Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate CONTEST!

I feel like I’ve done a lot of product reviews and giveaways lately, and trust me I’m not complaining! It’s so much fun to try new products and then give my wonderful readers (that’d be you) a chance to give them a try.

Today though I have a very different review and a super great contest for you.  Oh and yes, it involves chocolate, and tea. You can tell why I’d be excited.

 

 

About a month ago (actually before the other giveaways I’ve offer lately) I talked to Francine from Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate through a mutual connection (not giving away any names but she’s on her a lot.) Francine now lives and works out of the Brandywine Valley which is the Greater Philadelphia for those of you who aren’t familiar.

Francine has such a great story. After studying chocolate making at the Ecole Chocolat in Vancouver, Canada Francine moved from her native New York to pursue her dream of making her own artisan chocolates here in Pennsylvania.
 

Francine’s chocolates are made using fair trade chocolate, quality and even organic ingredients. Not only that but five percent of all of proceeds are donated to the Church of Christ disaster relief efforts.

 

 

I was so excited to try her chocolates so Francine was kind enough to send a variety box of her chocolates for me to try and I have a lot to tell you about them!

 

Francine sent me three of her flavors which were all so different but equally delicious.

 

 

The flavors I tried were the Dark Salted Caramel, Turtle in a Shell, and the newest tea-infused Black Currant.

 

The first chocolate I tried was the Dark Salted Caramel.

 

 

“Buttery caramel center in a 64% dark chocolate shell sprinkled with sea salt.” I must say that is a good way to describe it! The caramel was not you expect now a days from most candy caramel which can be syrupy and tough. Instead the caramel is soft, buttery, and melts in your mouth reminding me so much of the chocolates I had in England. I love dark chocolate so the combination of the light almost savory caramel, dark chocolate and just a light dusting salt went together so nicely. An easy favorite for those who don’t like overly sweet chocolates!

The second chocolate I tried was the tea infused Black Currant.

 

“38% white chocolate center infused with black currant tea in a dark chocolate shell.” When I first talked to Francine she mentioned her new creation, the Black Currant. How she knew Black currant was one of my favorite flavors of all time I have no idea! Black currant is such a popular flavor in Britain which makes this chocolate remind me the most of England. What I love about this chocolate is it is not what you would expect.
 

As soon as you bite into the Black Currant you the taste sweet berries with a creamy finish. You can definitely taste the tea infusion in this one. The sweet of the currants and the herbiness of the tea mixes so well with the dark chocolate. The ribbon of white chocolate on top pulls the whole chocolate together making it such a sweet treat. This is the best chocolate for fruit lovers!

 

The last chocolate I tried was the Turtle in a Shell.

 

“Buttery caramel and roasted pecan center in a 64% dark chocolate shell. Topped with roasted pecan.”  This was my favorite chocolate of all. The “turtle” had a slightly milder dark chocolate that went perfectly with the roasted organic pecans. You can instantly taste the bits of pecans swirled in caramel that is more substantial to compliment the crunchiness of the nuts. I love the almost liquor-flavor of this chocolate. If I had to choose I would buy a box of just these! (And probably one of each of the other ones….who could choose?)
 

But with a good segue to that…
 

You don’t have to choose!
 

On Francine’s website the chocolates are arranged into collections.
 

The Royal Collection features quintessential tea-infused British flavors. Looking at the Lavender Earl Grey, ginger blossom, even chocolate Chai I started to get home-sick for my home-away-from-home! I know a certain blogger friend who would like the Chai especially and I would like the Irish Mist with black tea and Irish cream! This would make such a unique gift!
 

I have envy over the Imperial Collection including Wine and Spirit Infused chocolates including the best liquor flavors like Kahlua, Pina Colada, Amaretto, Champagne, and more! These chocolates not only feature liquor flavors but also the great tea-infusions Francine prides herself on. This is what tea infusions were made for: organic black tea, white tea, osmanthus flowers, rooibos and so many others it makes my mouth water!
 

The Traditional Collection which includes "Old Time Favorites" with a twist like the Salted Saramel, the Turtle, and four other flavors including Hot Chocolate, Hazelnut Gianduja, Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry, and Peanut Butter Ganache! This is the one for classic flavor lovers!
 

Not only that but Francine offers lots of special items such as Wine Chocolates for Borderland Vineyards and Chocolate covered Brownie bites!

 

 

Review: I love the variety Designs by Francine includes in the artisan chocolates. Every chocolate is incredibly unique using flavors from all over the world. While this is a new business, Francine is well on her way to having a hit! Despite my vacuum-like qualities sometimes in actuality I am very picky about chocolates. You can tell Francine puts a lot of love in to all of her chocolates. My favorite was Turtle in a Shell because I love pecans. I’m big about supporting small and local businesses because that’s usually where the best products come from. I hope you decide Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate no matter where you are in the US, you’ll be supporting a pretty great business from what I’ve seen.

Great for tea time too!

Have I made you hungry yet? Good!

When Francine and I talked about this review she had the great idea of doing something different than just a giveaway. Since her chocolates are so unique we wanted to give you my readers a chance to come up with a tea-infused flavor of your own!
 

The Contest

 

Have you ever thought about having your favorite flavors prepared in an artisan chocolate? Here’s your chance! Designs by Francine Artisan chocolate is giving one reader a chance to create their own unique chocolate including their favorite tea blends!

 

• One (1) reader will receive a 12 piece box of the chocolates they create from Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate!
• The winner’s name and unique chocolate creation will appear on Designs by Francine’s website for sale! (With recognition for the winner)

Here’s what you do:

• Name the type of chocolate: white, milk, or dark.
• Suggest the type of tea you would like infused in the center of the chocolate. Be creative! (For ideas check out Francine’s website)
• NAME YOUR CHOCOLATE! Come up with a name that reflects the flavors and personality of your creation!

The Tea flavors are endless! Have fun!

 

The Rules:

 

• The Contest will run for two weeks from September 12th to September 25th. Designs by Francine will decide the winner soon after and I will announce it here on the College Cuisiner and contact the winner!! Please give Designs by Francine time to create your unique chocolate.
• Open only to readers living in US
• Entry must be included in a comment on this post.

• Leave a way for me to contact you: email, google account, etc.

Please spread the news via Facebook, twitter, and your own blogs!

 

Tweet and Facebook this contest!

 

 "Just entered the Designs by Francine Artisan Chocolate #contest on the @CollegeCusiner! #Enter now! http://www.thecollegecuisiner.com/2012/09/designs-by-francine-artisan-chocolate.html"

 

Thanks to everyone who enters! Good Luck!

 

P.s. if you are in the Philadelphia or Brandywine Valley Area on September 30th, Francine will be at the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Harvest Festival at the Borderland Vineyard on Landenberg, PA. Stop by for a chocolate tasting utilizing Valrhona, Michel Cluizel and Venchi fine chocolates! Let her know I sent you!

 

Love,

 

The College Cuisiner

 

Note: Designs by Francine offered a free sample and the opportunity for a contest on the College Cuisiner. I was not compensated for a positive review and all opinions are my own. Like…yummy.

 

 
 

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals Review/Giveaway

Welcome back to school everyone!

If you are not “Back to School” yourself you probably know someone who is whether it is your child at their first week of the First Grade or the soon-to-be underfed college student in your life. Maybe you just are a busy professional who had a hard time finding and packing a lunch that is still healthy and cost effective.

Well do I have just the thing for you.

The lovely people from GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals sent me two of their great boxed-no refrigeration needed meals to try.

I was so excited to try these meals as I’ve heard a lot about them from different friends.

 To my surprise when I returned to my college campus this week I saw them neatly stacked awaiting me to purchase them in my school’s convenience store! It must be fate!

One of the best things about GoPicnic meals is not just that they are convenient, healthy, but they come in multiple varieties including Kosher, All-Natural, vegan, vegetarian, and most important, gluten-free! Finally there is an easy nutritious option for those suffering from Celiac disease and other gluten intolerances. As I have several close friends who are Gluten-Free I was very excited to work with GoPicnic.

Note: GoPicnic provides a variety of meals, which are not all gluten free. It is important for consumers (you) to review the product packaging and labels because there are several meals, which are not gluten free.

The first meal I tried was the “Turkey Stick and Crunch” which included the following gluten-free goodies:

1 Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Stick
1 bag of Popchips Barbeque Potato chips
1 bag of Niagara Natural Simply Fruit Tropical Bites
1 bag of Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix
1 Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunchy Cookie

I enjoyed/devoured this meal in a school setting if you couldn’t tell. GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals are perfect for kids school lunches as they are easy to pack and don’t need refrigerated. I love how conscious GoPicnic is about balanced meals. The calories, fiber, and protein are printed right on front so you know what you are eating.

I loved the turkey stick which reminded me off the less-healthy beef-jerky snacks I had as a kid so it was the best of both worlds! The turkey stick was smoky, salty, tangy and a treat for those who don’t eat beef! As I haven’t eaten beef or pork for 11+ years now, GoPicnic was nice enough to only send varieties I could actually eat. And boy did I like this one!

My favorite product was the Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix. Their mix was sweet, salty, and slightly spicy and added the perfect “crunch” to the meal. As they are needed to be small to fit, I felt myself wanting more than 5 or so bites of the Fruit & Nut mix. I’m greedy like that!

The Niagara Natural Simply Fruit Tropical Bites were such a treat. Chewy and satisfying, they had just enough sweet and a big fruity flavor to match along with a full serving of real fruit! The Barbeque Popchips were a familiar product to me but I’ve never tried them before. The popped potato chips gave a great barbeque flavor and a satisfying crunch that made me feel guilty being in the library!

I love the idea of the Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunchy Cookie. It is the only product in the box which is specifically made for gluten free eaters but its crunchiness and very chocolately flavor is great for anyone! It left a bit of graininess in your mouth behind but that is to be expected from a Gluten-free cookie.

 

The next box I tried was the all-natural Peanut Butter + Crackers meal. This meal included:

1 bag of Partners Get Movin’ Honey Wheat Crackers
1 package of Peanut butter & Co. Smooth Operator Peanut butter
1 Sweet Perry Orchards Unsweetened applesauce
1 bag of Annie’s Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies
1 bag of Professor Zim Zam’s Extraordinary Sweets

This super-kid friendly box includes some of the best peanut butter I’ve ever had on Honey sweet crackers. This box was definitely much sweeter than the turkey stick box and has a few more calories. If you or your loved ones have a peanut allergy, GoPicnic has a Sunbutter (Sunflower) variety as well! I enjoyed the Peanut Butter + Crackers meal outside like a real picnic.

So scenic don't you agree?

I really liked the Peanut Butter meal but after awhile I found myself craving savory other than the Cheddar Bunnies Crackers. If you have kids, I recommend this box as it has healthy all-natural foods along with the things they love like cheddar crackers, gummies, applesauce, and of course peanut butter and crackers! If you are a kid-at heart you’ll love this box!

Review: Overall I love GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals. I couldn’t get over that the box not only locked to store the goodies you haven’t eaten yet, but there is a Sudoku puzzle printed inside the box!

Talk about the full package! Along with the fun facts printed within GoPicnic is very proud that the products they include have no trans fat, no high fructose corn syrup and no added msg. As a busy college student with classes all day I know how difficult it can be to pack a lunch I still feel good about. Leftovers are great but they more often than not need refrigeration. GoPicnic is pretty affordable (around $5 each) and are easy to store, carry around, and eat!

Personally, after eating a full box I felt a bit hungry soon after but that’s because I have a crazy metabolism. For the average person and more importantly, a student, GoPicnic boxes provide a great variety of food to eat all in one sitting or throughout the day. Their ready-to-eat meals provide a full meal for anyone just add a water bottle and maybe an extra piece of fruit (though there are plenty of fruit servings included in each box.) If you are looking for something easy for you or your kids, GoPicnic boxes are the way to go. They are so many varieties to choose from based on diet or just flavor! I can’t wait to try the hummus, salmon spread, and turkey pepperoni varieties!

Whether it is in your local store or online, give GoPicnic a try and you won’t be sorry!


More info about GoPicnic:

As there are many different products in each box, GoPicnic works are the perfect place to bring these items together. Found one item you like and want it separately? GoPicnic Grocery allows you to buy bulk of the items you love the most from GoPicnic in small and large packs! Meals and Care Packages with many at great sale prices!

Want some of your own?

GoPicnic is giving away TWO (2) boxes of their ready-to-eat meals to one (1) lucky reader of the College Cuisiner for Back-to-School with GoPicnic!!

What do you have to do?

 

Here are the rules:

• First, sign up for the GoPicnic newsletter on GoPicnic.com and comment here on this post letting me know you did and what two ready-to-eat meals you would like to try.
• Leave a way for me to contact you: Google account, email, etc.
• Open to U.S. Residents Only

 

Extra Opportunities to Enter:

(please post a separate comment for each additional entry)

•  Like GoPicnic on Facebook
• Follow GoPicnic on Twitter
• Visit GoPicnic's Facebook page and tell GoPicnic what is your favorite product (or the one you would like to try) and WHY
• Like the College Cuisiner on Facebook
• Like the College Cuisiner on Twitter
• Post this giveaway to your twitter, facebook, or blog!

 

The giveaway starts Tuesday, August 28th and ends Monday, September 3rd at 5:00pm! I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, September 4th!

 

If you have any dietary restrictions such as gluten-free or one of GoPicnic’s special dietary varieties let me know and we will make sure you only receive meals you can eat!

In addition, GoPicnic wants to give everyone the chance to try their products! All College
Cuisiner readers can get 10% off their online order at Gopicnic.com!!

Just enter the following discount code when you order online and you’ll receive 10% off your order!

Discount Code: CS10

 

ENTER NOW AND DON’T FORGET TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!

 

Love,

The College Cuisiner

WIAW #39: Lots of Eats, Birthday, and Giveaway Winner

I’ve had a busy week of eats since last Wednesday and I’ll do my best to share a “taste” of it with you.

*update* I was so tired last night when I posted this not only did I post the preview link to the lovely Jenn's site on accident, I also misspelled Birthday. To solve this issue I now vow never to clean my apartment again, the source of my exhaustion and confusion. Enjoy the updated version of this post!


As August is coming to an end what better Summer Staple than street fairs!

On Thursday, Aaron, my best friend Nichole and I went to the Philly Night Market in the neighborhood of Mt. Airy. We first went to the Night Market in May when it was close to my sister but missed the June one and there wasn’t one in July. I loved the varieties of vendors and the crowd. The Market goers were mostly families versus the last one we went to which was 95 percent hipster. Change of neighborhood, change of clientele.

Our first stop on the Night Market Drag was the Lil’ Pop Shop homemade popsicle cart! I was so excited to try these and I was definitely not disappointed. I had the “Drunken Plum,” fresh plums and German beer. Best popsicle of my life! Nichole had the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. We went back at the end of the night and I got the Earl Gray Black Pepper but the plum was absolutely my favorite.

I also got a bottomless cup from the New Hope Premium Fountain Soda- homemade all-natural/conscious soda making. Awesome. I had the Ginger and the Orange Mango.

We then all split some macaroons from Sweet Philly Truck. I had the Pecan Sandy and it was delicious.

I also had a lovely chicken sausage sandwich with buttermilk dressing, slaw and a spicy sauce. Really Good.

I love the Night Market!


On Saturday (my birthday) my mother came down and we spent the day at a few Bucks County wineries, had a wonderful tasting and did a little bit of shopping. Great day.

We had my birthday dinner at Chifa, a Joses Garces restaurant in Philadelphia based on the cuisine of Cantonese immigrants to Peru who created the “Chifa” cuisine. Very pricey but very good. We did the chef’s tasting menu and we all felt stuffed to death afterwards.

Here’s the only good picture of the food I got. Oysters.

On Sunday Aaron’s mom, Lisa took us out again for my birthday near here at the Four Dogs Café.

THIS PLACE HAS STICKEY TOFFEE PUDDING! And it is really good! I might have to go back just for that!

Here’s our eats from there:

See that? That's what stickey toffee pudding should look and taste like.

Not to mention some of the meals I had this week....
 

I'm experimenting with breakfast bowls and the extremely inexpensive bag of chia seeds I found at Trader Joe's.

 

Homemade Coronation Chicken Salad

 

 

Homemade Chicken Rice Stew: both products of the same chicken I've gotten four meals, gravy and a nice stock to make ice cubes out of too.

 

 

Same chicken in a pita wrap

 

Same chicken on a pizza

Tea Time! Including one of the amazing chocolates I'll be giving away soon! Well, not this one, this one is mine.

And a few of the incredibly thoughtful gifts from my family I was able to photograph:

Bone China tea set from my mother (we've got this baby and 6 cups for a steal in Peddler's Village, Bucks County, PA)
 

 

Wool Royal crown tea cozy from my sister! Yep, she made this! (Her own design, jealous?)
 

Fresh basil and flowers from the garden

My sister's homemade lavendar shortbread tea biscuits, so good!

A tea kettle from Jon (and Mackenzie.) Needed one!


And many other amazingly thoughtful gifts! Thank you family!


This week I will have to share with you my recipe for traditional Basil Pesto. One of my favorite summer staples!

Because of my busy week, crazy apartment cleaning, etc. I’m exhausted! What did you do this week?


But now to the winner of my giveaway:

Congratulations to Meredith M. who won my giveaway for the new Vegan Conscious Box! I will contact you to get your free box sent out! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Look out for my two amazing upcoming giveaways starting next Tuesday for “Back to School!”

Enjoy!

Love,

The College Cuisiner

WIAW #38: Conscious Box Giveaway

Not only is it WIAW but I've also got a great giveaway from Conscious Box!

I was so excited when the great people from Conscious Box contacted me about doing a giveaway for their new 100% vegan Conscious box subscription. As you know I think a lot of Conscious Box and their company’s policies.

But first as it is Wednesday we need to talk about my eats this week. I haven't done many "staples" this week but I hope you like it anyway!

 

 

Mini grilled cheese and tomato soup

Tribe Cracked pepper hummus, carrots, mixed olives, crackers

Dark chocolate Digestive biscuits with tea and cream

Great Grain cranberry cereal with whole frozen cranberries, fat-free milk

Yesterday:

Lunch

Leftover Spanish rice mixed with chicken, corn, tomatoes, black beans
One Zestar apple with a little Justin’s honey almond butter
Iced water and cucumbers

Dinner

From Bake 425 in Bryn Mawr:
Margarita pizza on whole wheat crust, Southwest Salad, half a roll
 glass of red wine

Dessert

Homemade double chocolate brownie and fat-free milk

As Aaron and I have moved into our new apartment it is nice to finally settle down. As always, I was lucky to have some good eats.

 

But now back to Conscious Box!

I reviewed their eco-friendly box awhile ago and loved it! But now they have an all new vegan box!

Conscious Box has teamed up with Brendan Brazier, former pro Ironman triathlete, bestselling author of Thrive, and formulator of Vega. Brendan Brazier is known as a top authoritative source for the vegan, plant-based diet, and has used his experiences to help create one of the most incredible Conscious Box experiences yet!

This is what they have to say about this new box:

 

“It's packed full of an incredible assortment of vegan lifestyle goods, each hand-selected by Brendan.”

I can’t wait to try the new vegan box myself and I’m sure you are too! Want to try the first ever vegan Conscious Box?

Here’s your chance!

What's the Giveaway?

• ONE lucky reader will receive 1 (one) month's subscription for the new Vegan Conscious Box

Here's what you have to do:

• Like Conscious Box on Facebook.
• Once you've done that let me know and leave a comment telling me your favorite vegan or "conscious" product.
• Leave a way for me to contact you: email, google account, etc.
• Only open to readers from the US, sorry!

The giveaway starts August 15th and ends August 21st at 5:00pm. The winners will be announced on August 22nd and I will contact you!

Extra opportunities to enter:

(please comment separately for each extra entry and tell me what you did)

• Like The College Cuisiner on Facebook or Twitter
• Follow Conscious Box on Twitter
• Post this giveaway link on your blog, Facebook, Twitter!

Good Luck! And don't forget to tell your friends!

 
Love,

The College Cuisiner