Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Jacques Torres Chocolate Give Away


In my Thanksgiving post I showed a large chocolate turkey I bought as a centerpiece for the dessert portion of our Thanksgiving dinner, and I promised to tell you more of the shop where I bought it. I went to the Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven located in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, located at 350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston), New York, New York.

Jacques Torres began his career as a pastry chef in his native France where he worked with distinction and honors. He came to the United States in 1988 to work at the Palm Springs Ritz Carlton Hotel as Corporate Pastry Chef. In 1989 he became the Executive Pastry chef at the exclusive restaurant Le Cirque.  In 2000 he opened his own chocolate factory and shop in Brooklyn, New York, serving a wholesale and retail market.


All photos will enlarge if clicked on once and then again when they open in a new window

In 2004, Jacques opened Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven in Manhattan where he transforms cocoa beans into chocolate bars before your very eyes!  His shop's walls are large windows so you can watch the entire chocolate making process take place, as you can see in the photo collage above.



An interesting short video about Jacques Torres and the stories behind his chocolate shops and factories.


The day I visited the chocolate workers were busy making turkeys for Thanksgiving, and ......


....wonderful snowmen, Santas, Christmas trees and chocolate filled Santa's boots!

Inside the store there is a large counter on one side where you can make your chocolate selections


There were so many wonderful chocolates to choose from!

On the other side of the store is his barista counter with cafe tables where you can purchase a coffee, tea or a delicious hot chocolate.


I could not resist getting a hot chocolate! It's so good!


He also has beautiful gift baskets for sale which can also be ordered through his website, in case you need a wonderful holiday gift!

And now for my give away-- 


I like to buy Jacques Torres' two pound signature "Big Daddy" bars for baking, and I bought an extra Dark Chocolate one on this visit, as I thought it would be a fun give away.  It's 2.2 pounds of his wonderful pure chocolate -- excellent for eating, baking or making hot chocolate, and it is a $22 value!

You can see the complicated process of how Jacques makes his chocolate bars in a video on this link. 

Just leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered in the give away.  If you are a follower of my blog, or become one, I'll give you two chances to win, just let me know in another comment.  I'll use the random.org generator to pick a winning number out of all the comments on December 10th, so you'll receive the bar in time to use for some Christmas baking if you'd like.

Good luck!


I'm joining in on:
Outdoor Wednesday on Susan's blog A Southern Daydreamer
Alphabe Thursday for the letter  "J" on Jenny Matlock's blog
Friday Favorite Linky Party on Sandi's blog The Whistlestop Cafe Cooking

Thanks Susan, Jenny and Sandi!



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124 comments:

Melissa said...

I love your blog and I'm a follower! =]

Sharyn Sowell said...

Hi from Sharyn... I am not only a follower and fellow chocolate lover but I also link your blog on mine! I get my New York fix by reading your blog. My life is so different than yours but we have much in common. Sending you smiles from your friend in the Pacific Northwest.

Donnie said...

I'm a Follower happily. Donnie

ki4ggs(at)gmail(dot)com

Donnie said...

Did the store give you unlimited access? The photos are beautiful. Can't believe you're giving away chocolate and Jacques Torres no less.
You just know i want to win that....lol....Donnie

ki4ggs(at)gmail(dot)com

The Gathering Place said...

I can't think of anything better than chocolate! The colorful displays looked charming. How fun!

Carol said...

Pat, what a cool store that is, I could get lost in there for hours, what a nice sugar high that would be! I used to like him on the Food Network.

Of course I follow you, you show me all the places that I need to get to one of these days!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I remember trying his chocolate chip cookie recipe! What a chocolate icon he is. Loved the video and what a beautiful store he has.

Great giveaway, Pat!

Sheila said...

How generous of you to offer this amazing chocolate bar Pat. Please enter me in the draw. I enjoyed going shopping with you yesterday. you're so lucky to have a grandson to shop for!

Judy said...

Now that looks like an amazing place. I'll have a mocha at the barista counter...anytime.

Your give-away looks fabulous...but I would feel very guilty winning it since I am not the hugest fan of chocolate. Though I enjoy a good chocolate on occasion (and I am sure his is)...I can take it or leave it. Did you know there are people like that? I've only met a few.

Cheryl D. said...

I love chocolate--me want!

Cheryl D. said...

Oh, I'm a devout follower! And did I mention that I love chocolate?

Kathleen said...

I used to love watching his show on Saturdays years ago. He made such wonderful things from chocolate, and was so kind to the audience!

Kathleen said...

Of course I am a follower! We New Yawkers have to stick together!

Willow said...

Oh my! I don't usually sign in for give aways but for CHOCOLATE I'll do most anything!

Kate on Clinton said...

Jacques Torres is a magical place. We love the cookies too!

pam said...

I love watching how things are made. I never was really into chocolate....UNTIL about 3 years ago. Something happened....but I'm not into all chocolate...just the dark stuff. Oh the depth of my joy with any thing covered in dark chocolate. I'm getting inspired for the first time to do holiday baking and doing some dipping would be wonderful with this chocolate. Thanks for sharing with us Pat!

pam said...

I thought I was a follower...I love your blog but I guess I wasn't before...well I am now.

Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures said...

I follow.

Vee said...

First of all, I went back to see your Thanksgiving Feast and was reminded all over again how wonderful it was. I'll be back to watch the video at some point. I've always thought it would be great fun to work in a chocolate factory. Thanks for the opportunity to win this wonderful giveaway...please count me in and, yes, I'm a follower and yes, I'll make an additional comment.

Vee said...

Yes, I'm a follower. It's great fun to follow you for I never know where you'll take me next!

La said...

I'm a follower.

La said...

I could sit and listen to him talk all night long. :o) Tall, dark, handsome, French accent and a chocolatier... that's as close to the perfect man as I'll ever see. :o) La

Ginny Hartzler said...

Not only a giveaway, but a chocolate one! You have gone all out for Christmas! And such an expensive bar, too!! I think Jacques used to have a show on The Food Network, and I watched it once in a while. The video was so interesting, I loved the huge oven, it really looked more like a fridge! And the store being shaped like a cacao bean pod! Your pictures are all so mouthwatering, New York just has everything!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Yummy, chocolate!! Count me in!
Hugs,
Penny

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

And I am a follower....love your blog. It makes me feel like I am a New Yorker!

Blooming Rose Musings said...

You found my weakness ... Chocolate!!! What a great store to visit. I think once I entered a store like that it would be difficult to get me out! Fun post.
Your pictures are so charming that I can almost taste the chocolate now.

Blooming Rose Musings said...

And of course, you know I am a follower of your fabulous blog!!!

Sue said...

Hi Pat....thanks for a great tour of Jacques Manhatten shop...me and daughter drove out to Dumbo one day years ago looking for his shop out there and never did find it...plus it was very creepy over there...Is that where they filmed the Ferrari sequence in "Scent of a Women"....Anyhoo, I love what this man can do with chocolate...I have been making chocolate for years now so I never seem to buy things when I find these wonderful shops....I just go in for good ideas....basically I'm cheap!

Anonymous said...

So lovely of you to giveaway such a fantastic chocolate bar...goody, goody...!!!

BTW I found our local Home Goods store...great place, did most of g'kids Christmas shopping there...my DIL liked it to, we're going to go back after Christmas...thank you for telling about Home Goods in a previous post!

Anonymous said...

And I follow you too...have to keep up with your New York...!!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, You know that I don't participate in Giveaways anymore---but I'm sure that chocolate is WONDERFUL... IF I ever visited that place, I'd be going home with WAY too much chocolate... ha

YUMMMMMMMMMM....
Hugs,
Betsy

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

Those snowmen are adorable! And that hot chocolate looks heavenly. Thanks, my friend, for once again making my mouth water and my tummy growl!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Of course I'm a follower of you girlfriend!

Proud Italian Cook said...

I'm getting the shakes just looking at all this exquisite chocolate!!

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I am a follower. Thanks so much for hosting such a wonderful giveaway. Love & blessings from NC!

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

This chocolate would be amazing to use for baking! I would love to win! Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! This shop looks like my kind of place! I would love to visit there in person sometime. Love & blessings from NC!

Kris said...

OH MY!

Kris said...

Already a follower....and so glad!

dianasfaria.com said...

How very sweet & very generous of you to host a giveaway Pat!
& I happen to love dark chocolate, so I wouldn't have to bake anything if I won this - though I definitely would share it since I have many family members who love dark chocolate too.
: )

ColoradoBlondi said...

Wonderful! A piece of chocolate Heaven!

ColoradoBlondi said...

I am a follower, too.....love it!

dianasfaria.com said...

If I understood you correctly, I think I am supposed to leave an extra comment since I am a follower.
& I want to cooperate in every way possible to insure every chance to win that delicious chocolate.
: )

Unknown said...

Hello Pat, wow...chocolates and a giveaway, what a wonderful early Christmas present :) Too bad, I am so far away (sob*). You must visit Australia one day, and pop over to Asia of course. Hugs...M

Old Kitty said...

Oh me!! Me!!! Me, me, me, me me! *Jumping up in the air and waving like mad over everyone's heads cos they're all taller than me!*
LOL!! Awwww what a lovely giveaway!!

Pat I am MELTING and SALIVATING at these pictures. I can't even read the words I am so transfixed by the acres and acres of chocolate. My eyes are tearing up at such yumminess!!! Oh my, my,my!!!

I can't wait to get home to watch these clips - thank you! I'm at work and can't play them!! Booooo!!!!!! I could plead that it helps my Chocolate Addiction Illness but I don't the people here will understand..! :-)

Take care
x

Kat said...

Wow, every time I see a post and think THAT is the ultimate place to visit, you show us another. A chocolate factory? Be still my heart!
Great photos, this really looks like an amazing place. I would LOVE that chocolate bar (and I would share, too)
And of course I'm a follower :) Kat

A Bit of the Blarney said...

This post is just too decadent!!! Just like the chocolate!!! Have a grand day! Cathy

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Oh! Still following! ;) Cathy

Maria M. Boyer said...

Ooooh, chocolate. My one true addiction. You know I love your blog and that I am a follower! Fingers crossed. (Luscious pictures, too, Pat, thanks for the post.)

nanny said...

His store is beautiful!!!
What a great give away.

nanny said...

I am a happy follower!!

Claudia said...

Pat - that is a chocolate wonderland. I'd love to move in to the store/factory and just breathe in the sweet aromas.

lissa said...

chocolate! yay! I'm in, though my chances are slim seeing there's already over 50 commentors & yes I'm a follower

Pondside said...

You got me with the photo of the hot chocolate!
Of course I'd like to be entered, but I think that postage to Canada would be ruinous.....I'll hope!

Lovella ♥ said...

How absolutely fantastic. What a gorgeous chocolate factory. I use my blog friends page to follow your blog. .where you are linked.

It's another place to visit when I come to your part of the world.

Pondside said...

.....and of course I'm a follower. I wouldn't want to miss a single post.
Dreaming of chocolate..........

Anonymous said...

So THAT'S what heaven looks like! Oh my goodness! I wish you had a smell-o-blog! Enter my name! Big Mama would love to have a Big Daddy!

H said...

DROOL! That chocolate looks so good; especially the snowmen :)

Don't enter me in your giveaway thanks. I'm too far away.

Kim said...

I've been to the shop in Brooklyn - sooooo good!!!

Kim said...

I'm now a follower too!

steviewren said...

How generous of you Pat! Please put my name in the hat.

I love that one can watch the chocolate being made from behind the glass. It's sort of chilly in my house this morning. I need one of those delish hot chocolates.

steviewren said...

ps....I'm a dedicated follower of your blog!

zarpandit said...

i'm follower :)

zarpandit said...

it's favorite giveaway :D I've dreamed of living in the city..u are very lucky because i can not take everything you can get them..

Anonymous said...

Pat, I've been a follower for some time now, and I must tell you if I haven't already,I AM A CHOCO-HOLIC.
Chocolate has to be in my mouth at least once or twice a week or I go alittle crazy....GOT TO HAVE CHOCOLATE!...this post is one of my fav's...oh I just remembered that Hershey's Almond Bar,somehow chocolate always finds it's way into my groceries.It's calling my name,later!
-Jo
-LazyonLoblolly

Just a little something from Judy said...

What a generous giveaway!!! Not only do you continually share colorful information about wonderful places, and you document all the beautiful photos, but now you are offering chocolate. Lucky me, that visited you via this blog again today. I would love to visit Jacques Torre's chocolate heaven someday.

La Petite Gallery said...

That looks like such a great
place to meet friends for hot coco.
He is very handsome, and French too..
As usual you have another winning post.
I am crazy for dark chocolate.
yvonne.

Grandmother Mary said...

Never met a dark chocolate that I didn't love! Your generosity makes my heart happy.

Mary said...

Chocolate Heaven from Chocolate Haven! Another mouth-watering NYC food post from you~ Thanks for the chance to enter :-)

Mary said...

I'm a follower & a chocoholic :-)

Unknown said...

I loved the tour. The chocolate looks wonderful including the bar. I bet your giveaway will go big.

jfb57 said...

This is a very difficult post to read because you just want chocolate! Many thanks for all the interesting info!

Michelle said...

I always love the food posts! Makes me wish I was in the city. Love seeing the variety of foods. I do miss that here in the country.

I am a follower!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I could seriously hurt myself in that place!

podso said...

Another very interesting post! I'll be happy to enter any chocolate give away.

podso said...

And I'm a follower.

Donna said...

I love chocolate!

Donna said...

I'm a follower, Pat!

Hugs,
Donna

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I've seen Jacques Torres on the food network. He really knows his chocolate. I am a follower and would love a chance to win this wonderful gift.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Pat, I am not sure how much self control I would have in this place!! The hot chocolate alone sounds yummy. This is a wonderful give away.
♥, Susan

Tanna said...

I came to follow BEFORE I found out there was chocolate! Oh, my!

Thanks so much for your kind grandmother-to-grandmother comments.

It is so interesting, lately I have become very intrigued with the thought of visiting NYC! But, spend all my travel time visiting the grand... now, I can visit vicariously thanks to your blog!

BTW, I have a beautiful mosaic art piece with "mille fiori" throughout.

Toni said...

Pat, I just can't imagine how delicious a bit of that chocolate would be as it melted in my mouth!! "Good" chocolate is one of life's special pleasures.

Toni said...

Oh, for sure I am a follower. I can't wait to see where you'll be taking us the rest of this Christmas season. I'm a former upstate New Yorker who now lives in north central Florida. We still visit "the city" but not as often as I'd like so I visit through your blog!

From the Kitchen said...

I'm not sure why I wasn't already a follower since I enjoy your blog. I am one now. I am becoming more of a commenter since I love receiving them! I also love chocolate and New York. Oh my, I would love to visit the chocolate shop. And to have one of those turkeys or, for my Christmas dessert party, a Santa boot filled with chocolate would be wonderful. Of course, the bar would be most welcome!

Best,
Bonnie

Unknown said...

Oh my....I think I want to LIVE THERE! I don't think eating chocolate from there is enough! Wow! That place looks like heaven....in fact, I hope that's what heaven will be like!

Jenny said...

I love him, Pat!

And I love you for taking us by his place. It is absolutely magical. That cocoa looks killer.

I am a follower, and have been for a long time!

And I am not adverse to begging...pick me, pick me...even though I'm supposed to be circumspect and calm while visiting Alphabe-Thursday links!

ha!

I was really fascinated by the tour. I am soooo coming to visit you to pick up my prize in person...so you can take me there.

What a joyous stop today.

Thank you for linking.

A+

Susan Anderson said...

Oh my gosh! I need to visit that place!!

LOVE IT.

=)

Linda said...

Wow...you sure go to the coolest places! That is quite a shop...is the chocolate as good to eat as it is to look at? Wonderful!

Sea Witch said...

Your post is good enough to eat. Hope you and your hubby had a lovely Thanksgiving. I'm just now coming up for air and trying to catch up with my blogging. I so miss everyone when I'm away. Sea Witch ps. count me in the chocolate giveaway.

Wehaf said...

What a wonderful place to visit!

urchiken at gmail dot com

My name is Riet said...

Oh my goodness, all that chocolate. So yummy and interesting . Makes my mouth water. LOL. I won;t enter the give away as that would cost you a fortune on postage. :))Wonderful post Pat

Margaret said...

Hi Pat, Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven is definitely on my list to visit my next visit to New York City! Thank-you, Your pics are mouthwatering good!
Margaret from B.C.

Margaret said...

Hi Pat, I am a follower... I love Your blog! I also love dark chocolate! Thank-you for such a marvelous give away.
Margaret from B.C.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I love that shop Pat and I usually come home with some kind of brittle that has cranberries and pumpkin seeds together with chocolate. But seriously, anything from there is worth trying as you well know.

Judie said...

OMG!! I hope I win this! I will do almost anything for really good chocolate!
Seriously, this was a most interesting post. I love the pictures, too.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

You ever watch Luccile Ball and her girl friend Ethall working in a Chocolate factory?

Sara said...

Lush! I love his chocolate!

Sara said...

I am a follower - and our blogs are linked on my blog...

PERMANENT POSIES said...

Now that is just not fair to show off your chocolate shop. Yum! I LOVE chocolate....and NY.

Gracie said...

I'm dead and gone to Heaven.....and I put up some kilos just watching you photos, damn!

Melissa said...

Hi Pat. Thanks for your kind words on my blog. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Tucson. Drop by anytime. I'm looking forward to hearing about New York at Christmastime!

Anonymous said...

Just discovered your site and blog. Happy to be a follower on Facebook as of today!

Jennyff said...

Am I the only girl who doesn't have a thing for chocolate, in fact when I read Joanne Harris's book I felt quite queasy at times. No need to count me in the giveaway then!

Janie said...

NY is such a Wonderful place to be right now...I bet his hot chocolate is REAL hot chocolate...!

pippirose said...

Oh, how fabulous!
I'm Swiss, so chocolate is in my blood!
Thanks for the chance to enter your delicious giveaway.
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

pippirose said...

I'm a new follower via GFC.
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

Sarah said...

Pat, what a fun give away! Count this chocolate lover in the this one for sure.
Great post. You always give us such interesting information along with your amazing photos. ~ Sarah

Sarah said...

Pat, just me again to say I'm a follower! ~ Sarah

Maison Mutt said...

Chocolate?!?!?! I'm a follower...that's just too easy! I remember watching Jacques Torres on PBS when he had a show called...um Chocolate Circus? Something like that. Of course that was a long time ago ahem..... I was barely out of the crib. LOL!
Licks & Wags, Niki

Annesphamily said...

I would follow you anywhere Pat! Love that HUGE chocolate bar! Anne

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I'm entering this for my mom, the only thing sweeter than chocolate on this earth. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh wow white chocolate snowmen! Fantastic idea! Love the idea of a choc filled stocking. Great gift ideas.

OO dark choc giveaway! Yes please count me in! My fav chocs are either white toblerone at Christmas or Bendicts Bittermints- I know so different from one another! Both are delish if you get the chance to try them.

Fifi Flowers said...

YUMMY!!! Ooooh I hope I do NOT win... I'm afraid I would eat it ALL.... ooooh la la YUMMY!!!

Karena said...

Yum how delish!! I loved reading about the process and seeing the great images!!

Do come and enter my giveaway from Fifi Flowers $200 value!

xoxo

Karena
Art by Karena

GailO said...

Dark chocolate is my favorite! And this has to be the most fantastic smelling store in NYC!

I'm a follower:)

GailO said...

You know Im a faithful follower:)

Jo said...

Pat you are totally making me drool ... oh that chocolate looks like perfection!

Jo said...

you know, for some reason i thought i already followed you ... guess it was because i read your blog once a week ... so now, i am actually following!

Joanne Kennedy said...

Wow! How in the world did I miss this post of yours? I thought I have read every single one. So happy I didn't miss out on the chance to win this great gift. BUT, even if I don't win I was thrilled I got to read this post. I have always wanted to go to Jacques Torres shop but didn't know where it was. So while it wasn't the same (no yummy chocolate to taste and smell) as being there, I really enjoyed this post.

Joanne Kennedy said...

Oh and you KNOW I'm a big fan of your blog...and of yours :)
Hugs,
Joanne

mrs. c said...

I love dark chocolate and I am so glad that you are giving me this opportunity to win!

mrs. c said...

You know that this lady from Tennessee follows your faitfully!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This give away is now closed! Thank you all for your lovely comments and for becoming followers of my blog. I truly appreciate it!

JC said...

Hi ,
Very interesting pictures . Any idea if there is an outlet in denver?
Johann

Resh said...

Your blog is so awesome!
I just recently started following you.
You must of like traveling a lot?
Anyhow I got to visit this place!!!!