This Week

Booth at the start of the show.

The Best Daughters-in-law

The Best Dark Chocolate Award

My two best helpers!!

The Medals

The Help

Small box ($9.00)

Shoppers

What a week I have had!! Monday, I had to have my chocolate entries submitted for the chocolate competition for the Utah Chocolate Show. I entered dark chocolates, milk chocolates, truffles, toffee, caramels, molded, dipped/enrobed. Wednesday, I was on local TV-see photo below. On Thursday, we(very supportive family members) set up for the Utah Chocolate Show in Salt Lake City. Son-in-law designed the booth as well as my wonderful packaging. It took several hours to get everything the way we wanted it. The shelves were stocked with more than enough product for the 2 days of the show. The aprons were hung and the stools cleaned off from baby's sticky hand prints. We covered it up and went home. Thursday morning, Mel and I opened for business. What a business!! I thought we might sell a little popcorn and toffee, but no one was going to buy my chocolates. I don't know why I thought that, but I guess I didn't know that others really appreciated the work and art that goes into them. Just before the show started, the competition judges gave the awards. Imagine my surprise when Chocolot won 8 Medals!!! I felt like Michael Phelps walking around with 8 medals around my neck. We won in every category we entered plus a special Artistic Merit award and 2008 Chocolate Champion. It was great fun! I taught a hands-on tempering class for 2 hours and Mel manned the booth. After the class, I taught a demo on the stage on making toffee. By the time I got back to the booth, Mel was exhausted and about out of candy. There was a crowd around the booth the whole day. Everyone commented on how great the booth looked and how beautiful the chocolates were. It makes it all worth while when your work is appreciated.
Left the booth at about 8 to come home and box more chocolates. I took down more than the first day, stocking heavy on the larger sizes. We sold out again on the second day. We had more help in the booth and we had double the attendance from the day before. I taught the tempering class again, but the kids handled the booth just fine. At close, we were out of product and energy. The kids tore down the booth and hauled it all out. Couldn't have done this show without them.
One of the highlights was that many people commented on the Candymaking book that my mother co-authored with me. Many commented on fond memories of taking classes from her.
Oh, I forgot to tell you--the Deseret Morning News was there taking pictures and writing a little story about the toffee and the show. Check them out on Wednesday. I'll have some photos to down load in a little bit. Thanks for all your support.

Next event is coming up the first weekend in December. It is in Logan Utah at the Bullen center. Entry is free. It is a juried artisan show. Should be lots of fun.