Sweet & Salty Chocolate Shake

Growing up I was a milk fiend. I could drink a gallon a day if left to my own vices, the stuff was like crack to me. I would drink milk with damn near any meal (yeah I kept it real Kosher as a kid you can tell) and to this day still drink quite a bit of milk. 

The thing is, you just cant buy any brand of milk because often-times it is full of garbage hormones, drugs and steroids. I like to purchase Milk from reputable stores and from even more reputable brands. Spend a little time having a few taste tests between brands and see if you can tell the difference in what your buying. Well today is National Milk Day and with that we give you the Sweet & Salty Chocolate Milkshake. 

Combining sweet homemade Chocolate Syrup with a dash of Kosher Salt and Milk together will provide you with such a different tasting Shake, you will be truly grateful you tried this recipe out. For those that are truly skilled, bust out the Arbuelita chocolate and make a sauce from that, now that’s the business.

Enjoy National Milk Day!

...click read more for the entire recipe...

Recipe Of The Day: Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today is National Chocolate Chip Day. Show the people around you some love and make a few cookies from scratch. I think its funny how people always say they are on a diet at first, then they have a few and before you know it, a whole gang of cookies vanishes right before your eyes.

Besides once you make something from scratch you will see just how quickly you never want to mess with store bought stuff again.

Enjoy!

(Click Read More for the entire recipe

Homemade Chocolate Souffles for Valentine's Day

Sometimes going out to dinner doesn’t live up to ones expectations, leaving everyone involved in the affair, pissed off. With Valentine’s Day arriving tomorrow, we hope that everyone has made the proper plans to pull off a fly evening without being bombarded by BS ads to buy flowers and the old school standbyes that people with no style are forced to purchase for their loved ones.

Now back to the matter at hand, ever been to a restaurant and had their chocolate soufflé and thought to yourself “could I do this at home?” Well now you can and if you are the type who takes matters into their own hands, then you will most likely be making dinner at home, followed by an amazing dessert and whatever else you have in mind.

This recipe is one we actually picked up in Culinary School and with a bit of knowhow simplified it down to a recipe that takes not much time at all, leaving you to have plenty of time to really get your Valentine’s Day in action.

Enjoy!

(click read more for the entire recipe)

Chocolate Lovers, Countdown the Days to Valentines Day w/ The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, Atlanta

Haute Chocolate Experiences Stir Chocolate Fantasies at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead in February

ATLANTA, Ga.— A delicious "Countdown to Valentine's" Calendar inspired by rich chocolate in creative variations offers guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead stylish ways to celebrate romance in February. From candy-making classes for couples, to chocolate Spa treatments to cocktails, desserts and more, chocolate lovers are on notice to mark their calendars for rich, delectable experiences.

Wednesday February 1 - Chocolate and Cherry Facial 


The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Buckhead celebrates Valentine’s with a special facial offered the month of February. As luscious as its name, this facial begins with a cherry wine peel to exfoliate and firm, followed by a chocolate wasabi mask to stimulate circulation and boost collagen. 
The result is a deliciously dewy and toned complexion.

50 minutes, $155.



Thursday February 2 - Chocolate Afternoon Tea, The Lobby Lounge 
Specialties such as Chocolate Chip Cherry Scones, Flourless Chocolate Brandy Cherry Cake, Coconut Chocolate Frangipane and Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Torte are added to our traditional Afternoon Tea pastries, and guests may take home a chocolate keepsake. 


Thursday through Sunday, February 2-5 and 9-12 from 2:30 to 4 pm, $34 



Friday February 3 - White Chocolate Cherry Martini


Mixologist Christa Sladky created this romantic martini with house-infused cherry brandy, 
Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur and Stoli® Vanil. 


February 1-14 in The Lobby Lounge and February 2-4 and 9-11 in The Wine Bar, $14 



Saturday February 4 – Haute Chocolate Bar –

Haute Chocolate Bar will make Winter your favorite season! Select from these dreamy chocolate blends, and add our irresistible garnishes to create your very own Hot Chocolate Beverage: Spicy Dark Chocolate, made with Valrhona Grand Cru Guanaja 70% Chocolate, Milk Chocolate Caramel, Red Berry Dark Chocolate (enhanced by the Pasty Chefs with a bit of Red Berry Sauce

Garnishes: The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Secret Spice; House-made Marshmallows;

House-made Whipped Creams; Chocolate Shavings and Cinnamon Sticks

Saturday and Sunday, January 14 through February 26, from 2:30 to 4 pm, $10

Sunday February 5 - The Super Bowl of Chocolate

The champions of chocolate desserts are added to our splendid Sunday Brunch.

Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée, Miniature Chocolate Cream Pie, White Chocolate

Lemon Bar and Baileys Milk Chocolate Cake made with Baileys® Irish Cream are sure

to score winning points.

11:30 am to 2:30 pm, $59

Monday February 6 - Chocolate Bark for Children’s Scavenger Hunt

Children always get a special wristband when checking-in for an overnight stay denoting VIK (Very Important Kid) status, and enjoy complimentary ice cream and a prize upon completing a self-guided scavenger hunt. In February, children receive our house-made Chocolate Bark at the end of their quest.

Tuesday February 7 - Breakfast Buffet with Chocolate Specialties

Chocolate Chip Belgian Waffles, Chocolate Croissants and Chocolate Muffins are

added to our daily breakfast buffet in The Café.

Monday through Saturday, February 1-14. $27

Wednesday February 8 – Pairing Chocolate with Port and Aperitifs

Sommelier Linda Torres Alarcon guides Club Level guests in an informal tasting of rich chocolates paired with her very special selections: Quinta do Noval, Tawny Port, "10 Yr Old", Douro, Portugal and Cocchi, Barolo Chinato, Piedmont, Italy.

The Club Lounge from 8 to 9 pm.

Thursday February 9 – “Haute Fashion, Haute Chocolate”

Neiman Marcus presents informal modeling of the season’s “haute-est” fashions during Chocolate Afternoon Tea. All fashions and accessories are red or pink—the colors of the moment!

Neiman Marcus is the premier shopping destination for finding the perfect gift

for that special someone.

The Lobby Lounge, 2:30 to 4 pm, $34

Friday February 10 - Aztec Manhattan

Mixologist Christa Sladky’s newest cocktail recipe includes bourbon, vermouth,

house-made spiced cocoa nib syrup and Bittermen's Xocolatl Mole.

February 1 through 14 in The Lobby Lounge and

February 2 through 4 and 9 through 11 in The Wine Bar, $14

Saturday February 11 - “Haute Couples, Haute Chocolate” Candy Making Class and Lunch

Loving couples join our ingenious pastry chef Dallas Marsteller to make a luscious assortment of hand-rolled Valrhona chocolate truffles just in time for Valentine’s Day.

After class, everyone enjoys a delightful three-course lunch in The Café. Class starts at 11 am, with lunch following.

Limited to five couples only. $125 per couple, inclusive of taxes and gratuities

Sunday February 12 – Haute Chocolate Sunday Brunch

Magnificent chocolate sculptures grace our presentation of glorious chocolate desserts. Look for White Chocolate Lemon Bar, Whoopie Pie, Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée, Miniature Chocolate Cream Pie and Baileys® Irish Cream Milk Chocolate Cake.

11:30 am to 2:30 pm, $59

Monday February 13 - Love Potion No. 5

This couple’s massage features an alluring mélange of five essential oils— cranberry, Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and orange—and is offered all month.

50 minutes, $290.

Cocoa Truffle Tea, a light cocoa-infused tea, is complimentary with spa treatments in February.

Tuesday February 14 - “Two Hearts are One” Dessert in The Café

Dessert becomes a romantic work of art: Valentine’s couples enjoy a chocolate dessert for two, which transforms into two hearts melting together. $14

Guests may also select these a la carte selections from February 10 through 14:

First Course: Lobster Raviolis with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Creamed Corn, Trout Roe, $24

Entree: Smoked G.F. Swift Beef Tenderloin, Celery Root Purée, Apple, Bacon, Shallot Jus, $45

Prices are per person and exclusive of taxes and gratuities unless otherwise noted. For reservations for Sunday Brunch and dinner in The Café, please call 404-240-7035 or visit www.opentable.com. 

For reservations for Chocolate Afternoon Tea including “Haute Fashion, Haute Chocolate”, and the “Haute Couples, Haute Chocolate” Candy-Making Class and Lunch, please call 404-240-7035. Reservations are not required in The Lobby Lounge, The Wine Bar or in The Café for the breakfast buffet. 

For Spa appointments and to purchase Spa Gift Cards, please call 404-240-7041 or touch extension 7041. Pairing Chocolate with Port and Aperitifs is offered to Club Level guests only and no reservations are required.

No Bake Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookies

Ever had one of those days where you want something sweet, but don’t want to bake / cook anything or worse, you just don’t feel like wasting time and money going to the store to buy any of that overpriced crap they sell? Today being National Peanut Butter Day, we figured we would shine some light on this “spread” of sorts and show you how to turn it into a delicious snack that takes less than 20 minutes to pull together.

Enjoy!

(click read more for the entire recipe)

Homemade Chocolate Sauce (National Bittersweet Chocolate Day)

With people finally taking control of what they eat, where they eat at and just what ingredients they are putting into the food they make at home, it is nice to see people reaching out for recipes they are unclear on how to master.

Chocolate is very temperamental, literally. If it is overheated it may seize resulting in whitish chocolate sauces / coatings or an unsmooth texture that looks like poo on a plate. Chocolate sauces are a great thing to tackle because once you have this skill down, you can create flavored chocolate sauces and then apply them to your favorite fruits and other dishes leaving your guests amazed at your culinary skills.

For the most part the recipe is very simple, when you start using different juices (coconut, lime or whatever you decide) it really plays with the final results and produces some of the most amazing chocolate flavors you will have ever tasted.

Take your time and this will come out just fine.

Enjoy National Bittersweet Chocolate Day!

(click read more for the quick & easy recipe)

National Sacher Torte Day

Apricot Glaze

Icing being added to a Sachertorte

Sachertorte Bites

Sachertorte Slice

The Sachertorte is a chocolate cake. It was invented by chance by an Austrian Jewish Chef by the name of Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties.

The Original Sachertorte is only made in Vienna and Salzburg, and it is shipped from both locations.

The only place where the Original Sacher Torte is available outside of Austria is in the Sacher shop of Bolzano (Bozen), Italy. That is unless you have the recipe and know how to make one yourself.

It truly isn’t hard it just takes a bit of patience and with patience, anything is possible… For the entire recipe and ingredients list give us an email, we don’t mind sharing, but we wanna see some effort to get that highly regarded classic recipe.