Forum Activity for @Matt Caputo

Valrhona Chuao 2002

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Olorin,I can answer at least part of your question. The Valrhona 2002 is indeed from that year's harvest. It was one of the last years it was available to them. Before Amedei gained control of all of it, which they no longer have. I stock piled many many cases of this bar in my store and sold it at a premium until it ran out earlier this year.I stored it very carefully so there was no issue with bloom and it was fantastic. WHERE DID YOU GET IT!?! I would kill for some more. Not because it is my favorite necessarily, but for novelty's sake I need it for my own collection. I forgot to pull some off my shelves for myself before it ran out. I know Chocosphere had some, but I have begged Jerry for more and he assured me it was gone.Thanks,Matt

Valrhona Chuao 2002

Posted in: Tasting Notes

In the UK I've been told (by the Trading Standards people) that I have to have a "Best before" date on the chocolate I'm making. I asked how it was best determined and they suggested I copy what other chocolate makers do! They agreed that this isn't particularly rational but doubted that an exception could be made.Duffy

Valrhona Chuao 2002

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I'm currently tasting and reviewing a Valrhona Chuao 2002 bar, but I've got several questions.1) Why is it named "2002"? Is this for the year the beans were harvested? Is this really true or is it a marketing ploy?2) The package says "Made by 01-2004" which seems to indicate that the bar was made by January 2004. Was it? If so, how is it still good almost 6 years later? and if this bar can age so well, why do most bars have a "Good before" date on them?3) I know that Valrhona made the first Chuao bar, but then Amedei acquired the exclusive rights to the beans. I'm just wondering where Valrhona got their beans for this bar (and even when). I suppose from the same source that Bonnat uses for their Chuao. Hans-Peter Rot delves into this mystery in a blog article at Cocoa Content . (I think the article is at The Nibble too.) Casey also touches on it with an article on Chuao in her blog The Chocolate Note . Does anyone have any more information on how Valrhona got these magic Chuao beans?And here's my personal rating of my enjoyment of these 3 Chuao bars:Amedei 10. This is still my #1 favorite of over 360 bars that I've reviewed. Sublime.Bonnat 7. It didn't even taste like the same beans.Valrhona 6. At 65% the flavor profile is seriously dampened. This is still my favorite Valrhona bar, but I'm not a very big Valrhona fan.
updated by @ChocoFiles: 04/11/15 16:20:33

chocolate factory

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Many Thanks.

chocolate factory

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

I really like the chai and salty caramel flavours. The chuao is really good but theyre $3.75 each. You could also try Les chocolats de Chlo (really funny website: http://www.leschocolatsdechloe.com/ ) and try the chili/cayenne hot chocolate at Suite 88 ( http://www.suite88.com/en/ ). Enjoy Montreal!

chocolate factory

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Hi,I will be in Montreal next week. Can you suggest what to get in her store? Are the chuao line worth the money? Any other near by choco places to visit? Thanks a lot.

chocolate factory

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Im a big choco-o-lic and I made my dream comes true by visiting a chocolate factory. Have a look at Genevieve Granbois chocolates one of the best chocolate maker in Montral http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Epicurean-Life/Genevieve-Granbois-and-the-Chocolate-Factory
updated by @katerine rollet: 04/11/15 06:12:02

Sugar FREE Chocolate Recipes?

Posted in: Recipes

Hi i need some sugar free chocolate recipes, as i only eat sugar free chocolate.sugarfreefood.biz
updated by @leon leou: 04/13/15 10:09:42

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Bud,Thanks for the suggestion. I assumed their food service stuff was considerably more expensive. I will check it out.Also, I am a direct importer of Amedei and can supply you if you can't find anybody else. Among numerous other retail accounts, I supply Chocolatier Blue who uses nothing but Amedei. He uses roughly two hundred kilos per month so I get Amedei's best distributor pricing.Best,Matt
updated by @Matt Caputo: 09/09/15 23:16:09

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Michel Cluizel (noble ingredients) has some nice chocolate and they are in that same price range. It's a drag that Amedei shut down their New York office as I use some of theirs for a couple truffles.

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Mr. Can,I would love some samples. However, please be aware that I am known for brutal honesty. Once I get the samples and a price list you will hear from me if I like them. Otherwise, only ask me for my opinion if you really want it. You can contact me at caputo (dot) matt (at) g mailThanks,Matt

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Dear Matt,As OYAL Import & Export, I work as the export department of one of Turkey's top quality chocolate manufacturers, Efes Chocolate.Please visit their website www.efescikolata.com.tr to have a look at their products (you may need to translate it through google to understand).They offer a selection of compound and real chocolates consisting of tablets, madeleines, dragees, coated dragees, bars, couvertures, ganaches, chocolate chips, pralines, cocoa powders, ice-cream dipping sauce, fillings and more...I can also send you samples for you to compare the taste with Valrhona.- Muhittin Can

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Hi. Yes. I have a little confectionery and shop in Portland, Oregon. We use the Bolivian primarily for our Chloe ganache and for our chocolate drinks. It is well rounded but still interesting and very "chocolatey" all over your mouth which makes for a nice hot chocolate. The dominican we use for a S.O.truffle. Both are easy to work with and fairly "consistant". I love Valrhona, too. I gotta say. Pleasure to work with and I like their Grand Crus.

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Thanks Sarah. What have you used it for? Are you in the industry?

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Just wanted to second the recomendation for Felchlin. I really like the Bolivian 68% (Cru sauvage) for a well-rounded "chocolatey" flavor. Also like the Hacienda el vesia (Dominican 74).

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

We are banging on all cylinders here. I will find the time after the New Year. Happy fourth quarter!

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Hi Matt,We are looking for more retailers. We are launching a brand new website in about 30 days which should support our retailers better. Our sales manager is Mike Zwiebach. He can be reached at 415-456-3311 x 118 during normal business hours in California. He would be happy to discuss with you the possibilities of supporting your customers with something unique, exciting, and unusual. He is happy to send out some free samples.Steve

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Steve,Trying to sell these pastry chefs on raw product would be like trying to push move a mountain with my bare hands. So much of how they and their customers perceive the flavors of cacao has to do with the heavy roast. This is not a challenge I am up for right now.However, I checked out your website and was intrigued by many of your products, are you looking for retailers? We are more gourmet than natural, but I am always looking for new ways for my customers to experience the flavors of cacao.Thanks again,Matt

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

We can do a raw couverture too at a slightly higher price. All depends on volume.

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Possibly. Depends on volume commitment.

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Clay,Too kind of you. Please do put me in touch with Mr. Bauman. I would love to try his products and we are already a sub-distributor for Atalanta. We ship their stuff out of New Jersey so hopefully they can combine our orders. Please let me know how I can get in touch with him, the Intermountain West is DYING for decent product at a reasonable price. Because of the way Valrhona is distributed here even large users of Valrhona such as Jean Georges restaurant are paying over $11/lb. They are aware of the much lower prices in other markets and are all telling me how fed up they are and willing to try something else.While Valrhona lets us distribute its retail product, they will not allow us to do so with food service. I am friends with their retail National Sales Manager, Heidi Tancredi and I have told her how much business they are losing, that I would love to solve that problem for them, etc., etc. However, they are worried about upsetting European Imports and/or Paris Gourmet, even though they can't get product here for less than $11/lb.Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.Best,Matt

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Matt:Swiss Chalet/SAIL (Swiss American Imports Limited) handles Felchlin in the US and they have distribution centers in Florida (where they are headquartered) in the NE (New Jersey) and in LA - at least. I am fairly confident that Felchlin is not looking for another importer, but there is no reason why you can't become a sub-distributor of Felchlin products through Swiss Chalet/SAIL. Yes, Atalanta did purchase them but is pretty much leaving them alone to do what they do. If you like, I can introduce you to Hans Bauman who can set you up.::: Clay

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Clay,Thanks for the response. I will definitely try Felchlin again. It has been years and my taste for chocolate has definitely matured. Do you happen to know who the importer is or who I could contact to find out if they would like a new importer in the Intermountain West? I believe it may be Swiss Chalet who I think got bought up by Atalanta.Best,Matt

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

No. I am going to be wholesaling to chefs who need a finished product. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Matt:Have you tried any of the Felchlin products? Most people only know about the Grand Cru line, which is on par with Valrhona in terms of cost, but there is also a less expensive line that many top chocolatiers use for the bulk of production, reserving the Grand Cru for special pieces. Many of them will also do a slight bit of blending, opting to put a more flavorful chocolate into something that needs to be kicked up. So, adding a small amount of a conched liquor to a 55% may get you 65%-75% but you control the intensity.:: Clay

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Steve:You have a raw liquor that sells for under $10/lb wholesale?:: Clay

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Would you consider a raw liquor?

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

Hey Robert, Thanks for you response. I have tried Amedei, Pralus, Domori, Amano and they are all excellent but considerably more expensive. Beyond things in that price range I cannot seem to find anything with decent cacao flavor. I find Callebaut flavorless other than vanilla, Guittard seems a little too flat. Anything you really like not over $10/lb wholesale?

Does anyone know of a bulk choc. as good as Valrhona in the same general $ range?

Posted in: Opinion

I am trying to find a brand to use in bulk in the same general price range as Valrhona, but of the same quality. Everything I have tried so far is either WAY worse or WAY more expensive. Any help would be great.
updated by @Matt Caputo: 04/11/15 02:19:40

facts about the broma process

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

This topic has been closed for further discussion. There is another discussion on this topic by this author and any contributions should be added there.

facts about the broma process

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

hello y'all on chocolate life. Am still working on the broma process and still have some problems i would like to share with you. I would like to know the temperature at which the extraction process is best carried out. the the kind the of material best used for the bag in which the grinded cocoa is hanged in. captainken1@ymail.com
updated by @kenneth mensah: 04/11/25 09:27:36

Giving Thanks to Chocolate ...

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I definitely made it a chocolate fall feast day! Mole yes, this was/is still on hand, wonderful mole chili at this time. I have made mole from scratch a number of times now, and feel I am finally starting to get good at this. It is a lot of fun to make, and it's a very powerful and delicious sauce, with many uses. For this latest one I used only guajillo and chipotle peppers, the time before it was ancho, guajillo, New Mexico, pasilla, and chipotle. This time I used a little more chocolate than usual, normally it's about 2-3 oz for the size of recipe that I normally make, but I used 4.5 oz this time. I was thinking of putting the latest recipe on my blog, maybe I will do that and post here after I've published it. The chocolate used this time was a combination of 91% and 63% from Cacaoyere. Last time I used Felchlin Dominican Republic, that's right I don't spare and go straight for the good stuff, ha ha. I used extra red tomatoes this time, and the last time I omitted these entirely, but increased the tomatillos. There are so many ways to make mole. Here is an interesting article about mole from NY Times, and below a couple of good recipe links to get started. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A24738636 http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum1/8687_this_on_is_complicate ... http://jugalbandi.info/2007/11/when-chilli-meets-chocolate-vegetari ...For dessert, a chocolate pumpkin pie. I made this using a blend of chocolates from Pralus, Bonnat, El Rey, Valrhona, and Slitti. What I did was simply prebake the crust a few minutes, then put a layer of the melted blend onto the bottom and up the sides of the crust. I poured the pumpkin filling right over the melted chocolate, without waiting for it to cool, then finished baking, then added a layer of the melted chocolate to the top of the pie. The chocolate cooled and made pretty smooth layers on top and bottom, for a taste and visual contrast between the pumpkin and the chocolate. It turned out delicious. If you want to try this, make sure you don't put the chocolate on the bottom layer all the way to the top, any chocolate not covered by pumpkin will of course burn!

Giving Thanks to Chocolate ...

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Tomorrow is Turkey Day and I wonder how many of us are incorporating chocolate into our plans to celebrate.Not many people know that the turkey is native to the New World. In fact there is a chance that the Pilgrims when they crossed the Atlantic brought with them turkeys descended from birds transported to Spain, re-introducing them into a part of the Americas where they were not common.The dish we call mole poblano is these days routinely made with chicken but more traditionally is made with turkey. In fact, mole poblano is a modern dish that post-dates the arrivals of the Spanish in Central America. In an authentic mole poblano there are about a dozen ingredients that did not originate in the New World.Mole is a word that means "mixture" and there is a collection on traditional moles from Oaxaca (including amarillo, verde, negro, and rojo) in addition to poblano. The mole most commonly consumed in the US is probably guacamole - or avocado mixture.I have a jar of some amazing mole from Mexico that I am going to be offering my guests tomorrow to accompany our turkey. There will be three sauces, actually. A straight mole, a straight turkey gravy, and a creole sauce where I will add some of the mole to the straight turkey gravy.How you all of you? Will you be celebrating (or did you celebrate) Thanksgiving with chocolate?Yours in pursuit of The ChocolateLife. Enjoy!:: Clay
updated by @Clay Gordon: 04/10/15 16:15:36

How to reduce your cost in chocolate packaging

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi All,Every Chocolate maker want to have their cost down, but have you tried to have your packaging boxes made in China? Actually, you will save even more than 50% comparing with purchasing that in your homeland.Winway is a printing factory from Guangzhou China specialized in various kind of paper boxes, gift boxes, display boxes, PVC boxes, paper bags, catalogs, labels, stickers and tags. Winway's packaging products are export worldwide, and we gain good reputation from our oversea clients on attractive price & & guaranteed quality & professional service. Know more about us, please visit our website at www.winwaypackaging.com .Feel free to contact us( sales@winwaypackaging.com), all your enquiries will be replied within 48hours.Thanks for your stop.JennySales Director
updated by @Jenny Zhan: 04/11/25 09:27:36

Another Excuse to Eat Chocolate Single-origin candy bars by James Norton, Chow.com

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Single origin has long been a sexy marketing term for fancy foodthe idea of the ingredients coming from one place, and reflecting the terroir of that place, has spread into coffee, tea, and even flavored syrups.Aequare Fine Chocolates single-origin-concept candy bars are made from Ecuadoran chocolate and cost $4 for a small bar a price a surprisingly large number of people are willing to pay, according to consumer trend reports.That said, the single origin label on the bars is a bit mysterious. Some chocolate companies use the term to refer to beans harvested from a single plantation. Others use it to mean that their beans are from a single region or, in the loosest interpretation, a single country. In any case, saying somethings single origin is no guarantee of quality but does speak to an interest on the part of the producer to market to people who want to know where their food is from.According to Aequare, the companys bars are single origin in that the beans can be sourced to the Los Ros region of Ecuador; the 70 percent bars are made from beans that come from two farms within 15 miles of each other, run by the same farmer.But Aequares 55 percent bars are actually a blend of Ecuadoran Arriba and CCN-51 chocolate, the latter of which is often perceived as lesser quality.Jeff Stern, the brands chef-owner, says he cannot be dictating specs to the grower for the blends I might want because I dont have that kind of purchasing power to dictate formulas.Regardless of origin concerns, the bars taste delicious. The 55% Single Origin Bar has a wonderful but not overdone sweetness, with a touch of honeylike flavor at the backI think it would appeal to unreformed Hersheys-lovers and chocolate snobs alike. The 70% Single Origin Bar has a nutty warmth without any dryness or other unpleasantly austere sensations (bitterness, chalkiness) that sometimes crop up at higher percentages.The lemongrass-flavored bar offers only a slight hint of citrus until the end, at which point theres a clean and clear bolt of lemongrass. And the mandarin orange variety, easily a train wreck in the making, is a bit goofy but ultimately pleasing, like a gourmet version of the Christmas whack-an-orange, firm but not aggressive in its citric aftertaste. Pulling off a straight-up high-intensity chocolate bar is an achievement, but doing it with added flavors is quite an accomplishment.Original story at: http://www.chow.com/stories/11967
updated by @Jeff Stern: 12/13/24 12:16:07

Closer Connection: Chocolate buyer to Farmer??

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Yes, Jeff,If , by "how they implement the model" you mean the Askinosie model, that has already been implemented and Shawn does travel to the country of origin, seeks out the grower and buys beans from him. I have never heard of a coop being involved in his business transaction.From the photos on Askinosie web site, he then delivers a check to the grower representing a percent of profits from the sale of chocolate bars made from the grower's beans.Is it profitable to the manufacturer ? I have never looked at Askinosie's books to see if in the long run the company is making money. It does seem like a lot of work and travel for very small scale production.You're right, post harvest pre-shipment treatment of the farm product is crucial to the relationship.Quality control, especially fermenting must be difficult to ensure. I think this is what the students are now evaluating in the African project.I also will be watching this story as I have an interest in Panama beans for my own plan.

Closer Connection: Chocolate buyer to Farmer??

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

This is an interesting model that I find challenging to implement, unless one is buying large quantities of beans (several tons or even containers at a time). Some small producers are organized into cooperatives, allowing them to consolidate their production to meet volume. However, at least here in Ecuador, most small producer still sell to "patios" or brokers who consolidate harvests from surrounding areas, and in turn sell beans on either directly to large MNCs (who often have theiro own buyers/brokers on the ground in-country), or to large commodity firms who then sell on to the major players.It's tough to buy directly from a cooperative or association of producers for shipment overseas unless they already have the infrastructure and logistics system in place to get the beans all the way to your door. I say tough because you need infrastructure to consolidate all those beans, pack them in a container, and ship them, along with all the logistics management. I say tough but not impossible, though (and again, I speak for Ecuador), most co-ops or associations don't have the capacity to do this. Kallari has been the one exception, but only because of generous financial and technical support. In some countries, you may even need an export company set up to export the beans, since commodities are often regulated by the state.Another model, which we use, is to buy directly from the farmer on the ground. We also have special circumstances that make this possible. First of all, we are here in a cocoa growing country. We work with one single farmer who has large production, and is able to manage everything from harvest to processing of the cacao into chocolate in-country. He charges a premium for high quality beans, as well as a premium for the chocolate he produces locally. In turn, these premiums allow him to provide such things as trained staff on hand for medical care, decent worker conditions, etc. One advantage of buying from a large grower is that we know all the beans are properly fermented post-harvest and treated properly throughout the entire production process. When buying from cooperatives or other associations, there can be differences in post-harvest processing from farm to farm, which can hurt quality. It's expensive and impractical to have someone on the ground year round, or even only at harvest time, to make sure quality controls are in place for beans sourced from a number of farms.I will watch this story closely and look forward to seeing how they end up implementing the model.

Closer Connection: Chocolate buyer to Farmer??

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Now were talkinYoung people in the Midwest, U.S. are asked to research cocoa production in Africa for a new project by Askinosie Chocolate Company.In todays issue (Nov 23rd, 2009) http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911230361 of the Springfield, Missouri News Leader, there is a discussion about the Cocoa Honors project sponsored by Shawn Askinosie asking high school and college students to assist him in selecting an African nation to be the source of cocoa beans for a new Askinosie bar. He expects it will take about a year and a half for the vetting process.A very important point in this article IMHO (besides the great idea of involving U.S. students in the research) is the attempt to ensure that the farmer (cacao grower) actually receives some of the profits directly from Askinosies sales of the new bar. How this is actually accomplished is a major thrust of the chocolate companys research and business model.Ive heard that at the Net Impact conference held recently at Cornell Univ. a speaker from Sustainable Harvest Coffee ( http://sustainableharvest.com/our_model ) said that they are also looking into chocolate as a commodity to which they can apply their relationship marketing.Should we expect to see more small chocolate manufacturers and importers connecting the end consumer with the grower : more or less face-to-face?
updated by @Frank Schmidt: 12/13/24 12:16:07

Candy bar wrappers

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Hi!!Have a look here. I hope you have luck!!! http://www.chocolatetin.com/store/category/by-brand_hersheys/

Candy bar wrappers

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Thanks for the tip Richard, I didn't even think of trying that. Happy Holidays!

Candy bar wrappers

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Have you tired contacting a local print shop? A lot them do food packaging or can tell you where to look for such paper. You may also want to try an xpdex retail store . It's a giant paper retailer, but in the walk in stores you don't have to buy huge quantities of a single type.

Candy bar wrappers

Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)

Ms Zhan has been asked NOT to solicit business in the fashion that she has been - essentially spamming members and conversations where the topic of packaging is mentioned WITH EXACTLY THE SAME BOILERPLATE MESSAGE that actually did not add anything to the topic being discussed.If she had only done this once or twice, maybe it would be okay. But it was many more times than that in a very short period of time, nearly completely filling the current activity list on the home page.If any member is interested in following up, please visit Ms Zhan's profile page and/or Friend her and correspond privately.If you have a business and want to reach ChocolateLife.com members this way, advertising and sponsorship programs are available that will enable you to do the job more effectively while supporting the community and not creating any ill will.Thanks in advance for your understanding on this mattter,:: Clay