Tag: chocolate

How Do You Eat Your Easter Bunny?

Cherith AndesBlog, Photo of the Week, The Clairemont Team, , , ,

With Easter just a few days away, we’re whipping out sweet treat trivia in the Clairemont office. According to a study by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 89 percent of survey respondents eat their chocolate bunnies ears first. Five percent eat the tail first, and 6 percent go for the feet.

We’re all about some solid research — especially when it comes to chocolate. (We even have a chocolate factory as a client!) So we gave these stats a test run with the Clairemont team.

Research shows that we fit the bill! Four out of the five Clairemont team members polled went for ears first (except for Cherith, who wanted to buck the trend).

The NCA study also states that 81 percent of parents steal candy from their kids’ baskets. Perhaps we have our next research project cut out for us…

Happy Easter, friends!

 

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Bourbon and Bonbons

Cherith AndesBlog, Real Estate PR, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, , , , , ,

At Clairemont, we don’t just spruce up a stalwart event. We love designing completely fresh approaches to target audiences, boost visibility and ultimately secure sales.

Last week, we had the pleasure of doing just that!

Clairemont and client Wendell Falls, the Triangle’s largest new-home community, hosted a VIP tasting soiree that leveraged hot culinary trends and popular local businesses to attract potential homebuyers. Hosted at the Wendell Falls Farmhouse, “Bourbon and Bonbons” rolled out the red carpet with a classy yet casual evening. We invited guests to preview some of the area’s finest bourbons paired with gourmet truffles from Videri Chocolate Factory, one of Raleigh’s beloved downtown artisans. Guests could then enjoy a spread of smoky hors d’oeuvres, live music and a glass of wine or beer.

Friends and fans from across the Triangle joined the festivities — many who were visiting the community for the first time! Cheers to some of Raleigh’s finest flavors and a wonderful event at Wendell Falls!

Cover photo courtesy of wonderful blogger and friend Raleigh Revealed.

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Craving Chocolate? Videri is the Answer

Dana PhelpsBlog, Clairemont Client News, In Our Community, , , , , , , ,

If you’re craving chocolate, we’ve got your fix. Clairemont client, Videri Chocolate Factory, is throwing a fifth anniversary party this weekend, and YOU are invited. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday, January 15, stop by Videri at 327 W. Davie Street for tasty treats, raffles, chocolate crafts and family fun. You’ll meet Starr, Sam, Chris and all the other sweet Videri people!

In the meantime, check out this video by Baldwin& and Josh Steadman from Steady Films that shows how Sam made chocolate posters for the event. Pretty cool, huh? Yeah well, pretty delicious, too. If you win one of these in the raffle on Sunday, who will you choose to help you eat it? Tell us your answer on the Clairemont Facebook page!

 

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Fancy Food and Fun

Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, , , ,

180,000 products, 45,000 food professionals, 2,550 brands, 55 countries … and one sensational experience. Last week, New York City was awash with the sights, sounds and smells of the Summer Fancy Food Show, America’s largest specialty food and beverage festival.

Artisanship abounds in every nook and cranny. The best talent from across the globe showcases the industry’s latest and greatest tasty tidbits, like this Sin in a Tin Chocolate Pate, 100% Fairtrade Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or CaberneyZyn wine fruit snack. Food and beverage professionals can pack their tummies with treats and their brains with industry expertise through a series of business education workshops.

But of course, our hearts were captured by this fun snapshot of Videri Chocolate (Clairemont client) rocking out in such an inviting booth. Vibrant, charming and just plain fun, these artists serve as such an inspiration for entrepreneurs, visionaries and culinary experts alike. Their bean-to-bar philosophy yields a distinct, hand-crafted chocolate that is both certainly “fancy” yet profoundly simple.

Thanks for Tyler Levitetz for capturing the personality of the Videri Chocolate team and brand at the Summer Fancy Food Show and sharing it on Instagram.

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Friday Favorite: Escazu Artisan Chocolates

Dana PhelpsBlog, Wonderfully Random, , 1 Comment on Friday Favorite: Escazu Artisan Chocolates

We have a problem. We love Escazu Chocolates. No, that isn’t the problem. We love buying Escazu Chocolates for people who proactively recommend us to potential clients and others who do nice deeds. No, that isn’t the problem either. Many times we eat the “presents” before we can get them mailed or delivered across town to their intended recipients. THAT is the problem!

I recently confessed this to chocolatier and co-owner, Danielle Centeno, when I went back to Escazu to “replenish” (then straight to the Post Office, do not pass GO, do not collect $200). She laughed and sweetly suggested that I consider allowing them to ship our gifts. Well…nah, that would take all of the fun out of it!

I have seen Escazu bars in grocery stores in several states for quite some time now, and they are available to order online. I was absolutely delighted to find out the chocolate is made right here in Raleigh! Visiting the retail shop on Blount is aaaamaaaazing. First it is the delicious smell as soon as the door opens, then it is the absolute beauty of the display of hand-crafted artisan chocolates which makes the decision of what to actually taste nearly impossible. My favorite is the Beaufort Bar with Sea Salt, and I love the spicy hot chocolate.

Escazu gets a double favorite rating from us — a fave thing and a fave place.

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