The San Francisco Chocolate Blog

February Tasting

2009-02-04T12:53:00.001-08:00

FEBRUARY 2009

CHOCOLATE-MANIA!

What a February this is going to be... I shall summarize all of the events going on here at the boutique.

1. 1. Every 3.5oz tin of chocolate is now only $4.50!
2. 2. Except for the Vineyard tins of 72% and 58% which are still only $3.99
3. 3. Our Coffee Lovers product's (Tuxedo Beans, House Blend Espresso Beans, Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans) are now only $2.00 in our 3.5oz tins.

Our tasting party returns this month! Wednesday, February 11th at 6pm.

1. No need to reserve. Just show up.
2. The featured product will not be advertised until the night of the tasting!
3. Special discounts as always!

New additions to the boutique as well. The shelves have never offered such great deals.

1. We are now selling pound bags of bulk chocolate for $3.00. These include our Chocolate Trufflz, Raspberry Trufflz, Peppermint Bark Shortbread and English Toffee Caramels.
2. Just ordered from outside chocolateirs. You will see the return of some of your favorite brands as well as some new stuff I am anxious to offer. Spicy Lime Green Tequila Bar anyone? How about a Barcelona Bar?
3. Our got Milk? brand continues to grow. We debuted several new products at the Fancy Foods Show. We now offer the very stylish (we all wear them at work) got Milk? t-shirts for $12 here at the boutique. What a V-Day present that is!

Services you may have not known existed.

1. We wholesale here at the shop. If you have a big order and want to save some moolah just let me know. Our minimum order is only $150 so if you would like to discuss loads of chocolate at reasonable rates just send me a note or stop by.
2. Ever thought of hosting a private chocolate tasting party? We cater to those needs as well. Many are surprised to hear that we actually can host here at the boutique or even off-site. If you have an event coming up and you think chocolate would be a great addition, let me know and we can work something out.
3. Custom tins! What a better way to showcase the branding of your company. Why advertise with yo-yo's or refridgerator magnets... why not a tin full of chocolate with your company's logo on it. Sounds great to me. Ask me about it!

Hige New Discounts!

2009-01-23T12:15:00.001-08:00

Great news folks! Prices have dropped!

With the exception of our Vineyard Tins which are now $3.99, and our Golden Coffee Lover's Tins which are $3.00 ...... every other 3.5oz tin in the store is now only $4.50 after your 10% discount for shopping in the store!

Landmark Tins, Washington D.C. Tins, New York Tins, got Milk? Tins, Wine Lover's Tins..... they ALL are included!

On top of that great news, our Valentine's Tins will be in stock this Saturday, January 24th at the same discounted price! We just made your shopping a whole lot easier!

Win A Year's Worth of Free Chocolate

2009-01-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Chocolate Factory has changed our name to Bridge Brands Chocolate™.
To commemorate our new name and our 9th anniversary, we want to give one lucky winner a year’s supply of chocolate.

We want to hear from you!

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we’re reminded of chocolate’s power to bring people together.

Bridge Brands Chocolate wants you to send us your own 600 word or less true account of how you have used chocolate to “bridge the gap” between friends, lovers, or even enemies. Gave a box of chocolate on a first date? Shared a slice of chocolate cake on a 50th wedding anniversary? Made peace after an argument with a glass of chocolate milk? We want to hear about it!

We will select the best story by February 12th and will announce the winners on February 14th Valentine’s Day. Runner’s up will receive gift-sets of Bridge Brands chocolate.
If we select your story it will be published on our website along with your photo and you will also receive a year’s supply of chocolate.

Contest winners will be notified by February 13th.

Click here to submit your story.

Wine & Chocolate Party

2008-12-03T13:19:00.001-08:00

In November we sampled our Cocoa Vinoso line for our Monthly Tasting Party. While it was a delightful night, a few of you mentioned that next time we should actually pair it up with the wine's suggested on the beautiful tins. Well that next time is here!

Sunday, January the 4th will be a very special night as we will be bringing back the Cocoa Vinoso tasting party along with their suggested pairings of wine!

Tickets go on sale Friday, December 5th at the store, or you can RSVP me at anthony@sfchocolate.com. Tickets are $25 in advance of $30 the night of the event. The event starts at 6pm at our boutique.

San Francisco Chocolate Factory
286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103

www.sfchocolate.com
888.732.4626

Tuesday-Saturday
12pm-6pm

December GAIA Tasting

2008-12-03T13:08:00.001-08:00

Our monthly tasting party returns on Wednesday, December the 10th at 6pm.

Our GAIA organic line will be featured for the night. Plenty of samples including the 15% discount on all GAIA products!!

San Francisco Chocolate Factory
286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103

www.sfchocolate.com
888.732.4626

Tuesday-Saturday
12pm-6pm

2008-11-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

The San Fancisco Chocolate Factory will be hosting at a booth (424 to be exact) at this weekend's Fabulous Food Festival at the Concourse Exhibition Center.

Sat & Sun; Nov. 8th & 9th from 10am - 5pm.
8th & Brannan St in the city!

Saturday our booth will be ran by Amanda & Bob, two of our great team members upstairs from the boutique. But the real fun starts Sunday when yours truly takes over the booth.

It is going to be a great event so I look forward to seeing familiar faces as well as meeting new ones!

And don't forget about our tasting party this Wednesday @ the boutique!

-Anthony

2008-11-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder to everyone. Our chocolate tasting party will resume this month on the 12th!

6pm is the start time so stop in and sample our featured Cocoa Vinoso line which will be showcased this month!

San Francisco Chocolate Factory
286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca

www.sfchocolate.com
Tues-Sat 12pm-6pm

Earthquake Cake Has Returned

2008-10-21T11:40:00.001-07:00

After being sold out for weeks, I am glad to announce we have received a brand new shipment of fresh, new, EARTHQUAKE CAKES!!!!!!!

SFCF @ Pier 39 VIP Fleet Week Party!

2008-10-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Chocolate Factory will have a booth at the VIP Party during the Fleet Week Event on October 11, 2008 from 12pm-6pm at Pier 39!

As a reminder, our boutique hours are also 12pm-6pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Stop by for some chocolate!

286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103

www.sfchocolate.com

Yahoo Speaks On Dark Chocolate

2008-10-08T15:53:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Eating dark chocolate regularly may help lower levels of inflammation, which is strongly associated with heart and blood vessel disease, Italian researchers report.

"In an apparently healthy population, even a small reduction of a low-grade inflammation such as that associated in this study with regular consumption of dark chocolate might have clinically relevant benefits in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Romina di Giuseppe of Catholic University in Campobasso write in the current issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

The presence of inflammation was determined by measuring levels C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for coronary artery disease, the researchers explain in their report. Di Giuseppe and her team hypothesized that people who eat more dark chocolate, which is rich in several types of antioxidants, might have lower CRP levels.

To investigate, they looked at 4,849 healthy men and women participating in the Moli-sani Project, an ongoing study of adults 35 and older living in southern Italy. They included 1,317 people who had eaten any chocolate at all in the past year, and 824 who consumed dark chocolate regularly. Most people who ate dark chocolate consumed 5.7 grams per day.

CRP levels averaged 1.32 mg/L in people who did not eat dark chocolate, compared to 1.10 mg/L in dark chocolate consumers. Individuals who ate dark chocolate had healthier diets overall than those who didn't; they were also younger and of higher social status, but less likely to exercise. But once the researchers adjusted for these and other relevant factors, the relationship between eating dark chocolate and lower CRP remained.

The range of CRP levels seen in the dark chocolate consuming group corresponds to a "mild" risk of cardiovascular disease, while CRP levels in the non-consumers would be associated with "moderate" risk, di Giuseppe and her colleagues note.

The benefits were seen when people ate up to one 20-gram serving of dark chocolate every 3 days, but eating more chocolate wasn't more beneficial; in fact, effects on CRP levels "tended to disappear" at higher consumption levels, the researchers found.

SOURCE: The Journal of Nutrition, September 23, 2008.

Copied from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081008/hl_nm/us_dark_chocolate

Tasting Party Tomorrow

2008-10-07T11:26:00.001-07:00

Stop By The San Francisco Chocolate Factory!

Tomorrow marks the return of our monthly chocolate tasting party. Between the hours of 6pm-8pm we will have various treats laid out and about for your sampling pleasure.

The event will be held the second Wednesday of each month.

As another friendly reminder, our store hours are normally 12pm-6pm every Tuesday through Saturday. So stop on by!

286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103

415.362.2080
www.sfchocolate.com

-Anthony

Champagne & Rocks Bars!

2008-10-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

A new shipment of Cosmic's "Champagne & Rocks" bars has just arrived.
Stop in today!

286 12th Street

San Francisco, Ca 94103

2008-09-30T16:03:00.001-07:00

Every second Wednesday of each month!

Our return happens October 8th, 2008..6pm-8pm

286 12th Street
San Francisco, Ca

As a reminder, the store is open 12pm-6pm every Tuesday-Saturday.

Stop by and satisfy that sweet tooth.

See ya guys soon!
-Anthony

Dark chocolate a day keeps stroke away

2008-08-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool study that confirms what we've known all along...dark chocolate is good for your heart!

According to the study, a couple of chunks is enough to cut high blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes, both major risk factors in heart attacks and strokes.

The San Francisco Chocolate Factory cares about your heart so come in and try our many different types of dark chocolate!

Candy Party

2008-08-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

Chuao Chocolatier is pioneering “fusion chocolate” through a commitment to creating unusual, unexpected and delicious flavors using their secret blend of premium chocolate and fresh natural ingredients.

The chocolate world is abuzz about their new Firecracker bar...dark chocolate, chipotle, salt, and popping candy à la Pop Rocks. It's a party in your mouth!

Come by the San Francisco Chocolate Factory and try all the Chuao flavors! Caracas, Chinita Nibs, Earl Grey, Spicy Maya! And FIRECRACKER!

Don't forget to pick up some treats for Outside Lands! Have fun and be safe out in Golden Gate Park!

Afrodisiac Chocolate

2008-07-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

What's up, San Francisco!

Is chocolate an aphrodisiac? Well, it's not certain, but chocolate does put many people in a very good and relaxed mood. And there’s never any telling what a good, relaxed mood can lead to!

Come by the San Francisco Chocolate Factory and try Cacao Anasa's Afrodisiac Love Bite. How about this for a flavor...Kiwi Lime Pistachio Seasalt! So delicious...it's 72% organic, fair trade chocolate with the essence of lime, organic dried kiwi, roasted pistachios and Hawaiian red sea salt.

Earthquake Cake!

2008-07-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Earthquake Cake!

You’ve never had a cake quite like this before: dense chocolate cake drenched in Stoli vodka to give it a moistness and flavor that will jolt your taste buds!

Each cake weighs 4 oz. and can feed anywhere from one serious chocoholic to four more moderate cake-lovers. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of ice cream, a glaze of warm jam, or sprinkled with nuts—or all of the above!—Earthquake Cakes are a wonderful way to end a meal with very little fuss.

It's perfect for last-minute social occasions or for when you just can’t muster the energy to create dessert at home. We have customers who claim that our Earthquake Cake has rocked their world!

Vote with your mouth! New election chocolate!

2008-07-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

This election season make your voice heard! Celebrate your presidential preference with BT McElrath's new chocolate Campaign Buttons. They are delicious for everyone, even our nation's top executive.

Go Obama! Go McCain! Go USA!

20% off for our blog readers. Hope to see you soon.

got milk? Chocolate Straws - NEW PRODUCT YUMMY ALERT!

2008-07-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the summer heat, we've got a new choc-tastic product that can't be beat!

Our got milk? Chocolate Straws work like magic to turn any glass of wholesome milk into a delicious chocolaty treat! Just sip the milk through a got milk? Chocolate Straw and let the cocoa beads inside the straw do the rest.

Kids will love this fun way to enjoy the wholesome goodness of milk! (And adults too :P)

San Francisco Chocolate Factory!

2008-07-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

We're the San Francisco Chocolate Factory! Come in and see us at 12th and Folsom, San Francisco, CA. See you soon!

25% off Espresso Caramels

2008-07-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

25% off Espresso Caramels this week (7/1-7/6).

Come on in and try a free sample. We know you'll love them and want to take some home for yourself and your loved ones." Happy little spheres of caramel with bits of espresso beans nestled inside, all surrounded by a luscious coating of dark chocolate. A favorite item in the offices of The San Francisco Chocolate Factory!"

See you soon!

SF Chocolate Factory
12th and Folsom
San Francisco, CA