Nashville’s own Willy Wonka + a Giveaway!
Buying local seems to be a trend lately. And I think that’s weird, it shouldn’t be trendy to support those in your community. It should be second nature. We’re getting there. But there is something that makes me giddy about a local business that truly rocks. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but the fact this amazing product, this truly divine thing, is coming out of my town, well, it makes me PROUD to live where I do. As Taylor and I are owners of two small businesses ourselves, to say it’s an important part of our lives is an understatement. And so when we stumble upon another talented individual doing something fantastic locally, well, I’m going to use whatever clout this little blog of mine gives me and promote the heck out of it. So there.
Enter Olive and Sinclair. The artisan chocolate company based in, you guessed it, Nashville. Owner Scott Witherow magically transforms unassuming raw cocoa beans into smooth and silky chocolate bars, like our very own Willy Wonka with a Southern drawl. I’ve been subtly stalking O&S since their chocolate first debuted this summer. I had my first taste of their unique Salt & Pepper bar at the Tomato Art Fest (yes, Nashville actually has a festival celebrating all things tomato), and I was hooked.
When I saw the O&S guys again this past weekend, they made sure to continue feeding my little addiction with samples of their newest creation, Mexican-style Cinnamon Chili. Yes, you heard me correctly. And yes, it is even more amazing than it sounds.
Did they hack into my dreams? Steal my vision for the best thing I could ever even fathom tasting? So while I may have previously been a die hard Salt & Pepper fan (the chocolate bar, NOT the group) Now? My heart belongs to Cinnamon Chili.
And the best thing about local businesses? They are approachable. On a whim, I sent the guys an email politely gushing like some sort of chocolate-covered teeny bopper. And you know what? It paid off. I got a factory tour.
Can I just say that some one needs to bottle the scent of a chocolate shop and sell it. Because I would totally buy it. Taylor and I came home still sniffing our shirts because it was just so wonderful.
The whole process of chocolate making is so intriguing to me. And the fact that Olive & Sinclair takes raw single-origin cocoa beans from Ghana and the Dominican Republic and transforms them into something so rich and divine, well, it’s truly amazing. When you’re eating chocolate, of any kind, you never really think about just how many steps it takes to get it there. There’s the roasting (which O&S does in a train-like coffee roaster), grinding (twice – once with an old-style stone grinder, and again with something a bit more high tech), then conching, tempering, molding, wrapping… and probably a half a dozen other steps that I can’t recall because I was too enamored with the scent and forgot to take notes. Whoops.
What makes Olive & Sinclair so special? It’s just as they describe it, Southern Artisan. Southern because the bars are made with brown sugar for an extra rich and robust flavor. Artisan because it is crafted by hand, the same hands that roast the raw beans also wrap the final bars. It’s an amazing process with an equally amazing outcome.
What’s even better is that the guys at O&S have so generously donated a mini-sampler of sorts. A delightful stack of 3 of their most popular flavors, plus an exclusive (not yet available in stores) bar of the aforementioned heaven that is Mexican-style Cinnamon Chili. And while I really just wanted to hoard all this goodness for myself (and, ok, maybe give a piece or two to Taylor), I am, against my better judgment, giving it away to one of you.
You heard me. One lucky winner will receive four bars of Olive & Sinclair chocolate, fresh off the line (O&S worker Casey literally wrapped them just before we walked in – in fact, I think we interrupted him in the process). The mini-sampler includes two of our favorites, Salt & Pepper and Sea Salt, plus the extra dark 75% bar, AND a super special exclusive sample bar of the Mexican Cinnamon Chili bar. How’s that for a prize?
TO ENTER: simply leave a comment on this post by midnight (cst) on Monday, November 2. Only one entry per person. I will randomly select the winner first thing on Tuesday morning.
You can also get yourself a BONUS entry by twittering about this giveaway, or posting it on your own blog. Simply leave an additional comment with a link to the tweet and/or blog post. One bonus entry per person (multiple tweets won’t get you multiple bonus entries).
Be sure you enter a valid email address, because if your name is drawn and I can’t get ahold of you, I will choose an alternate winner. You may also want to add me to your address book (lindsay AT loveandoliveoil DOT com) for good measure, I’d hate for your congratulatory email to end up in the spam folder. That would be a sad sad day.
Don’t want to wait for the results to get your hands on some of this goodness? Lucky for you Olive & Sinclair will ship their artisan chocolate directly to you! Simply shoot them an email through their website or blog to order. Tell them Lindsay sent you. :) I would strongly suggest you try their Salt & Pepper, Sea Salt, and the Mexican Cinnamon Chili (which should be available any day now), which are our favorites, but they have other varieties as well, including a 67% Dark, 75% Super Dark, Cocoa Nib, and Coffee Bean. Bars run $5 a piece, quite reasonable for such a decadent bar of chocolate.
Don’t Miss a Meal!
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mmmm. Salty chocolate is my new favorite thing. Actually, salty desserts in general are incredible.
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I so need this goodness. I am a bit broken and in need of some bliss.
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Yum yum! I sure hope I win!
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so excited…there is an artisan chocolate company
in brooklyn ny called mastbrothers & i love their
goodies…so i am happy to be included in this
giveaway….love sea salt chocolates! thanks!!
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This is awesome! Always looking for new kinds of chocolate to bake with!
Glad I ran across this!
Thanks
Deborah
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Salt and pepper chocolate bars? Count me in! Sounds delicious!
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Awesome giveaway, thanks for the opportunity!
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Oh yum – I would love to win this :)
Love the packaging!
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Chocolate……………………………….OMG!
OMGOMGOMG!
Chocolate is bits of heaven in a dark, creamy, sweet chunk to be savored on the tongue of mere mortals in preparation for eternity.
GIMMEE!
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This is outrageously exciting.
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my mouth is watering!
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It sounds amazing! Next time I’m in Nashville I know where we are going.
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Oh my! The sea salt sounds divine! And the wrappers are oh so cool!
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I love the wrappers — they look almost vintage!
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Here’s my Tweet entry: http://twitter.com/msbruschetta
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Oooooh those look soo good.
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this looks too devine to miss out. love the wrapper and the different flavours. tks
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Good god I want that cinnamon chili! Thanks for sharing the chocolate – I found this post via Foodgawker and I’m subscribing!
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Mmm, chocolate..
The sea salt one sounds scrumptious :).
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Yum! I would love to win
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I also just tweeted about this. http://twitter.com/jennisegraves
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This is great stuff,nice to see a product like this in the south and not Seattle or New york,so maybe this midwestern Hoosier willmake a trip to Nashville.
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I adore the packaging! Also, I obviously LOVE chocolate! Mmm, in fact, I could go for some right now!
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They look lovely! Sea salt and pepper on single origin chocolate= a dream come true.
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This looks amazing. In addition to the buying local trend, I totally love the artisan chocolate trend and hope it remains a permanent fixture here. I’ll take one nibble of Scharffenberger or Vosges over a pound of Halloween candy any day.
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I would love to win some free Olive & Sinclair chocolate. I’m a huge fan!!
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Hey! I had no idea they made chocolate in Nashville! WHY WASN’T I NOTIFIED THE LAST TIME I DROVE THROUGH? I love dark chocolate, and i use it to make Salty Chocolate Chippers. Wonderful! Have a great day!
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Chocolate…..love it! And locally made (I live in Memphis). I must try this.
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Linked your blog and chocolate giveaway on twitter
http://twitter.com/bakingpictures
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I would LOVE to try some of those chocolate. The packaging is so vintage chic, I love it!
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These look delicious…have enjoyed your blog.
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One word. Yum.
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Wow this sounds amazing. Here’s hoping I win, and get some delicious chocolate to show for it!
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Oh man, I’m drooling. What an amazing giveaway!
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YUMMMM :)
These look sooo good. Love what can be done with chocolate
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CHOCOLATE!
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Spicy chocolate is the.best.thing.ever!!!
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I LOVE your BLOG – found it a couple of weeks ago…the chocolate with chili made my mouth water immediately…I need a little bit of that heat…I have just survived my first blizzard (back in Colorado) in nearly 8 years. Thank you for sharing.
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“…the taste of chocolate is a sensual pleasure in itself, existing in the same world as sex.”
~ Dr. Ruth Westheimer
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those look incredible and perfect for the chilly fall weather!
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Please oh please pick me!!!
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i neeeeeeeeeeeeeed to try the salt & pepper bar! yummmm!
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Oh man that chocolate sounds like amazing.
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SEA SALT BAR YUMMMMMMMMM
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I NEED CHOCOLATE! now please :)
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This makes me wish I still lived in Nashville…
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This California girl would love to sample some of that Southern chocolate you’ve got there. Would love to visit Nashville sometime too- I love music- especially country music. Debi
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Divine!! Thanks for entering me! Crossing my fingers (and drooling)…
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Chocolate! Is there anything better?
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ooo. Cinnamon Chilli Chocolate sounds awesome.
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Tweeted! https://twitter.com/asecondspring/status/5281486141
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this is incredible!
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One of my daughter’s favorite stories is when Curious George visits a chocolate factory. Naturally, he causes mayhem and eats far too many chocolates.
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Mexican Cinnamon Chili bar…how yummy!
Enjoy!
P.S. nice blog!
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Looks so delicious (and even love the packaging)!
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Chocolate for me? Pleeeeeeease?
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Yum – that chocolate sounds delicous!
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Link back:
http://alovefornewrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/10/chocolate-fudge.html
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I am enamored by the idea of salt AND pepper! I want it!!!
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1/158, i like those odds.
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Yum to everything, but especially the Mexican Chili! Love some good spices with my chocolate. Count me in for the giveaway!
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I love chocolate fingers crossed I hope I win I hope I win
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These cocolates are definitely worth blowing the diet
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I’ve got to get some of this chocolate – sounds delightful!
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Count me in!
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Oh man, the Mexican Cinnamon Chili Bar sounds so delicious!!
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I had some of the cinnamon chocolate served up to me in liquid form at the Produce Place Fall Festivall last Saturday and all I can say is it will take whatever chill you’ve got right off!
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they look amazing! count me in too!
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p.s. Here’s my tweet:
http://twitter.com/jbrassil/status/5288491636
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OOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!!!! Artisan Chocolate is my favorite vice! I have not heard of O&S , but now I must try… YUM!
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I have not heard of this company before, but it sounds yummy. Now I’m trying to think of more reasons to go down to Nashville. It’s not all that far from me.
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who doesn’t love chocolate!?
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just made some of those delicious black pearl cupcakes and they were a hit! would love to share some chocolate as well!
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Show me the chocolate!!! If there is one thing I would never give up…chocolate is IT!!!
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Please let me be the one to win!! My husband is a total chocolate freak and this will make the best surprise for him!
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I would love love love this! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
j dot marilyn dot evans at gmail dot com
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They sound SO GOOD!
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What a tasty giveaway. I’d love to sample the flavors.
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Ooh all of the chocolate just sounds amazing! I’m particularly interested in the Sea Salt flavor.. I think that would be awesome.
:)
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Yum! The mexican cinnamon chili bar sounds sooooooo good!
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Oo Oo The flavours sound yummy. Count me in
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It is nice to know of a semi local chocolate factory, thanks
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eep chocolate factories! i’d love to visit one.
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i love candy!
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sounds like you had an amazing experience! (and amazing chocolate…)
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These sound wonderful. As a fellow Tennessean I’m wondering where I might find them in the Memphis area. Please enter me!
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The chocolate is awesome (I got it at Crema) and I love the packaging.
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Mmm those bars look so delicious! Makes me want to go on a chocolate binge and eat up all the chocolate in the house though I’m sure nothing I have will compare. This post was the inspiration I needed to go out and make the chocolate chip cookies that I’ve wanted to bake for awhile!
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OH SWEET HEAVEN, I’m drooling as I type. My three favorite things: salt, pepper and of course chocolate!!!
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OH my goodness….Salt and pepper chocolate? I have to try that.
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Sounds like the perfect treat for me!
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i never say no to chocolate. looks great.
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Yum-Chocolate! Please pick me!
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Oh my, my two biggest vices chocolate and salt!
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I will try any chocolate anywhere, anytime.
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YUMYUMYUM!! I would LOVE to try these chocolate bars!!! :)
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Sounds delish!!
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If I win the golden ticket…I promise I won’t give the super secret recipe to Mr. Slugworth!!!
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mm, those sound amazing.
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Just my luck! I am going to Nashville in December — I just added CHOCOLATE to my to do list!
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