember if this question was asked specifically so I'm gonna go out on a limb and ask it and hopefully won't get heckled by everyone for asking something that's already been asked

I recently got the half dome molds that Norman Love uses with most of his chocolates to create that beautiful cocoa butter shine. I picked up some colored cocoa butter from Chef Rubber, and decided to try the swirl technique that's talked about at the beginning of this thread. I did the white first, then the green, making sure to chill each one before doing the next and let the mold come back to room temp before adding the dark chocolate. The chocolate was in temper when I filled the molds, but I noticed right away that they weren't releasing like they should, when the other mold I filled was releasing just fine. I filled the chocolates, capped them, and they still weren't releasing. I put them in the fridge, and only a few came out unscathed, after probably 2-3 hours of fridge time most of them had big chunks of mostly green that stayed in the mold.

I guess the question I'm posing is whether it was because I didn't buff first (felt like I didn't need to since the molds were brand new), the cocoa butter was too thick, or did I get a little over zealous and poured the mold too quickly and it wasn't quite in temper i.e. should I let it sit a minute or two before I start shelling (as the other mold I shelled came out just fine, though it didn't have any colored cocoa butter, it was just a plain dark shell. Note I did hand temper the batch of chocolate, and I do remember giving the molds a quite rinse because the packaging materials it was shipped in was sticking to the molds. So maybe it was a buffing issue? Dang, what a silly mistake!

The other question is pertaining to a quote made earlier in the thread about molds being like cast iron pans and needing a good seasoning. Since these are brand new molds should I shell them with a chocolate before attempting a colored cocoa butter design to "season" them, or do you all feel that would be unnecessary?

I'm obviously not going to give up trying this, but I was hoping someone would see the error in my ways, as I'm a bit perplexed.

Yeti, I'm not an expert with cocoa butter but have done lots of research as I was having similar issues when using a spray gun. One thing that you are doing that most likely caused your outcome was chilling after each colour. Derek Tu Tan Phoo (I'm sure I've spelled that wrong!) from the Montreal Callebaut Academy told me that chilling such a thin layer of cocoa butter will cause it to turn from Beta 5 crystals (the good ones) to Beta 6 crystals. This will give you release problems. Just let set at room temp.

If your other mold without cocoa butter released just fine - it wasn't your temper. And not buffing the molds wouldn't lead to such drastic release problems. I'm sure that's not it. Another thing you want to make sure of is that your cocoa butter is in temper. People do this in different ways. Some heat slightly and shake. What you want to be careful of is heating too high and melting out all of the beta 5 crystals. I heat and pour out all of my cocoa butter colours when I get them and temper the whole thing by tabling. I then pour it onto parchment and let set. I break it all up and store the chards. When I want to use colour I melt out what I need and use some chards as seed. I do it this way for a couple of reasons... I don't use a lot of coloured cocoa butter so by keeping it solid it will last longer. Also, the cocoa butters I use are the Natural ones made with natural colours. They are sensitive to light, heat etc. so don't like being melted out all of the time. Also, by ensuring that I have the cocoa butter in temper, I haven't had any more release problems. Yay! I should note that when I temper, I do it at the very high end of the temper range as I know that I will be encouraging more crystal growth by spreading it around with my finger.

I have never had an issue with new molds. I wouldn't say 'seasoning' them is necessary but it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck

[Tri2Cook]

Well when you find that book, let me know, because to my knowledge, the only one that might be close is "Chocolate Decorations" by JP Wybauw and it's $850+ (in the states at least) if you want it translated into English.

$850? Are you sure about that? I'll have to check my books... I'm almost positive I have the English version in mint condition and, if I do, the first $100 can have it shipped to their door within Canada/U.S. I think I flipped through it once when I got it and haven't touched it since.

[YetiChocolates]

Well when you find that book, let me know, because to my knowledge, the only one that might be close is "Chocolate Decorations" by JP Wybauw and it's $850+ (in the states at least) if you want it translated into English.

$850? Are you sure about that? I'll have to check my books... I'm almost positive I have the English version in mint condition and, if I do, the first $100 can have it shipped to their door within Canada/U.S. I think I flipped through it once when I got it and haven't touched it since.

Well here's the price on Amazon

And here's the price on Alibris

Maybe the book is currently out of print in English and therefore the reason for the ridiculous price?

I haven't searched other places, say Powell's books for instance, but those two sites are usually my "goto" for books.

If I had $100 to spare I would buy that off of you in a heartbeat. Maybe after the holiday chocolate rush is over, if the coffers are a bit fat and you still have the book I'll hit you up for it

Edited November 30, 2011 by YetiChocolates (log)

[YetiChocolates]

Yeti, I'm not an expert with cocoa butter but have done lots of research as I was having similar issues when using a spray gun. One thing that you are doing that most likely caused your outcome was chilling after each colour. Derek Tu Tan Phoo (I'm sure I've spelled that wrong!) from the Montreal Callebaut Academy told me that chilling such a thin layer of cocoa butter will cause it to turn from Beta 5 crystals (the good ones) to Beta 6 crystals. This will give you release problems. Just let set at room temp.

If your other mold without cocoa butter released just fine - it wasn't your temper. And not buffing the molds wouldn't lead to such drastic release problems. I'm sure that's not it. Another thing you want to make sure of is that your cocoa butter is in temper. People do this in different ways. Some heat slightly and shake. What you want to be careful of is heating too high and melting out all of the beta 5 crystals. I heat and pour out all of my cocoa butter colours when I get them and temper the whole thing by tabling. I then pour it onto parchment and let set. I break it all up and store the chards. When I want to use colour I melt out what I need and use some chards as seed. I do it this way for a couple of reasons... I don't use a lot of coloured cocoa butter so by keeping it solid it will last longer. Also, the cocoa butters I use are the Natural ones made with natural colours. They are sensitive to light, heat etc. so don't like being melted out all of the time. Also, by ensuring that I have the cocoa butter in temper, I haven't had any more release problems. Yay! I should note that when I temper, I do it at the very high end of the temper range as I know that I will be encouraging more crystal growth by spreading it around with my finger.

I have never had an issue with new molds. I wouldn't say 'seasoning' them is necessary but it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice, I've worked with cocoa butter in the same way with some other molds I have with much better results. I think what might have been the cause is that I didn't let the mold come back to room temp. after putting it in the fridge before swirling the green in and that might have been the issue. I followed the same technique as before but making sure to let the molds come to room temp. before adding the next color and they released just fine. As for melting the cocoa butter, I don't currently have a microwave, so I just put the bottles of cocoa butter into warm/hot water to melt the outside layer and then shake it up to distribute and warm the rest of the cocoa butter, and it seems to be an alright method for now.

I appreciate the feedback though, as always, it's quite the learning curve we chocolatiers have to endure

[RobertM]

Just made these this weekend - the picture was taken with my iPhone - sorry for the less than stellar quality (of the picture - the truffles are amazing - even if I say so myself...)

[curls]

Bob, they look gorgeous! What are the flavors?

[Chocolot]

Wow, Bob. You are doing good work!!

[punk patissier]

i can get a copy for £60 pounds which i guess is about $120. Its alot but its getting rarer and rarer so im going to get one soon.

[RobertM]

Chocolot - your appreciation is of the highest honor I could imagine, THANK YOU

Curls - With the exception of the marbled ones, they are Cabernet Sauvignon from a local vintner. I was getting bored (and they gave me carte blanche to do my own thing). I made a caramel with their wine, then filled the mold 1/2 way with the wine caramel and then completed the truffle with the wine ganache - oh, yeah - I forgot, a tad bit of Fleur de Sel to just kick it off nicely). So, that's the surprise that awaits them in the marbled one -

Oh - and may I say - I'll be bringing those for a sample in March to the conference - they are darn yummy..........,

[punk patissier]

mate!!these are beautiful, and such great ideas for the filling.

Hope to see some more pics up very soon. Very inspiring.

Edited December 5, 2011 by punk patissier (log)

[punk patissier]

So......after about 2 years of trying, i finally have a job interview at Paul A Youngs chocolatier(google it) in London, England tomorrow. Its for an assistant job but il gladly start from the bottom and work up. Ive got expierience in chocolate thanks to Various chefs ive worked for/with but was wondering if anyone had any advice/quick revision tips or access to resources that could help me with some quick last minute revision? Ive done the ground work, got some pics of previous work ive done but any advice would be great. Ive a feeling i need to impress as jobs here are very few and far between and are also much sought after.

Cheers

Stu

[Manager note: The discussion continues in Chocolates with that Showroom Finish, 2012 - ]