Ask LA/OC Foodie #2: Chocolate / Wine Tastings?

Black Forest Cube at Red White + Bluezz

Bringing back the occasional (ask/stump) the blogger section. Got a food/beverage question for me? Email away! (note: I always ask for permission before blogging the questions, so no worries if you want to keep it private, just let me know when you ask.)

Dear LA/OC Foodie,

So I'm really trying to put together a nice day of culinary related surprises for my friend's birthday. She's a chef and I thought it would be really cool to go to a place that held wine tasting in tandem with chocolate as well. I've seen this has gotten some buzz as of late and am having a bitch of a time trying to track a place down. Any suggestions?!??? I's really appreciate the advice! ~ Susanna L.

Hi there Susanna,

Chocolate (actually, any dessert) and wine pairings are a hard find indeed - but there are a few places worth looking into; Providence and pretty sure Spago offers a dessert tasting menu with wines to match. You can call the restaurant beforehand to see if they can accomodate a "more chocolatey" tasting request. And if you don't mind ordering several desserts a la carte (essentially put together your own tasting), you should be fine in any restaurant with a decent dessert menu and an in-house sommelier to make pairing recommendations.

The only place I am aware of that does a chocolate + wine tasting is Red White & Bluezz in Pasadena, where you can pair a chocolate flight with one of their wine flights. Haven't done that there but from my previous visits the restaurant is pretty solid.

There are also a few chocolate-wine events too (obviously more casual). The Miele Design Center in Beverly Hills will be hosting a Chocolate, Cheese and Wine Tasting event on Oct. 24 ($55) featuring Valrhona chocolates (one of my favorite brands for cooking and snacking, by the way). Interestingly, Valrhona will also be featured in Surfas Market's "After Dark Series" where it will be paired with assorted wines too (it is on Nov. 15, no price announced yet). Finally, there's an upcoming LearnAboutWine.com course on that very topic on Nov. 30 for $60/person in advance. I've been to a few of their classes before and it is very fun and useful.

Hope that helps!

P.S./Update: The Miele Chocolate/Wine Tasting event has been sold out since I first responded to question.

Ask the LA/OC Foodie #1 - Where to Sell Chocolates in L.A.?

Ok, so I'm ripping off a concept that other L.A. food blogs have already started ~ but I'm definitely flattered to be considered a pseudo-expert in this field - and so I'll try to impart what knowledge I have and present to you the first (of hopefully many) ask LA/OC Foodie. (To readers -- feel free to add to this by commenting)

Dear LA/OC Foodie,

I found your blog while searching for chocolate shops in the LA area . . .

I am a chocolate maker (used to be a criminal defense lawyer for 20 years) and now make chocolate from scratch -- from the bean. I import the beans myself and travel myself to the origins. Then I profit share with the farmers.

My specialty is dark single origin chocolate bars; here's the Website

Why am I writing to you?

I was wondering if you could point me to some shops that I might call on to see if they would like to carry our bars in the LA area? There are two really cool places carrying our chocolate in San Francisco now but none in LA. Any ideas?

~Shawn

First off, hats off to you for career shift and pursuing something that's rewarding for the soul (and hopefully your wallet as well).

Anyways, I can think of a variety of venues in the LA area that may be of interest to you.

First thing that came to my mind is Surfas in Culver City, a restaurant supply shop that carries a wide variety of gourmet & exotic foodstuffs and has an awesome collection of novelty chocolates. They should be open to carrying your product.

Another place to consider is Mr. Marcel's Market in the Farmer's Market area (3rd & Fairfax) -- they too carry a lot of specialty foods. Their chocolates tend to be more European in origin, but never hurts to ask.

Also, you may want to consider Whole Foods and Wild Oats supermarkets. Yes, both are chains -- but each store seems to operate with a fair degree of independence (I've been pitched & sent releases for different events by the individual whole foods stores, and I know the Wild Oats in my area carries some foods that are locally made) so contacting the operation/marketing manager at the individual stores may be worth it.

Finally, if you really want to get hands-on in selling the product, give some thought to tabling/boothing at some of the (real) Farmer's Markets in the L.A. area (FarmerNet has a pretty comprehensive directory of the Farmer's Markets in Southern California, along with dates/locations and who to contact if you want to rent space). It's a great opportunity to really meet the people, and would probably help build a loyal customer base. You can also bring and distribute your own marketing materials, something that's not guaranteed at the other venues.

Anyways, hope that helps & wish you the best in expanding your market down South!


~H.C. (LA/OC Foodie)

Got more questions to lob at me? Go for it