A Merry Chocolate Christmas to All!

     Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year filled with chocolate!

Some New Events and Showpieces

   Hi to my followers:
This is just an edited version of my last post.  I was informed by one of my loyal followers that I had some typos and errors.  I am blaming it on the fact that I had a bad head cold.  Oh well.  I hope this is corrected now.
Thanks,
   Robin

     I have been very busy these last few months!  In August, I went to northern California to collaborate on a video with ChocoTransferSheets.com and The Chocolate Addict featuring their colored cocoa butter and my chocolate artistry.  I had so much fun filming with Nicole and Kurt Knobel, owners of ChocoTransferSheets.com, and Katreece Montgomery and Frances, owners of Razor Burn Productions and The Chocolate Addict.  I will be linking the videos when they are ready.  Sneak preview pictures are here.

Pictures from Video Filming Session

     I did a turtle themed 60th birthday party with a centerpiece and gift bags of chocolate pecan turtles for all the guests.  The birthday boy was surprised and thrilled!

   Then there was the tennis wrap party for the Sunset Strings at the Sunset Hills Country Club.  The team colors are purple, black and white.

     

     Here are some of the business cards I have made for sales departments of a few companies.

     In October, I was hired to build a showpiece and do a chocolate presentation for the City of Santa Clarita for the monthly Art Walk.  This one was called Chocolate Slam which featured all types of chocolate and chocolate art.  I was in three windows of the Luscious Soul Clothing Store on Main Street.   These are a few of the pieces I built.

     The Best in Show Event for Actors and Others for Animals went really well.  It was held in the ballroom of the Universal Hilton Hotel.  All the guests and celebrities loved the trophy centerpieces.  Everyone wanted to take one home.  I made 45 trophy centerpieces and 1000 chocolate paw prints, which were scattered on the tables for consumption (and they were consumed)!

The event itself, was really great.  It was a celebrity spoof of the movie, "Best in Show", featuring videos of the celebs and their pets.  The audience then voted on the Best in Show.  It was very entertaining.

     The best part of the Best in Show Event, for me, was that the Universal Hilton Catering and Party Department loved my chocolate work and asked for several pieces to display throughout the hotel!  These are the pieces that are currently there on display.

     There is more to come.

Where To Begin

     So much has been has been going on that it is hard to figure out where to start!  I have been working on some small parties, bridal and baby showers, making party favors, and desserts.  I have also been teaching classes at Let's Get Cookin'.  I had a booth at a party trade show.  I have been working on marketing my company.  Taking classes from world class chefs has been a highlight for me and I have been able to participate in several since my last post. I will elaborate and share pictures.  I am currently working on a large project consisting of 50 table centerpieces for a celebrity function,  and a presentation of my products and services for a large winery for their wine club parties.  I have been testing products for a company that makes transfer sheets and colored cocoa butters.  Next month, I will be making a video featuring those products and my techniques. I also made custom chocolates featuring a tropical fruit liqueur for the CEO of the liqueur company.  I am tired just listing all this.

     I spent a week in San Clemente at Stephane Treand's school, The Art of Pastry.  It is a beautiful venue with fabulous working conditions.  It also has a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean which you can enjoy while eating lunch that is prepared and served by a chef every day.  Not a rough gig! The class was making pastillage and airbrushing techniques.  It takes a great deal of practice.  It was very difficult and my first day of work looked like kindergarten paintings!  I kept working and it got better but still requires much more practice.  These pictures are from the third day!

   
                                                              Airbrushed pastillage

                                        

Me and my sugar showpiece with Chef Treand

     I spent three days with Chef Ewald Notter, working on holiday showpieces.  He is a master pastry chef and a great instructor.

                                         

                                                   Me and Chef Notter

     I spent six days working with Chef Jin Caldwell.  She is a World Pastry winner, worked at many great hotels, restaurants and pastry shops, including the Bellagio and Jean Phillipe Patisserie.  I learned so much from her.  She now owns her own chocolate company, Jin Ju Chocolates.  Her bon bons look and taste amazing.

Me and Chef Caldwell

     These are tropical fruit flavored dark chocolate ganache truffles that I designed and presented to the CEO.  He loved them.  The liqueur is very good and I was happy to make a truffle featuring it's flavor.

Carnivo XO Tropical Fruit Bon Bons

     Here is a sneak peek at the trophy centerpieces that I am working on for the celebrity event with the theme of Best in Show.  They are a work in progress and I am not yet finished with the design.  I have to make 50 of them.

Best in Show 2013 trophies

     I am making custom chocolates and other treats featuring wines, fruit vinegars and flavored olive oils from this winery for a presentation.  I am very excited about this project.

Chocolate Wine Bottles