CHOCOLATE WALKS: THE PEARL & LAKE OSWEGO
There is still room on our upcoming Pearl (August 21st) and Lake Oswego (September 11th) walks. Keep these fun and informative programs in mind for you and your chocolate loving friends and guests that may be visiting this summer. It's a great way to explore the nooks and crannies of Metro neighborhoods. For registration details, and to take a peek at the rest of our 2010 dates, please go to this page.
CHOCO-WORD OF THE MONTH: HAYSTACKS
Haystacks are confectionary piles of toasted coconut covered in milk or dark chocolate. Here in Oregon you can go to several chocolate shops in the coastal town of Cannon Beach, about 80 miles west of Portland, to sample these 2-bite mouthwatering morsels. Over a mile from this beautiful, quaint town there is another kind of haystack. This monolith, or sea stack to be more exact, is 235 feet high. It is the third tallest intertidal object in the world, which means when the tide is right you can walk out to it.Here is a unique image of this geological icon of the Oregon coast by California photographer Peter Greenberg.
Be sure to click on one of the two bottom photos to better view the almost surreal view of this landmark. When in Cannon Beach, be sure to enjoy both types of haystacks-edible and geological!
NExt PORTLAND CHOCOLATE LOVERS MEETUP
If you live in the Portland, Oregon area, love meeting fellow food enthusiasts, and want to discover new and exciting chocolate in all forms, then please join us. We meet monthly for a chocolate outing and friendship. Our next event, on August 28th, will be an afternoon of international summer "chocolating" in the Rose City. Visit Verdun Fine Chocolate & Gifts, an elegant Lebanese chocolate shop, Nuvrei Pastries, a popular French bakery, and Festa Italia at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Find out more meetup information here.
CHOCOLATE CHUCKLE OF THE MONTH
"This guy found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and (Poof!) out popped a genie, and he gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and (Poof!) there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and (Poof!) there was a convertible. And then he wished he could be irresistible to all women, and (Poof!) he was transformed into… a box of chocolates!" Source Unknown
WE NEED YOUR HELP ON YELP!
Have you been on one of our chocolate walks since we began offering them in October of 2007? Do you enjoy reading our newsletter and blog? Then we need your help on YELP, the San Francisco-based local business search and user review website. We've listed Portland Chocolate Walking & Tasting Tours and after August 31st, you can add comments about your experiences. We'd love your help in getting the word out about our programs. Just go to this link and put in Portland Chocolate Walking & Tasting Tours. Thanks in advance!
CHOCOLATE QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Chocolate is not only pleasant of taste, but it's a veritable balm of the mouth, for the maintaining of all glands and humors in a good state of health." Stephani Blancardi, Italian physician (1650-1702)
Hedge Funds & Hedge Hogs
There are many factors that affect the world's supply of cacao commodity beans: weather patterns, fungal infections, cocoa prices, and production. Last month, another one was added to the mix: hedge funds. Check our blog post on this recent development in the world of cacao. |