Chocolate Fondue Fountain - Buying Chocolate

Most people don't put much effort into buying chocolate for a chocolate fondue fountain. Perhaps they have a few bags of chocolate chips on hand or they'll even buy some of those brick sized chocolate bars. Sure this will work fine and the whole fountain concept will still impress your party guests. But true chocolate aficionados use gourmet chocolate in their fountains and you can definitely taste the difference.

Melting regular supermarket chocolate chips is not an option in the most popular home versions of the chocolate fondue fountain. The chocolate will be too thick and if it can actually be pumped to the top of the fountain, you won't get that cascading waterfall effect that these machines are famous for. Plain chocolate will just drip if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, it will clog your fountain, leaving you with a few pounds of chocolate that needs to be melted with hot water before you can use your fountain again. When using regular chocolate, you will need to add a significant amount of vegetable oil in order for the chocolate to be fluid enough for the fountain to work.

The best way to melt supermarket chocolate is with a double boiler. For every two pounds of chocolate, you should slowly add one cup of vegetable oil while stirring. If you can handle your double boiler and an electric mixer at once, then the mixing won't be too hard. You probably won't need the entire cup of oil so add it slowly and stop when you think the chocolate looks right. But don't forget that you can't add more oil when the chocolate is already in the fountain. So if you are in doubt, add more oil.

The easiest way to set up your chocolate fondue fountain is to use couverture chocolate. Couverture is a French word that means to cover. Courverture chocolate is usually used for making candies or for dipping so it's perfect for a chocolate fountain. It's made with a higher percentage of cocoa butter than normal chocolate and melts to a smoother texture. Couverture chocolate will give you that elegant looking waterfall effect without any additional oil or mixing required. The only drawback is that it's very expensive when compared to supermarket chocolate.

Melting couverture chocolate is the same as regular chocolate. Either use a double boiler or a microwave. Since you won't be adding any additional oil or using the electric mixer, the microwave can work great. Set the microwave for a minute at a time and stir in between.

Whoever decided that turning a chocolate fondue fountain into a home appliance should be given a medal. Why save the chocolate fountain for weddings and other large parties when you can now set it up every weekend. If you are having a birthday party or a barbeque, why not add some pizzazz to the event with a chocolate fondue fountain. Whether you choose expensive couverture chocolate or regular supermarket chocolate chips, it's sure to taste delicious.

Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. For more information using a Chocolate Fondue Fountain visit http://www.gofondue.com

Buy a Chocolate Fountain

Some people (with little vision or desire to entertain) would be forgiven for wondering why anyone would want to buy a chocolate fountain? It all depends. If you are the type of person who invites people around then rations the food and drink and expects your guests to like it or lump it, then perhaps it?s not for you. (I?ve certainly been to those kind of parties, where the hosts were so mean you were searching for takeout on the way home!)

However if you are a generous host or hostess who wants to really send your guests away happy, then the thought that you might buy a chocolate fountain won?t seem so strange to you. Sure, the sort of person who wants to show off would also want to buy a chocolate fountain for their next party, but there?s nothing wrong with trying to make an impression on your guests.

Entertaining is just that ? it?s your turn to make sure that your guests are amused, fed and watered to the very best of your ability. You might want to buy a chocolate fountain if you are planning a grand party like a wedding reception, or a retirement party or special birthday. Conversely you might want a fountain just to make a small, intimate party have that ?wow? factor which will put a smile on the face of your guests.

Imagine if at dessert time at the end of a dinner party you produced a chocolate fountain and a big dish of strawberries? How great would that be? If you go ahead and buy a chocolate fountain you won?t regret it because you can use it in so many different circumstances. Once you?ve used it once, you can rest assured your guests will be hoping to see it again, so it?s probably best to buy a chocolate fountain rather than rent.

In order to obtain a fountain you can try Party Rental firms who might be selling off used ones, try a manufacturer, try local party good suppliers and also of course surf the internet in search of the bargain you really want when you go to buy a chocolate fountain.

Dianne Davies has written more about chocolate fountains at http://www.chocolate-fountains.without-tears.com

Buy a Chocolate Fountain

Some people (with little vision or desire to entertain) would be forgiven for wondering why anyone would want to buy a chocolate fountain? It all depends. If you are the type of person who invites people around then rations the food and drink and expects your guests to like it or lump it, then perhaps it?s not for you. (I?ve certainly been to those kind of parties, where the hosts were so mean you were searching for takeout on the way home!)

However if you are a generous host or hostess who wants to really send your guests away happy, then the thought that you might buy a chocolate fountain won?t seem so strange to you. Sure, the sort of person who wants to show off would also want to buy a chocolate fountain for their next party, but there?s nothing wrong with trying to make an impression on your guests.

Entertaining is just that ? it?s your turn to make sure that your guests are amused, fed and watered to the very best of your ability. You might want to buy a chocolate fountain if you are planning a grand party like a wedding reception, or a retirement party or special birthday. Conversely you might want a fountain just to make a small, intimate party have that ?wow? factor which will put a smile on the face of your guests.

Imagine if at dessert time at the end of a dinner party you produced a chocolate fountain and a big dish of strawberries? How great would that be? If you go ahead and buy a chocolate fountain you won?t regret it because you can use it in so many different circumstances. Once you?ve used it once, you can rest assured your guests will be hoping to see it again, so it?s probably best to buy a chocolate fountain rather than rent.

In order to obtain a fountain you can try Party Rental firms who might be selling off used ones, try a manufacturer, try local party good suppliers and also of course surf the internet in search of the bargain you really want when you go to buy a chocolate fountain.

Dianne Davies has written more about chocolate fountains at http://www.chocolate-fountains.without-tears.com

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Do you want a attract a crowd of people at a party? You don't have to tell the best stories or tell the funniest jokes. All you need to do is stand near the chocolate fountain. Adding a chocolate fountain will liven up even the dullest parties. Most people love chocolate and what better way to serve chocolate than have it flowing out of fountain. A chocolate fondue fountain is a great addition to any party.

Chocolate fondue is a great dessert to serve at small gathering but quite difficult to serve at larger parties. Now with chocolate fondue fountains, your guests can still experience the taste of chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake or anything else they want to dunk into the delightful chocolate waterfall that flows out of the fountain. You may have enjoyed a chocolate fountain at the last wedding or graduation party that you've attended.

And now chocolate fountains are becoming popular home appliances. Several companies make home versions and although the quality of these machines varies greatly, chocolate fondue fountains can now be enjoyed at your backyard gatherings or anytime you like.

Most of these chocolate fondue fountains work the same way. First you melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Then you add vegetable oil to the chocolate so that it is fluid enough to be pumped through the fountain. The home appliance have small heating units that will keep melted chocolate flowing, but they aren't hot enough for the initial melting of the chocolate.

Chocolate chips are the easiest form of chocolate to melt and use in your fondue fountain. But using a premium chocolate will make it taste even better. And for adult parties, add a splash of Grand Marnier or a fruit flavored brandy such as blackberry brandy.

If you don't have a lot of time before your party to cut up fruits and cakes for dunking, why not buy a fruit platter. Salty foods will also be a hit in the chocolate fountain. Be sure to put out pretzels and potato chips. People may be hesitant to try them at first but once they do, they'll be hooked. Marshmallows and angel food cake are also popular. You really have a lot of options when it comes to foods to dunk in your chocolate fondue fountain. Just about anything tastes great when dunked in chocolate.

Cleanup is a breeze if your fountain is dishwasher safe but be sure to keep it running until you're ready to clean it. Letting the chocolate cool and get hard will turn cleaning your fountain into a major chore.

A chocolate fondue fountain has always been a memorable item to have at a wedding or large party but home versions are also gaining in popularity. Once you've seen the attention it draws, you may even add a chocolate fountain to your next party.

Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com. For more information about Chocolate Fondue Fountains visit http://www.gofondue.com

Chocolate Fondue Fountain - The Night One Came To Dinner

A friend is renting a chocolate fondue fountain for her wedding, the news of which sparked off my new born interest in the phenomena that is the 'chocolate fondue fountain'. I was told that a chocolate fondue fountain can be an eye catching, mouth watering central feature for all sorts of social occasions, parties and events. This got me thinking, 'Why wait for the wedding?' So I hired a chocolate fondue fountain for a night and invited a few friends around to test it and see what all the fuss was about.

We got the chocolate fondue fountain out of the box easy enough and it revealed itself to be a stainless steel structure with three tiers, with an overall height of about 15 inches top to bottom. It looked harmless enough, and was easy to set up so we proceeded to plug it in. Power was provided by the usual three-pin socket.

So now the science: the chocolate gets plonked into the basin, gets heated there and then carried to the top of the fountain via a rotating internal shaft. My internet research later revealed the shaft to be a form of Archimedes screw. However, there are other ways of getting the chocolate to the top of the fountain, namely a pump (the most common method). The box for our chocolate fondue fountain said that a screw had been chosen over a pump because the screw eliminates the possibility of blockages associated with some pumps, so the fountain will always flow smoothly. My research did reveal, however, a general preference for auger-style pumps amongst the more pricey chocolate fondue fountains.

A big surprise was that any melting chocolate will do; you don't have to use special chocolate fondue fountain chocolate. We had armed ourselves with 900g just to get started, although we got so stuck in that this did not last long and someone had to be requisitioned to the all night garage for more just after 1.00am. Our experience has confirmed the universal truth amongst chocolate fondue fountain aficionados that when it comes to chocolate, the more the merrier, since you need a fair amount to get a good flow and a respectable looking fountain. We were having a party after all.

Some bright spark suggested adding a dash of vegetable oil to the mix to make the chocolate flow easier, and the tests were conclusive that this did work to loosen up the flow. A party being a party, someone usually gets carried away and our someone decided to add alcohol. Bad move. And things had been going so smoothly. Our river of running chocolate turned into clotted lump of muck faster than a round of tequila slammers. You live and learn.

Final verdict

Visual impact: 10/10

Popularity: 10/10

Ease of set up and operation: 9/10

Versatility: 9/10 We tried putting various things into the falling curtain of chocolate, including marshmallows, pineapple, strawberries, and cake and all of them tasted wonderful. Shame about the alchohol.

So go hire a chocolate fondue fountain, or better still go right in to a shop and buy one. There are bargains to be had out there, and it is the opinion of this reviewer that if a chocolate fondue fountain comes to dinner, you won't be disappointed.

? Stephen Turner 2006. Stephen Turner has set up an information and resource website Chocolate Fondue Fountain. You'll find loads of chocolate fondue fountain information, advice, articles, features, discussion and specially chosen links to other chocolate fondue fountain websites for products and services. Please take a look. Stephen would also welcome your feedback on the site - click on the contact link on the site. This article may be reproduced in its original form provided the author's resource box is displayed below the article.

Chocolate Fondue Fountain - Buyer's Guide - 10 Tips When Buying A Home Chocolate Fondue Fountain

1. You get what you pay for and the cheaper chocolate fondue fountains often have significant drawbacks to them (outlined below).
2. If you are searching the internet, be aware that the term 'chocolate fondue fountain' is synonymous with 'chocolate fountain' and more recently 'fondue fountain'.
3. Good home machines can be used for a range of substances,not just for chocolate. A number of quality home chocolate fondue fountains will also cascade sauces, salad dressing and even caramel. What this means is that, if you spend a little bit more, you should be able to get a machine for all types of parties and social occasions. Before you buy, think about what occasions you would like to use the machine for and then start looking around for a product to meet your needs.
4. You'll know you are looking at a high quality chocolate fondue fountain if its operation is quiet. This is the give-away. A noisy machine is a real annoyance - completely nullifying the striking visual impact of the chocolate fondue fountain at your social occasion. Listen to a few cheaper models and you will know what I mean. Quality machines will say something like 'virtually silent' or 'whisper quiet' and they will live up to the description. If in doubt, go to a shop and have the shop plug it in, and listen.
5. Go for stainless steel, it's hard-wearing and looks good.
6. Your chocolate fondue fountain should have variable temperature settings to allow you flexible and precise temperature control. This is will allow you to use a variety of hot and cold fondues, as mentioned at tip 3.
7. The chocolate fondue fountain should be easy to assemble/disassemble, and should have a removable basin/bowl.
8. The parts should be dishwasher safe and easy clean. Cheaper models often aren't.
9. The pump should be an auger-style pump - for a smooth delivery and flow. Again, cheaper models may not be. Note: some machines use a screw mechanism, not a pump. If you opt for one of these, go for quality and keep my other tips in mind all the same.
10. If the chocolate fondue fountain is not level, the flow will be uneven, and the machine unsteady, which may cause an unsightly fountain wobble. A chocolate fondue fountain tickles your sense of sight as much as it does your sense of taste, so get one with adjustable feet, or some other mechanism for keeping the product level. Again, quality models will have this feature - so make sure you look out for it. You should expect a 1-year warranty.

? Stephen Turner 2006

Stephen Turner has set up an information and resource website Chocolate Fondue Fountain. You'll find loads of chocolate fondue fountain information, advice, articles, features, discussion and specially chosen links to other chocolate fondue fountain websites for products and services. Please take a look. Stephen would also welcome your feedback on the site - click on the contact link on the site. This article may be reproduced in its original form provided the author's resource box is displayed below the article.

The 10 Secrets to a Perfectly Flowing Chocolate Fountain!

If you've ever set up a chocolate fountain and the chocolate has slowly dredged down, drooped and parted then you need to learn the step by step SECRETS to a perfectly flowing Chocolate Fountain.

Firstly, the machine its-self should be assembled correctly.

1) Correctly Assemble the fountain (A no brainier? guess again. I've seen many fountains with tiers upside down creating pools of chocolate).

2) You need a level surface! I've done chocolate fountains on practically 15% gradients and its a nightmare. Make sure the venue supplies you with a sturdy, flat table on a flat surface.

3) The new mini chocolate fountains have adjustable feet. Its mightily important these are just perfect.

4) Turn Chocolate Fountain heat to 90 on the dial!

Now, its time to melt the Chocolate, and this is key:

5) Use 35% Coca Content Curvature Chocolate chips.

6) Place 1KG of said chips in a container, and cover with 100ml of Sunflower (its better then vegetable) oil.

7) Place in microwave at 500W for 6 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes until purely melted.

8) Any blackening of the Chocolate hints that its burnt, discard this, its useless.

9) Don't re-use your Chocolate!

Time to pour the chocolate into the fountain. Make sure you've put enough in (read your fountains instruction manual) and then turn on.

10) As the chocolate fountain reaches the top tier. Turn the Chocolate Fountain off! Leave for one minute. This will get rid of any air bubbles on the auger.

Turn the Chocolate Fountain back on and BAM! A Perfect flowing Chocolate Fountain. If the chocolate ever seems to be parting or be leaning to one side then simply wedge some cardboard under the fountain to get it level.

And that's the 10 secrets to Chocolate Heaven.

Gary Porter is a Chocolate Fountain Fanatic! After launching Chocolate Fountain Newcastle the North's first Chocolate Fountain hire company, he learnt through trial and lots of error, the way of the perfect Chocolate Flow.

Chocolate Fountains - a River of Hot Chocolate for the Perfect Party Delight

Chocoholics dream of rivers of the delightful dark substance flowing in abundance. Giant rivers and lakes of just chocolate to swim in and bask in. This sounds a little far fetched, and it probably is, but to say that flowing chocolate is a dream probably is not. Well rivers might be out of the question, but fountains are not. There are places where you can rent or buy a chocolate fountain or fountains. With a specially made melting chocolate, these fountains both melt it and pump a continuous flow down its slopes and edges. The fountain creates a spectacle that?s both interesting and unique to watch. Its not everyday you see a fountain of chocolate, so it can be used as a means to attract attention.

Throw a party and bring the chocolate fountain

When throwing a party or social gathering of any sort this centerpiece can have a dual function. As mentioned above, it can be used as a source of attention. Something new and rarely seen is a good way to bring people in and keep them around. Also it can be used as a fancy way to distribute foods. When setting up the fountain, why not lay out a few strawberries? Put some skewers down to pick the berries up and dip with and you have chocolate covered strawberries. Apart from just strawberries, lay down a few other fruits to broaden the selection.

Since the flow of chocolate is perfect for dipping, it can easily double as a chocolate fondue station. You have your fruits already, so add a few other things that might go good with chocolate. Such things as gummy bears, or pretzels, or marshmallows and graham crackers, etc. Use your imagination to see what all is available.

You are not limited in the types of chocolate to use either. You can select from dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate to melt. It's all up to you and your tastes.

Joe Cobb
Website: Forever-Chocolates.com
October 16, 2006

 

Chocolate Fountains for Everyone

"A chocolate fountain is a device for serving chocolate fondue. Typical examples resemble a stepped cone, standing 2-4 feet tall with multiple tiers over a basin at the bottom. Chocolate is melted by heat from below, then vertically transported to the top of the fountain by a corkscrew auger. From there it flows over the tiers creating a chocolate "waterfall" in which tidbits like strawberries or marshmallows can be dipped" So says the free online encyclopedia, wikipedia.

These devices are now so popular, that you don't have to wait to be invited to a society wedding to enjoy the delicious cascades of silky, fragrant, warm chocolate. There are now plenty of models designed and available for home use, at reasonable cost, so you can stun your friends and your partner's boss next time you have a dinner party. One thing is guaranteed -- it is simply not possible to have a boring dinner party when you have a chocolate fountain. It provides a great topic for conversation, especially if you need to 'break the ice' with new friends.

Guests select which tasty morsel they wish to coat in the warm chocolate. These can include marshmallows, pieces of banana, cherries, strawberries, and almost any fruit you can imagine. Dried fruit works well, particularly the fat juicy dates that come from the Middle East. Avoid sloppy or flakey items to dip, as they may contaminate the puddles of chocolate.

I once attended a minor Royal wedding in England where a huge chocolate fountain of almost six feet tall was in operation. The catering company had also provided an attendant, to assist those unfamiliar with the dipping process and the general chocolate fountain procedure. Indeed, the attendant would take over the dipping for those guests who wished it, handing them back a plate with three or four choice fruits skewered on toothpicks, coated in the glossy warm liquid.

But from my observations, the main duty of the chocolate fountain attendant was to swat pesky kids away from the fountain. In the end, a well meaning older lady intervened, suggested to the attendant, that instead of swatting the swarming kids away, it may possibly be better, and more acceptable to the child friendly family who were throwing the party, to provide the little darlings with a tiny cup half full with the melted chocolate. This plus a small teaspoon resulted in quiet kids (if messy), happy parents, and a bored chocolate fountain attendant.

Catering companies can usually provide the correct type of chocolate to use with the hired chocolate fountain. The chocolate you use if you are doing it at home should be the best you can afford. Belgian 'couverture' chocolate is ideal. It has a very high cacao butter content, which makes the chocolate when liquid flow more freely through the tiers. The look of this chocolate when melted is also superior. It has a glossy shine, and the high cacao butter content also is responsible for that extra fragrant scent so distinctive of chocolate, and which seems to waft and tantalize so easily on the air.

So next time you want to bedazzle, impress and delight your guests, no matter what the occasion, have a liquid chocolate waterfall. Not only will you be able to enjoy the delights of the chocolate fountain yourself, but you will elevate your reputation as a fabulous hostess.

How does a chocolate fountain work?

A chocolate fountain is essentially an apparatus made from stainless steel that serves molten chocolate fondue. A motor at the base of the fountain is used for heating the prepared chocolate morsels that are placed in a heating tray. A central corkscrew pushes the molten chocolate up through a column. Upon reaching the top of the fountain, which may be 2-4 feet in height and have multiple tiers, the chocolate flows down. The chocolate flows into one tray and spills on to the next till it reaches the bottom tier. After the chocolate cascade reaches the base of the fountain, the whole process is repeated again. The first melting of the chocolate can also be carried out in a microwave or a double boiler. The fountain is placed on a base that is sturdy enough to hold around 40 kilograms of weight and is close to a power socket.

Chocolate high in cocoa butter, such as couverture chocolate, is ideal for use in fountains. The chocolate can be either milk or dark. Chocolate low in cocoa butter must be supplemented with vegetable oil; however, this hampers the smoothness and taste of the chocolate.

Chocolate fountains are available as home and commercial versions that can be used for a variety of occasions such as parties, film premieres, bar mitzvahs, and product launches. A home fountain is ideal for a gathering of around 25 people.

Chocolate fountains are available for rent from catering companies and party supply stores. These also provide an attendant who ensures that the fountain works properly, the chocolate cascades smoothly, and there is no abuse of the fountain at the hands of eager children. Tidbits such as fruit pieces, cheesecakes, marshmallows, etc are kept around the fountain. These can be skewered on to toothpicks and dipped in the fountain. Generally, anything that is not liable to crumbling will be fine for dipping in a chocolate fountain.

Chocolate fountains can be rented at an hourly rate that includes the charges for the attendant's services and the cost of the chocolate used. Usually, chocolate fountains are operated for no more than two hours during a party; normally they are functioning when appetizers and desserts are served. They can also be an additional item in a buffet. Installing a chocolate fountain in the outdoors is not recommended as insects get drawn by the aroma of chocolate and breeze may disrupt the flow.

John Griffin recommends that you visit http://www.chocolatefountainheaven.co.uk for more information on chocolate fountain hire

Save on Wedding Costs and Have That Chocolate Fountain

Chocolate fountains, once a rarity at weddings, are becoming more common -- but no less beloved. Still, they pose a budget crunch for many brides, coming in at only slightly under the cost of the wedding cake -- and that's for a one-day rental!

If you're like us, there's something that just burns our little Yankee hearts about spending over $400 to rent a machine that granted, costs a little over ten times that, but gets rented out many times. And yet if you're like us, you really want a way to fit that chocolate fountain in.

We're both in luck, because higher-end chocolate fountains are coming to the home market and becoming more accessible ... even to skinflints!

What We Didn't Buy -- And Why

You've seen the early entrants, maybe on eBay -- inexpensive chocolate fountains made by lesser-known brands selling for about eighty bucks. You've probably thought of trying one out, just because the price difference between that and a rental machine was so astronomical.

We did too, but as we read about the small, cheap versions, we ran into a lot of complaints. One of the most worrisome was that the cheap fountains made such a loud grinding noise, you couldn't have a conversation standing next to one -- which was not the ambiance we wanted for our party.

Further, we weren't sure if we wanted to keep the fountain over the long term. We wanted to buy something with good resale value so we could recapture our money if needed.

Fortunately, as our deadline approached, Sephra -- the standard in high-end rental fountains -- began offering pre-orders on their first home market fountains. We snapped one up for about $250, an attractive fountain that holds five pounds of chocolate. The fountains were so new, we had to switch our order from the lovely cherry red we'd wanted to a stainless steel in order to get it in time. But we got it.

Showtime ... And Some Helpful Hints

Once acquired, it was time to test it out in live conditions! The first party we unveiled it at was on the small side, with about 25 people. Set-up was simple. The experience did, however, teach us some tips:

Try out and get comfortable with your chocolate fountain before a really big affair. You won't really understand the logic behind the instruction book until you try it. For example:

1) The chocolate fountain really does need to be balanced to work properly. Sephra models offer adjustable feet to accomplish this. When we first set up our fountain, we were so busy we didn't level it, and it didn't flow well until an left brained type in shining armor fixed it for us. Then things worked 100% better.

2) When melting large quantities of chocolate, don't even bother with a double burner. You need a glass bowl and a large microwave, which your venue hopefully provides. Heat gently, as advised -- no higher than 50% power.

3) Also, Sephra provides you with a little tool for telling whether your chocolate's melted enough to flow well. Err on the side of "too melted" rather than "not enough." Especially given the minute or so it takes to transport it, the chocolate can easily get too thick for easy flowing.

With 25 very interested people, we nearly (but not quite) ran through our first five pounds of chocolate. So you can guesstimate needing a pound of chocolate per five invitees. Just be sure to have extra on hand.

We worried whether it would be difficult to refill the fountain -- for example, whether we would have to lug the whole thing back into the kitchen, disassemble, refill -- but it turned out to be dead simple. You just pour melted chocolate into the bottommost bowl.

Our Chocolatey Conclusions

Sephra is bringing larger versions of their fountain to the home market. For a large wedding or a party of several hundred, we would probably go with a larger version.

Yet you can also do very well with the five pound model. After all, it's hard to melt, carry and otherwise handle more than five pounds of chocolate at once (you wouldn't believe how many "chocolate chips" that is). All you need is someone willing to watch and refill periodically, which isn't hard. Pick someone who can get slightly messy without a problem -- not a bridesmaid in shiny taffeta.

If we'd had more time and a larger party, we'd probably get the largest fountain we could buy, care for it well, and resell it when the hoopla died down. That would save a huge chunk of change over the $400-500 one day rental, and bring the chocolate fountain within reach of a lot more brides (and happy guests).

And if you happen to fall in love with it and the day for selling it never comes?

Well, it happens. Just ask us.

About the author:
Blake Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com" Stop by for a huge selection of wedding favors, Bridezilla's weekly adventures, and free resources for brides: save-the-date eCards, screensaver, wallpaper and web site templates.
http://www.favorideas.com

For more on the home market chocolate fountains, see:
http://www.favorideas.com/chocolate.htm