Culinary Muse

SOLD OUT Chocolate Success Story

Our ‘Chocolate Sundays’ at NOE KNIT continue to be a sold-out success. And why not? What could be better than sitting down at a table with a few other folks who share a passion for chocolate? There are so many more chocolate choices than there were just five years ago. With chocolate bars going for $6.00 each I knew that chocolate lovers needed a way to understand why they prefer one chocolate over another. The more information we have the better able we are to make informed decisions. And this goes for chocolate, too. You may know that you prefer dark chocolate but do you know if a 72% cacao content is just too high for you? 60% might be just perfect. How about mouth feel? Silky, quick melting or gritty? And is it time to give milk chocolate a chance?

After a brief explanation of how chocolate gets from the equator to us we learn how to taste five different chocolates using all five of our senses. We look, we touch, we listen, we smell, we chew. And then we discover amazing things. We discover that the chocolate from France is sophisticated and refined. A chocolate from Spain smells like coconut but tastes like brewed American coffee with too much sugar in it. And an American chocolate is not so great to eat out of hand but would probably make killer brownies.

If you would be interested in having the Muse host a chocolate tasting class for you and your friends just contact km@culinarymuse.com. What a great way to entertain guests at your next soiree or shower!

And a good time was had by all

What could be better on a cold and rainy Sunday than the warmth of new friends getting together to enjoy an afternoon of knitting and chocolate? Here was a group of like minded souls whose passion for knitting was surpassed (perhaps) only by their passion for chocolate. We tasted, we knitted, we tasted more, we finished a row, we laughed.

It was so clear by the end of our hour at NOE KNIT that the real connection between knitting and enjoying fine chocolate was really about mindfulness. Stopping and savoring each piece of chocolate to find out what secrets of terroir it held for us to uncover in the same way that we discover what secrets a skein of yarn reveals once knitted into a scarf or sweater.  But the best part of all was the discovery that any serious knitter also keeps a stash of chocolate in their knitting bag. Kindred spirits indeed!

CHOCOLATE SUNDAYS: A Chocolate and Knitting Event Announcement

You love to knit. You love chocolate. You are free on Sunday, March 12 at 1-2p.m. So what is stopping you from joining the Culinary Muse and Noe Knit for an hour of chocolate sampling? This chocolate primer will teach you how to taste chocolate and what to look for in a bar of real chocolate. Knit a row, taste an 87% dark chocolate, purl a row. Is there a better way to spend your time? Space is limited to 8 participants. Call NOE KNIT at 415.970.9750 to sign up. SOLD OUT. SECOND CLASS ADDED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 9.  CALL TODAY!

ANNOUNCING: THE CHOCOLATE KNITTING TOUR

Do you love chocolate?  Do you knit? Are you planning a visit San Francisco?  Join the Culinary Muse, Karletta Moniz, for a few hours devoted to your favorite past times – knitting and eating chocolate!

Here's a sample tour: Your day will start with, what else, hot chocolate and pastry.  While you sit back and knit you will learn about the differences between chocolates with a cocoa content of 70 per cent versus 64 per cent, the difference between a single-estate and single variety chocolate and what the names Forastero, Criollo and Trinitario relate to.

We will then travel to the San Francisco neighborhoods that tourists usually miss. At the best knitting shops you will be dazzled by the vast array of luxurious yarns and innovative patterns available to the urban knitter.

Each tour is private and limited to three persons. Cost $275.00 per person.  Contact me for further details on this day of bliss in the world’s most beautiful city.  It doesn’t get much better than this….

Karletta Moniz is a San Francisco based Food Consultant/Chef whose client list includes Disney, Earthbound Farms, Nestle, Kraft, Jamba Juice, Sunset Magazine and more.  Her recent introduction to the world of knitting has caused her to plunge head first into this magnificent obsession.