Theonistas Unite!

SHOPPING & CHOCOLATE

Fremont Universe wrote a little post about how some local Fremont businesses & Theo Chocolate were featured in the recent issue of Domino Magazine.

BREAD & CHOCOLATE

chocablog wrote a great post about our 3400 Phinney bread & chocolate bar (which happens to be one of my personal favorites!). If you haven't tried it yet, I HIGHLY recommend you do so immediately.

CHOCOLATE AS COMFORT

The American Feast blog wrote a post about Seven Healthy Comfort Foods for Anxious Times Theo Chocolate is on the list. Feelng anxious? Stock up on some of your favorite Theo bars!

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

We are honored and proud to have been voted The BEST chocolate, by Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington. Thank You to everyone who voted!!

THE SCIENCE OF CHOCOLATE

This past weekend we taught thousands of people how to make chocolate at the Pacific Science Center. Theo Chocolate's Nathan and Autumn looked awesome in their lab coats! We roasted nibs to perfume the air with the intoxicating scent of cacao and let participants grind the beans in the mortar and pedestal.

Also, for all you "cacaoheads" out there, there are two young theobroma cacao trees in the butterfly room with beautiful blooming flowers. We encourage everyone to go and visit.

THEO FAN MAIL

Our head roaster Nathan shared a fan letter he received via snail mail all the way from Leesburg, Virginia recently, and I would like to share an excerpt with you:

"Theo story of the week... I have bought quite a few Venezuela bars since my time in Seattle. I have yet been able to break the bar into 6 neat pieces according to the indention's on the bar. Last week I feel like I had some kind of small victory in my life... I broke the bar into 6 perfect little baby bars! If I died today I think I would feel OK with how my life has turned out."

We are so happy to been a small part of this monumental victory!

IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO START A REVOLUTION

An excellent video about organic food: The Organic Debate

UPCOMING EVENTS at THEO & AWAY

We are thrilled and excited to offer you lots of fabulous fall and wonderful winter events over the next few months.If any of these event appeals to you, be sure and contact us for more information, or to reserve your spot!

NOVEMBER 14 @ 8pm
COZY MOVIE NIGHT
We will be showing the sexy movie, Chocolat, and serving up hot chocolate and snacks. Bring some pillows to curl up by the fire.
$15 per person (call 206.632.5100 for reservations)

NOVEMBER 15 @ 11am
GANACHE DEMONSTRATION
Have you ever wondered what ganache is or how it is made? Then this demonstration is for you! Our head chocolatier Autumn Martin will steward you through the entire process of our ganache making from flavor development to decorating!
$20 per person (call 206.632.5100 for reservations)

NOVEMBER 20 @ 6:30-8pm
WINE & CHOCOLATE
Come and taste amazing wine & chocolate pairings with an innovative approach presented by Pike and Western Wine shop. Please call Pike & Western 206.441.1307 for reservations.
$40 per person

NOVEMBER 22 @ 1-4 pm
NORTHWEST WINE & CHOCOLATE
We will be doing a Theo Chocolate and northwest wine pairing event at Alexandria Nicole Cellars, in Woodinville. Please call 509.786.3497 for more information.

DECEMBER 6 @ 11am-4pm
CONFECTION WORKSHOP
Have you been interested in making your own chocolate confections for holiday gifts or as a treat just for you? We invite you to spend the day with our head chocolatier, Autumn Martin for a hands-on confection making class. You will learn how to make ganache, temper chocolate and enrobe the fillings!  We will explore different methods for decorating and wrapping your delicious creations and you will walk away with the fruits of your labor! All materials and light snacks are included. Space is limited so make your reservation soon!
$125 (call 206.632.5100 for reservations)

DECEMBER 11 @ 6:30-8pm
CHEESE & CHOCOLATE
Who knew? These two decadent foods are complex and wide ranging in flavor profiles but we have discovered some pairings that will inspire sensory shock waves. The experts from Delaurenti’s superb cheese department will help guide us through a revelatory tasting.
$25 per person (call 206.632.5100 for reservations)

DECEMBER 15 @ 6-9pm
THEO SOCIAL & SALE
Theo will be staying open late to accommodate your last minute shopping needs. Come and take advantage of some very special sale prices, while enjoying complimentary samples of our signature sipping chocolate. No reservations necessary, just come on by!

DECEMBER 19 @ 6:30-8pm
PORT & CHOCOLATE
Come and enjoy port and chocolate by candlelight. This evening will bring a warm glow to your cheeks and tummy as we enjoy 4 styles of this wintry favorite: Ruby, Tawny, Late Bottled Vintage and Vintage.
$40 per person (call 206.632.5100 for reservations)

JANUARY 3 @ TBA
THE BIG ROAST
Caffe Vita and Theo Chocolate will take you through the roasting of cacao and coffee so you can intimately experience how flavor develops in the bean. We will also be celebrating the release of a complex new custom coffee. Details still evolving but SAVE THE DATE for this unique insider experience.

EVENTS AWAY FROM THE FACTORY

OCTOBER 25th & 26th
Tricks, Treats and Science Feats
Pacific Science Center • Seattle, WA

NOVEMBER 1st
Vegetarian Food Festival
Reggie Lewis Athletic Center • Boston, MA

NOVEMBER 5th
Seductive Chocolate Supper Cooking Class
Whole Foods Roosevelt Square • Seattle, WA

NOVEMBER 8th & 9th
Green Festival
Washington DC Convention Center • Washington DC

NOVEMBER 8th, 9th & 10th
Chocolate Show
Pier 94 • NYC

NOVEMBER 14th,15th & 16th
Green Festival
SF Concourse Exhibition Center• San Francisco, CA

DECEMBER 13th
Eco Gift Expo
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium • Santa Monica, CA

GREEN GIFTING

We made it onto the ecosalon blog post about green gift ideas, we are proud to be amongst the many wonderful gift suggestions they compiled.

NEW CHOCOLATE UNIVERSITY CLASSES

For all of you who have graduated from our first 3 sections of Chocolate University. We are excited to announce the new advanced series. Are you ready to take it to the next level?

Chocolate 301
The History of Chocolate
From Currency and Conquest to Sweet Confection
Hosted by Dr Kristy Leissle
October 9th, 6-8pm

In their various uses across cultures and time, cocoa and chocolate have had a long, spicy, and oftentimes turbulent history. We begin our discussion with the Latin American origins of cocoa as a food and its various uses in Mayan and Aztec culture, including its role in conquest and ritual. We then investigate chocolate's introduction and adoption into European cuisine and the dramatic changes in chocolate manufacture and trade that accompanied rising European demand, which led to many of the confection styles and flavorings we still enjoy today.

Chocolate 302
Focus on West Africa
The Culture of Chocolate among Cocoa Farmers
Hosted by Dr Kristy Leissle
October 22nd, 6-8pm

With origin bars from Ghana and Ivory Coast, Theo celebrates the importance of West Africa to the chocolate industry. As the world's largest cocoa producing region, West Africa has a vibrant culture and politics around cocoa and chocolate. We examine cocoa's introduction to Ghana and that country's incredible rise in production, as well as present-day cocoa husbandry in the region, including women's important roles in farming. Our discussion then explores the fascinating cultural meanings of chocolate in Ghana and its role as a food among the farmers who grow so much of our cocoa.

Contact us for more information, or to register.

 
Coming Soon! FALL CHOCOLATE CLASSES
Chocolatier Autumn Martin will be teaching some "chocolate how-to" classes this Fall/Winter. Please stay tuned for the schedule in our next newsletter.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!

Hey Everybody!

Theo Chocolate has been nominated for Evening Magazine's 16th Annual Best of Western Washington
VOTE for YOUR favorite chocolate HERE!

NEW & LIMITED

NEW SEASONAL CONFECTION FLAVORS
We are excited to introduce two new confection flavors for fall. We have said farewell to basil, jasmine, and lime coriander until next summer and we are welcoming in Pear Balsamic and Chinese 5 Spice.

Pear Balsamic
A tantalizing combination of juicy pear pate de fruit-made with fresh, organic Washington Bartlett pears-and tangy balsamic vinegar dark chocolate ganache. A feast for the senses! It is enrobed in milk chocolate.

Chinese 5 Spice
Infused with the intriguing Chinese combination of star anise, fagara, fennel, clove, and cassia. It gets a spicy kick from African cayenne and is garnished with a flourish of Chinese chile. POW!

LIMITED EDITION CHOCOLATE OFFERINGS
Let Theo Chocolate transport your taste buds and your spirit with our new Limited Edition offerings, available exclusively in our Theo retail store. Our talented team of chocolatiers will tempt you with inspired new treats every week.

AVAILABLE  October 1:

 

Mendiants are perfect discs of chocolate topped with blends of fruit, nuts and spices. They are gorgeous to behold and even lovelier to eat! Try all 3 flavors;
 
Sautéed Date Mendiant
Thin strips of organic Medjool dates sautéed in olive oil and sea salt blend, situated sweetly atop a perfect disc of our blended Madagascar and Ivory Coast Chocolate

Mole Mendiant
Inspired after Mole de Negro. Pumpkin seeds, dried currants, smoked sea salt, ancho chile, pasillo chile and guajillo chile nestled atop a perfect disc of our blended Ghana and Madagascar chocolate

Ginger, Cranberry and Pistachio Mendiant
Slip into fall with this flavor combination.  Crystallized ginger, dried cranberries with lightly toasted pistachios atop a perfect disc of our blended Madagascar and Ivory Coast chocolate

 AND

Caramel Dipped Pears
Northwest-grown juicy organic Starkrimson pears enrobed in buttery, spice infused caramel. The caramel apple finally grows up! Unbelievably YUMMY and decadent! 

APPROVED BY MOM

ChefMom has a post about healthier kid-friendly snacks, and Theo Chocolate made the list! Thanks MOM!!

GOOD FOR ALL

We are delighted to announce a partnership that we are especially proud of with iconic environmentalist, anthropologist and humanitarian, Dr. Jane Goodall. The partnership between Theo and the Jane Goodall Institute is inspired by "Cocoa Practices," a ground breaking Theo Chocolate initiative that brings together small-scale farmers, larger producers and NGO's from the world's cocoa producing regions. It is designed to give farmers the tools they need to grow high quality cacao while conserving indigenous wildlife and other natural resources in the tropical rainforest eco-systems that provide both their livelihoods and their home.

As a leader in the environmental movement for decades, Jane has created her own "Good for All" seal to support products that reflect her personal commitment to high quality, ethical production in the developing world. Theo has created two amazing new chocolate bars that carry Jane's seal - a 70% Organic, Fair trade dark chocolate and 45% organic, Fair trade milk chocolate bar. Both are 3 oz, priced at $3.99 and available NOW in our store! BUY Theo Jane Goodall bars HERE Proceeds from the sale of the chocolate bars will benefit cocoa farmers and Jane's Institute. YOU will benefit by casting a meaningful vote with your dollars and by eating the yummiest chocolate we have ever made!

Joe and Deb had the good fortune to spend time with Dr. Goodall and her team in New York city last week as she announced our project on the Martha Stewart Show. We were able to give our chocolate bars out to the studio audience of over 200 people and the reviews were fantastic. It was really fun to see a throng of people spill out onto the streets of New York, all munching on Theo Chocolate! Much more thrilling than that, however, was the honor of spending time with Jane. She is extraordinary, and made a very deep impression on both Deb and Joe.