Chocolate Pursuit

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Albuquerque, NM
Chocolate Pursuit

Tailored chocolate tastings that bring the gourmet chocolate experience to you. Serving the local Po Melt into the experience of craft chocolate tastings.

Chocolate Pursuit specializes in customized chocolate tastings for events in the Portland area: Bridal events, company parties, social gatherings! Also available for tours, consultations, and more!

01/05/2023

This New Years Eve, I challenged myself and made a fancy, scintillating, and fun dessert!

Cherry & Chocolate Mousse with Balsamic Glaze 🍫 🍒 🍮

Courtesy of book: Chocolate: Indulge Your Inner Chocoholic, recipe by Christian Humbs.

For the chocolate mousse recipe, I used 70% baking chocolate! It worked superbly. I added a little extra chocolate even (less creamy).

Not only was the mousse light and fluffy, the toppings— dark cherries dipped and coated in a balsamic reduction, hazelnut crumble with Demerara sugar (a snack and tasty treat in itself), and dark chocolate curls I made with the Scharffenberger, added texture and made every bite delightful! Oh, and did I mention the balsamic glaze that dressed the cherries with a tart and a bright, tangy flavor to complement the chocolate?

It was playful and refined; decadent and light; complex and pure.

So will I be making this again?

💯 🙌 😋!

09/18/2022

Tuesday was International Chocolate Day 🍫🌎🤎! I wanted to bake and make Orange ganache dark chocolate tarts 🍊for the occasion, but I had one kitchen mishap where I needed to start over the next day (aye, those sensitive crusts!)

Wednesday it all worked out, because these fine & fancy party tarts turned out 💯🎉!

Straight from the recipe book by & Steinberg “The Essence of Chocolate,” these were the perfect challenge to round out the summer with bright citrusy flavor, and bring in the fall with the warmth and spice of orange combined with 72% dark chocolate. This was divine decadence in a small but mighty tart shell, one that tasted like an orange creamsicle shortbread cookie. The bittersweetness of the chocolate played a nice compliment, and complementary, role to the ganache. And to top it off, I baked some oranges in the oven to add as a garnish on half of them, while the others scored a heathy spread of crushed cacao nibs on top - ’s Tumaco, Colombia🇨🇴. The nuttiness dynamically dressed the tart with style and taste👅. Then some basil sprigs from the garden for color, aroma, and to hold onto the summer for just a little longer🌿☀️🌻

Goodness, these made me so happy. I still have a few left to savor to bring in the Fall equinox 🍂🍁.

The overall verdict? Worth the work, and the calories 😉. Can’t wait to make more recipes with the most sacred and delightful food on the planet 🌎.

Hope you all enjoyed your chocolate holiday!

01/03/2022

Happy New Year 🎆💗🎉!

Last week I was grateful to host a special bean-to-bar chocolate tasting with a group of new friends!

This is a story for the new year and truly represents how moments of joy and sharing a passion for the decadent and majestic fruit 🍫 can bring strangers together 🤗.

I traveled to Portland for a dear friend’s wedding back in October. When the bride-to-be mentioned that I would be seated next to some vibrant and interesting folx, that she was 💯% certain I would vibe with, I was up for the social challenge! After all, nowadays, with the pandemic, and many of us working from home, it can be harder to connect face-to-face! My Leo self even gets timid.

Little did I know that Table Five at the Engelmann’s wedding would be lit 🔥! Not only were we laughing and finding common bridges from the start, albeit astrology signs, love for and business in the arts (writing, dance, comedy), we also had an immediate CACAO bond! I am talking the history and making of chocolate from the get go… festivals, favorite shops, quality and preferences.

Weeks later, the bride emailed our table to reignite the cacao flame and spirit, and we got to scheduling a virtual tasting!

It just goes to show you that craft chocolate brings. people. together. It yields community, boosts endorphin and serotonin levels, and teaches us to truly appreciate the science, culture, and sensory experience behind the sacred superfood ❤️

I can’t wait to keep up the Table Five connection in 2022, and continue to host tastings, teach classes, and educate myself and others!

Who is your chocolate community? More chocolate intentions to come in 2022 🎉

Chocolate we tasted during our event:

10/01/2021

Have you tried the Limited Edition 60% Dark Milk Hazelnut Cream Chocolate bar from Manoa ?

This bar arrived as part of my first Monthly subscription box from the Hawaiian 🌺 bean-to-bar company! And I was not disappointed!

The hazelnuts are in every melt, and every nibble, but ground, refined, and conched so well, that each melt and mouthfeel is super smooth and creamy and balanced like no other! The nuttiness is even and not overpowering, but, combined with the sweet cream (like condensed milk) of the chocolate, it creates a delightful treat and experience!

Also I could not be happier to see that my package also came with their Breakfast Bar!!! One of my absolute faves with cacao nibs to add crunch and roasted happiness to every bite 😊 💯 🍫

Can’t wait for next month! Thank you !

07/07/2021

Happy World Chocolate Day! 🌎💙🍫💚 🎉

Of course, chocolate gets more than one holiday, but either way, we encourage you to celebrate today by visiting your local chocolate store, savoring a piece of your favorite artisan or bean to bar chocolate, enjoying chocolate in your favorite form, planning your next cacao adventure (chocolate festival perhaps ), or learning something new about the superfood and ancient fruit. Pairings may include: Yoga or a mindful moment, music or dancing, a comforting book or movie, a love letter or poem, a walk in nature, a flavorful meal.

Above all, visualize and melt into the experience ... enjoy the food of the gods. 🌱🍫 🥰

06/15/2021

A few weeks ago my partner and I ventured out on an epic Southwest road trip to explore some of America's breathtaking national parks! Of course, I found a way to incorporate some mini chocolate adventures 🍫🌈

When I discovered we would be passing through Albuquerque, New Mexico 🇲🇽on the way to Moab, I seized the opportunity to visit the new-ish, recognized and awarded bean-to-bar chocolate shop: Eldora Chocolate, so tucked away on a neighborhood street, we nearly missed it!
Not only were we delighted by the chocolate aroma and display of handmade truffles upon entry 😍, we were greeted by the owner of Eldora himself!

Steve immediately started talking to us about the origins and mission of Eldora and his love for quality cacao, and, without hesitation, he grabbed us some bonnets and booties and offered us a tour of the renovated, family-like shop! Highlights included tasting freshly ground and refined single-origin chocolate straight from the melangeur (🙃= hyper!), learning about Steve's love for the great outdoors and biking, and the sense of humble pride he exuded about being a part of the craft chocolate scene and its potential for growth. Not to mention the products are top notch in flavor and quality!

We left with so many treats: 🍫Cacao nibs & Mole drinking chocolate (future dessert post)
🍫Two decadent, flavorful truffles (blood orange/olive oil & lavender) which we paired with an Arches National Park evening hike (yum!)
🍫And two single-origin 70% bars not to be missed:
🍒Tanzania Koko Kamili (earthy and fruity- dried apricots and cherries)
🍯 Belize Maya Mountain (creamy, fruity, roasted- honey, coffee/tea, and stonefruit)

Although the euphoria from the chocolate wore off a few hours later (naptime!), my experience of uncovering this hidden chocolate gem in Albuquerque will be forever memorable ❤️

Thank you Steve for hosting us and for making such top-notch chocolate 🙏

💫 Check out at eldorachocolate.com, or stop by their shop on your future travels!

@ Eldora Chocolate

04/24/2021

Today’s Chocolate for Breakfast class was a hit and so fun! Loved talking flavor, history, and all about why tasting chocolate for breakfast is 💯 for your mind, body, and soul!

Makers tasted and shared during class: .chocolate

04/08/2021

Throwback Thursday to the Portland Chocoholics Meetup Group, which celebrates its five year anniversary today🍫🍫🍫

In fact, starting a community group centered around the love for chocolate and all its forms not only has educated various levels of chocolate consumers about craft chocolate, it has also been a wonderful journey exploring the shops, eateries, and tasty experiences Portland has to offer . . . mostly by foot, bike, or transit. It inspired me to start my own business back in 2017 and it created some pretty solid 😉 friendships in my life💗Cheers to melting into the experience!

03/31/2021

Part II of my visit to Traverse City, Michigan last weekend (see previous post):

While at the beautiful , I spied a table full of Crow & Moss Chocolate bars, one of my favorite new craft chocolate makers 🍫😍 !

Crow & Moss Chocolate hails from the shores of Lake Michigan, in Petoskey, where they focus on handcrafting single origin, two-ingredient (cacao and organic cane sugar) chocolate bars from countries around the world 🌊🌎! The minute I discovered this artisan company existed (upon visiting in Detroit), I was more than intrigued; from the vibrant and reusable packaging to the radiant and glossy temper and molding to the pure and balanced flavors of the beans, I feel 💯% satiated and content with my Crow & Moss Chocolate.

Pure and balanced is how I would describe one of their newest bars, the 70% India Anamalai bar, I picked up at Mundo’s. While some makers blast you with flavor notes that overpower the others, or try to steal the show, Crow & Moss Chocolate creates a fluid and balanced chocolate tasting experience. In this case, earthy chocolate and honey are the baseline flavors throughout, with tropical mango and coconut notes easing their way into the well-rounded experience 🥭 🥥. Don’t forget the subtle spice reminiscent of nutmeg and the citrusy ping of lime juice 🌴🍫. In fact, these beans stem from a cocoa, coconut, and nutmeg farm in the southernmost foothills of India’s Western Ghats! 😯😊

I am also dying to try their new Vanilla Smoke bar! Visit them at crowandmoss.com.

03/19/2021

I am excited to be teaching two online chocolate classes again this Spring for Portland Community College!

Intro to Cacao:
🍫 Wednesday, April 7th, 6:00-7:50pm
📖 Ever wonder how cacao the "food of the gods," became chocolate and how it's made? Take an introductory journey to the birthplace of cacao while tasting craft chocolate.

Chocolate for Breakfast:
🍫 Saturday, April 24th, 10:00am-11:50am
📖 Learn how to taste and identify flavors from around the world right from your breakfast table.

To register: Visit pcc.edu and check out the Spring 2021 non-credit class schedule (Food and Drink > Sweet Treats).

03/04/2021

I got something special in the mail in February to feed my chocolate soul, practice self-care, and melt into the experience of craft chocolate🍫💗: The Dark Lover’s Lunchbox from filled with five dark chocolate bars from Toronto, Canada🇨🇦(worth the shipping!).

My three faves in the box 🥰:

Mr. Salazar Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador 🇪🇨 70%:
Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with immediate notes of citrus 🍊🍋 followed by rich red cherry and tart green banana flavors🍒🍌. Other notes you might experience: bread, balsamic vinegar, brownies. Yum!!! 💯🍫

Bejofo, Madagascar 🇲🇬 Sambirano Valley 70%:
The artwork on the packaging of this bar is absolutely stunning with red and pink swirls. I would call this the PB&J bar 🥜 🍒 with the rounded sweet and tart berry flavors of raspberries and cherries and the savory and creamy earthy nuttiness of peanuts. Yes please! 💯🍫

Bachelor’s Hall, Jamaica 🇯🇲 70% St. Thomas Parish:
Immediate sweetness of cherry 🍒, then honey and nuttiness (cashews) to round out the flavor 🍯🌰, the combination echoing their Madagascar bar with the dynamic and balanced nut butter and jam flavors. The experience ends with some rummy goodness. Tiki time, anyone?🍹💯🍫

Other bars included: The Crazy 88 and Dark Fire! Check out Soma Chocolate at somachocolate.com.

02/02/2021

Last year at this time I was hosting in-person classes and tours around Portland! (This pic is from my PCC class!) Although teaching remotely can in no way replace the sensory, personable experience of tasting chocolate together — from smelling the aroma of cacao in the air to hearing the scintillating snap of the tempered bars in canon, or simply delighting in the set up and preparation of the tasting menu, the virtual classes have been a unique challenge and fulfilling nonetheless. After all, people learn a bit more about craft chocolate and selecting quality bars via stores or online! 👩🏼‍💻

My next class celebrates February love 🍫💗: Chocolate Valentine’s Tasting: Melt into the Experience!

🍫 Thursday, 2/11: 5:30pm-7:30pm via Zoom
💓 There is still room to sign up! Visit pcc.edu to learn more or email [email protected]!

We also want to send our love to one of the finest cacao shops where I had many chocolate firsts, Cacao. They closed their doors in the Fall. 😢 ❤️

Address

8114 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87113

Website

http://www.chocolatepursuit.com/

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