Chocolate Fountain Guide



             


Thursday, October 30, 2008

Has The Chocolate Fountain Become The Catering Craze Of The Past?

Chocolate fountains were once a unique way to assist any party, celebration, catered event or buffet. Guests enjoyed their fruit with high quality chocolate spilling over like a waterfall. The fountain looks like a wedding cake, hence it's one time popularity with the wedding market. Standing anywhere from 19" to 50" tall and approximately 16" round, it weighs approximately 90 pounds when chocolate has been added. A chocolate fountain with milk chocolate, dark chocolate or indeed any flavor high quality Belgian chocolate does look fantastic at any wedding or birthday event.

Unfortunately, the death knell of the chocolate fountain is due to it's own success, namely that there are so many opportunities now for a population to hire a chocolate fountain for their next party, wedding or celebration, that the glitz, glamor and novelty factor has gone out of the market. There are so many sites on the Internet that offer rentals for chocolate fountains and the best idea, however, is to actually visit a supplier and see the fountains for yourself, as you'll want to know the height of the fountain, and how will it look when it's running. It's an impressive site, and the taller the fountain the cooler it'll look for the guests.

Nowadays of course, you can buy a chocolate fountain at such a reasonable cost and think about it, how many times is there going to be the possibility of using a chocolate fountain, which are perfect for events and parties that cater for 20 to 200 people. Along with the chocolate fountain, you will also have to buy the chocolate (the good news is that you can buy it visiting bulk), as well as, the fruit that will be used to dip, visiting the fountain. These days you can buy mini chocolate fountains which are around 19" in height and would make a great gift.

One downside of a chocolate fountain at a party, corporate event or hospiltality is of course, hygiene. I personally never eat out of a chocolate fountain at a convention, business meeting or at a party with too many people. A population will often double dip and though there's lots of chocolate that gets pumped, it still is best to have a chocolate fountain at a more intimate event, such as a small cocktail party, or a wedding or bar mitzvah where you're only having close friends and family.

Hygiene notwithstanding, having a chocolate fountain is great because of the appearance. Like a large shimmering, multi-tiered cake, the fountain will illicit comments from the guests. Like a fruit punch fountain, or a champagne fountain, the chocolate fountain is a great conversation piece. So when planning your next wedding or birthday party event, it's a great idea to speak to the event coordinator about a fountain, as well as, speaking with a chef or a caterer about what kind of edibles are best served by the fountain.

The chocolate fountain is a chocolate lover's dream come true and watching their facial expressions at a fountain is fascinating. Possibly the most popular fruit to dip into the chocolate fountain is strawberries it's astonishing how they go together.

Sebastian Fox is an events organizer with Knights Templar Events, a UK event management company specializing in chocolate fountain hire.

http://www.knightstemplarevents.co.uk/chocolate-fountain.php

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Monday, October 20, 2008

Chocolate for Chocolate Fountains: Which One will Tantalize Your Taste Buds?

There are many choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. It is important to understand the ingredients of each type of chocolate and the chemicals they possess when making your choice. Look over your recipe thoroughly to ensure you are using the correct kind of chocolate before starting. Using the wrong chocolate for a recipe can turn into a disaster. For example, cocoa powder, semi sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, will all have a different effect on a recipe. Here are some types of chocolate that are ideal for your fountain and some interesting facts.

White chocolate is amongst the most popular choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. White chocolate is frowned upon by the chocolate elite but many people argue that it should be recognized with other fine chocolates. Real white chocolate has cocoa butter but does not have any chocolate liquor in it, but a lot of the cheaper white chocolate sold in stores do not have any cocoa butter in them at all, making it even more difficult to justify being called chocolate.

Gourmet chocolate fondue is a delicacy in the chocolate department. You can easily make gourmet chocolate fondue by melting one part light cream for every two parts semi- sweet. Put in a dash of vanilla extract and stir the fondue so there are no lumps. You can use different fruits and snacks for dipping.

Kosher chocolate is not just for candy like many people think. This chocolate is produced by the best of the best in the industry and is made in accordance with Jewish law.

Quality Belgian chocolate is the one most recommended by chocolate fountain manufacturers and hire shops. It melts and cascades beautifully and tastes divine. The best Belgian chocolate is still made by hand and the careful creation process ensures a unique flavor and more intense aroma.

Researchers consistently recommend dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and flavanoids that reduce aging and fight disease. Many people that are on a low-calorie diet use dark chocolate because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate. Ensure you buy a good blend that has been specifically designed for chocolate fountains.

Most people are headstrong on the type of chocolate they like and the choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains seem unlimited. With all of the exotic chocolates becoming increasingly available it might be time to experiment a little. You could be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Choosing the right chocolate for chocolate fountain ensures your party runs smoothly and all your guests are suitably impressed and satisfied. Isabel Hart runs a chocolate fountain home business and shares all her tips and tricks on her blog.

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Monday, October 13, 2008

How to Use a Chocolate Fountain

It is important to understand how to use a chocolate fountain before you get your party started. This party favorite came roaring back into demand recently but was originally popular in the 1970s. In the 1970s just about every party you went to had a chocolate fondue. Most people cannot resist chocolate and that is what makes this a party favorite throughout the world.

There are a number of ways you could use a chocolate fountain at your own parties. If you want to impress your guests then this could be the answer you are looking for. The preparation is very simple for white chocolate fondue and you can add a twist to the menu. Your white chocolate must be pre-melted, which can be done in the microwave, before you add the chocolate to the fountain. A chocolate fountain is unable to melt the chocolate, but will keep it warm. You can also add a mint or a fruit flavor to bring a unique taste to the chocolate. The preparation time is minimal but the response will be phenomenal.

You may be particularly interested in how to use a chocolate fountain effectively at a wedding reception. This can add that special treat to all that attend. Place a variety of fruits and snacks on the side of the fountain so your guest can get them out of the chocolate flow. The chocolate will be flowing onto the treat and making a generous coating of chocolate for your guest. The beautiful display of chocolate flowing is a masterpiece of its own. This is perfect for this occasion because when you remove the treat from the chocolate it will immediately harden leaving enough chocolate for the perfect treat and minimalizing the potential for chocolate dripping on wedding outfits.

Another eye-catching way to use a chocolate fountain is at a baby shower. Chocolate is an instant hit at baby showers and will guarantee satisfaction for your guests. The centerpiece can be conversational and the trend is becoming more and more popular. The appeal of taking fruit and snacks and putting them into a fountain of chocolate is irresistible. The ability to simplify the menu is a relief when planning your baby shower and you can use foods like strawberries, bananas, pineapples, apple slices, blueberries, orange slices, marshmallows, rice crispy treats, graham crackers, any type of cookies, pretzels, peanut butter treats, biscotti...pretty much anything that does not crumble upon contact. The fruits are healthy for the mom to be and she doesn?t have to give up her chocolate.

There is no argument that chocolate is a party favorite but finding ways to display chocolate can be challenging. A chocolate fountain is a simple way for a host of any gathering to satisfy their guests and leave a sweet taste in their mouth.

Learning how to use a chocolate fountain is essential if you are going to make your party stand out from all the rest. Isabel Hart runs a chocolate fountain home business and shares all her tips and tricks on her blog.

 

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