Meet My Mom: A Mother to the Motherless
My mother, Billie June Gates Slaughter, is nothing if not a mother. The family joke is that at the age of six she helped her mom raiser her own siblings. In fact, her mother told her a few years ago,…
Why We Crave Chocolate
Although some 40 million heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates were sold in the United States alone last year, thankfully, chocolate isn’t just for Valentine’s. In fact, more than 50 percent of adults in the US prefer chocolate over any other…
Why We Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Chocolate
If a box of chocolate is your favorite Valentine’s gift, you have a man named Richard Cadbury to thank. Before Cadbury’s time, chocolate was primarily enjoyed as a drink. But Cadbury, who was responsible for the sales department of his…
3 Reasons Why Belgian Chocolate Should Be On Your Christmas List
You might think ‘chocolate is chocolate is chocolate,’ but all you have to do is participate in a quick taste test and your tongue will tell you that not all chocolate is equal! So why should Belgian chocolate be on…
Give a Handmade Gift This Christmas
When my wife and I were engaged, she gave me something for my birthday that I never forgot: a brightly-colored hand-painted heart bearing the message, 'I love you'. To this day, it's one of my most favorite gifts ever. Why?…
The Art of Fine Chocolate Design :: A Touch of Belgian Inspiration
When I started my journey working with chocolate, we were living in Brussels, Belgium. Surrounded by more than 300 chocolate companies ranging from small mom-and-pop shops to international multi-store brands such as Godiva, Neuhaus and Leonidas, you didn't have to…
Summer Travel Series: Visiting Belgium? Behold The Belgian Frite
This month, we're featuring the country of Belgium in a 'Summer Travel Series' on The Chocolate Blog. Why Belgium? For starters, we lived there for 15 years and want to share some of the wonders of this small country nestled…
Summer Travel Series: Visiting Belgium?Meet the Spectacular Speculoos
This month, we're featuring the country of Belgium in a 'Summer Travel Series' on The Chocolate Blog. Why Belgium? For starters, we lived there for 15 years and want to share some of the wonders of this small country nestled…
Summer Travel Series: Visiting Belgium?Delight Yourself With a Belgian Waffle
This month, we're featuring the country of Belgium in a 'Summer Travel Series' on The Chocolate Blog. Why Belgium? For starters, we lived there for 15 years and want to share some of the wonders of this small country nestled…
Summer Travel Series : Visiting Belgium? See The Grand Place
This month, we're featuring the country of Belgium in a 'Summer Travel Series' on The Chocolate Blog. With this post we feature The Grand Place, which some call the most beautiful square in all of Europe. Why Belgium? For starters,…