Elite Event: Cocoa-Nuts for Hot Chocolate

What an awesome event! I shop at Gail Ambrosius semi-​regularly, but learned a lot at this behind the scenes glimpse of their chocolate making operations. The hot chocolate was divine, and now I know how to make homemade marshmallows. Huge thanks to Gail and her crew for welcoming us!

Have you ever had a homemade marshmallow before? At this event I did, and now my mind is blown. Not only did we get to eat these amazing marshmallows but we were also taught how to make said marshmallows and I can’t wait to spread the joy with everyone else this holiday season. Goodbye grocery store purchased jet-​puffed marshmallows, I now will forever will be super classy with my marshmallow consumption.
This was such a cool event because I love chocolate. Since I was a baby my mom told me. But I’ve never really appreciated chocolate in this manner which we did that evening. Where we got to try several different chocolates from different countries and appreciate the subtleties. And then to go one step further and try them in their hot chocolate form. Yummy! It was a chilly evening so a great way to warm up.
Gail is an awesome chocolate guru and was so nice to invite us into her space and teach us all about chocolate. I’ve been to Gail’s before to purchase chocolates and consider them the best in town. So I was super excited when I found out our November elite event was going to be there and we were going to get to meet the superstar herself. Thanks so much to Gail and her team for a memorable evening!

This was my first opportunity to take part in a Unilocal elite event, and I REALLY hope it’s not the last. Gail Ambrosius was an exceptional hostess and I think everyone present genuinely enjoyed learning more about chocolate production just as much as the delicious treats we shared. Gail walked us through an overview of chocolate making from farm to refiner to specialty shops like hers, which was fascinating. Given the theme of the event (single source hot chocolate tasting) it was really cool to have the chance to taste the different chocolates in two forms. I was surprised how different the various offerings were and while the Peruvian was my favorite they all had something distinct to offer. I also enjoyed the homemade marshmallows; what a great accompaniment.
Huge thanks to Stacey for organizing a really interesting and delicious event and for allowing me to attend and learn a little bit more about Unilocal Elite. I’m keeping all my fingers crossed for an invitation to join formally in 2016.

It’s amazing that we got to be in the heart of the Ambrosius kitchen – I can’t believe they make all those delicious chocolates there!
The marshmallow demonstration was really neat – before I had some general idea that marshmallows had gelatin and sugar and stuff but had no idea how it was made. Now I see tha tI can make them at home… or more honestly be lazy and buy them from GA.
As for the event chocolate guide, the tasting descriptions reminded me a little of wine tastings, except that I was really able to taste the notes in the chocolate bits.
I was lucky enough to win salted caramels, and wow – the grey sea salt really makes a difference.
Ready for shopping time at GA!

Gail was as welcoming and fun Thursday night as her chocolate philosophy is all the time.
Confession: I didn’t eat dinner before attending the chocolate whirlwind and it worked out magically, because we had a lot of chocolate to taste!
We tried chocolates from various countries (Peru, Costa Rica) with different cacao content followed by hot chocolate of each one.
While Gail educated us on growing, harvesting, and processing cacao, Ellie (I think) showed us how to make homemade marshmallow. Oh baby, was that ever good. Perfect for dropping into the hot chocolate!
Throughout the night, they gave out some prizes and highlighted their holiday package coming out, which is a hot chocolate kit with various kinds of chocolate.
I bought some chocolates while I was there, but I’ll definitely be back when those run out!

Oh lawd! By the time this event was over, I felt a little delirious… but it must have been on happy thoughts and lots of chocolate. The folks at Gail Ambrosius were incredibly generous hosts, showering us with delicious, fluffy homemade marshmallows and decadent hot chocolate.
My fave was the Peruvian hot chocolate, which I may have downed too quickly. By the time we made it through the fourth cup, I was feeling light-​headed! (This may also have to do with not taking enough Lactaids before consuming milk…)
I really enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot about how chocolate is made, loved the marshmallow-​making demo, and had a blast sampling all of the different kinds of chocolates. The whole set-​up was so thoughtfully arranged, from the bottles of water to the pens that accompanied our tasting guides. The treat boxes, which we were able to fill to the brim, were an extra special treat! And so were the cute prizes they gave out.
Thanks to Stacey and Gail for a melt-​in-​your-​mouth good time!

Gail has the best chocolatier and job ever! It was a wonderful experience that was both eye-​opening and soul stirring.
We started off doing some decorations for little treat boxes for the other Unilocal eiltes. It was a good time and then the smell of sugar/​chocolates started with a hand crafted marshmallows demo. Through the presentation, we learnt about the origin of cacao, the various types of produce and the story behind the wonderful shop.
With a very nicely designed guide/​card, we were given both the solid single origin chocolate from various places in South America, Hawaii and cups of hot chocolate that were made directly from them. From a woody, more bright Peruvian; a strong sense of coffee from Columbia, spicy from Venezuela to figs and fruity from Hawaii, it was both a sensual and stimulating experience.
We also brought home these wonderful chocolates and a «yelp» piece to continue the memorable lesson!

Are you kidding me with those marshmallows??? They were heavenly little clouds of delicousness, whether you ate them on their own, or dunked in the hot chocolate.
I used to work in a chocolate shoppe/​café for a few months, and while I enjoyed eating the chocolates, I never knew how cacao came to be chocolate. I was fortunate enough to taste a cacao bean right out of the pod when I was in Jamaica, but this tasting was on a whole other level. From tasting the bean, to the chocolate product, the the hot chocolate, Gail and her staff were super knowledgeable and open about the process. And talk about generous – being able to taste marshmallows, 5 chocolates and 4 hot chocolates was miles above what I could have expected.
I highly recommend stopping in to warm up with some hot chocolate samples, buy some chocolates, and maybe even buy their new single-​origin hot chocolate sampler pack! A steal at $ 35 for the chocolate-​lover in your life.

So fun! Gail was inviting and a great host. The chocolate was delicious and each piece of chocolate had different sweetness and notes. I am so full that I am laying very still and trying not to move!

I have been to one of Gail’s chocolate tastings before, but this time we got to do it with hot cocoa, which is so perfect for a blustery evening that reminds us of the oncoming winter. I love the opportunity to ask question because I love chocolate, but I know so little about chocolate. For example, before one of these tastings, I had no idea that chocolate could taste so different depending on where the cacao beans were grown. And this was such an awesome to be able to try single origin hot cocoa. The Columbian hot cocoa was one of my favorites. This was a surprise because as a chocolate solid, the Columbian tends to be one of my least favorite. I also loved the Peruvian hot cocoa, and the Ecuadoran hot cocoa was so deliciously frothy and thick.

So fun! There was no shortage of chocolate (or marshmallows) thanks to our generous hosts. I loved the feel of this event: smaller location, warm and inviting setting, and kicked off with a bit of coloring/​creating. A great way to spend a blustery evening.
It was enjoyable to link a face and a personality to Gail after being a fan of her chocolate for so many years (it’s my go-​to gift). All the staff was very kind and accommodating. The talk was informative and interesting, with a great chance to ask questions. This event spoiled us all.

I now know true heaven… a chocolate (and hot chocolate) tasting at Gail Ambrosius with Gail and her kind staff. They are so thoughtful with their creations. Learning where the cacao comes from and the process it travels to become the chocolate we tasted was so interesting. Like coffee or wine, each cacao bean from each region had its own character. I found myself drawn to both the Peru and Columbian especially. But I enjoyed tasting all of the other chocolates, too. Learning the recipe and process for homemade marshmallows was fun but eating them was even better.
The box decorating as we were waiting for the full group to arrive was fun. Unilocalers are creative and friendly. Mug, mints, and chocolate to take home… how lucky can this girl get! Thank you to Gail and staff! And thank you to Stacey!