The Bee’s class read Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this year and waxed enthusiastically about what she would do in her own factory. Her dreams came alive when we were able to have our own chocolate experience last Saturday at the launch of the Lore’s Chocolates’ Birthday Party Experience!
The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the cozy factory, located at 34 S 7th Street (between Chestnut and Market!) was the wonderful aroma of chocolate. The luscious scent perfumed the air with a sweet smell that was attractive and welcoming. Our hosts of the party, and the owners, Tony and Maureen Walter, greeted us and invited us to sample some of the available chocolate while we waited. Due to her dairy allergies, The Bee was given a special dairy free treat of gourmet jelly beans as we waited for the party to begin.
After everyone arrived, aprons were distributed and the festivities began! Tony gave us a brief history of chocolate, the cocoa bean and all of the wonderful things made with cocoa. He even gave us some tips on how to check that our chocolate was fresh and pointers for tasting and savoring chocolate. The party goers were then split into two groups and The Bee and Dill’s group started at the enrobing line, a conveyor belt, in which their treats traveled in order to be drenched in chocolate. At this station the children were each given a container packed with mini pretzels, marshmallows and animal crackers that they could place on the belt. I was so proud and amazed at the children! The children patiently waited for their opportunity to place their items on the belt and were serene as they watched each item pass by. Dill created the ‘double decker’, stacking two treats upon each other, and inspired a few other children to give it a try.
While we watched the treats roll along the belt, The Bee and Dill made designs on their candies. Maureen had explained that there is a designated worker located at the main factory (located up on the Boulevard – North East Philadelphia for those not in the area) who makes designs on each type of treat to help identify them once they were covered. At the end of the line Lia helped the kids pack up their boxes patiently and kindly explained how to pack the boxes so that the candy would all fit and be presented well.
We switched groups and were partnered with Tony who shared how candied molds are made. Tony filled a mold with a rich dark chocolate and asked us how we thought we could keep the candy from settling. After some very clever answers (including spin it around and around until you got tired) we were introduced to machine that spins the chocolate while in the mold in order to make a hollow shape. This machine was brought in specifically for this event. The children then made molds of flowers using milk or dark chocolate.
We also got to learn the secret of making nonpareils. The perfect little dots of chocolate that Tony expertly showed us were not quite as easy for the The Bee and Dill and the other party goers to make! We wound up with lots of chocolate goodies that looked more like exclamation points but were still yummy to taste!
A final surprise…each child was given a peanut butter egg personalized with their name, chocolate bunnies the wonderful covered candies they made and information about the other yummy goodness that can be found at Lore’s Chocolates.
What a great idea for a party! Despite The Bee and Dill being a bit older than some of the other kids, they were just as excited and happy to take part in the stations and couldn’t stop talking about it. When asked, they said they didn’t feel rushed or hurried as we made our way through stations and wanted to stay longer. The Bee and Dill are campaigning for a return visit already and my friend Karla has planted an idea…a party for the grown ups with wine!
Here are some pictures from the day.
Please enjoy and remember ME when you schedule your own Lore’s Chocolates Birthday Experience!
Savoring some rich milk chocolate,
-r
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Some of our nonpareils |
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Maureen explaining how the chocolate is coated |
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A history of chocolate |
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The Bee enjoying some gourmet jelly beans |
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Some of our nonpareils treats |
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Dill watching the treats get covered |
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The plethora of treats we were to coat |
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The cocoa bean |
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Dries cocoa beans |
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One of the chocolate vats. (I wanted to dip a cup in for a sip!) |
I am so glad you had a wonderful time! It looks like an absolutely incredible place for a Birthday party! i hope they have tons of success!
First off, your descriptives made me feel like I was back in the shop. I love how your mind formulated everything that you wrote. It WAS a great experience.
Maureen and Tony are amazing people. I’m glad that we were able to share in this event before the world takes notice…I’m sure it will be one of Philadelphia’s most favorite party places for both children and adults.
Thank you for coming, thank you for sharing your family time with the group and thank you for your kind words.
First off, your descriptives made me feel like I was back in the shop. I love how your mind formulated everything that you wrote. It WAS a great experience.
Maureen and Tony are amazing people. I’m glad that we were able to share in this event before the world takes notice…I’m sure it will be one of Philadelphia’s most favorite party places for both children and adults.
Thank you for coming, thank you for sharing your family time with the group and thank you for your kind words.
First off, your descriptives made me feel like I was back in the shop. I love how your mind formulated everything that you wrote. It WAS a great experience.
Maureen and Tony are amazing people. I’m glad that we were able to share in this event before the world takes notice…I’m sure it will be one of Philadelphia’s most favorite party places for both children and adults.
Thank you for coming, thank you for sharing your family time with the group and thank you for your kind words.
i love chocolates!
First off, your descriptives made me feel like I was back in the shop. I love how your mind formulated everything that you wrote. It WAS a great experience.
Maureen and Tony are amazing people. I’m glad that we were able to share in this event before the world takes notice…I’m sure it will be one of Philadelphia’s most favorite party places for both children and adults.
Thank you for coming, thank you for sharing your family time with the group and thank you for your kind words.
i love chocolates!