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.
Olive & Sinclair will ship their artisan chocolate directly to you! Simply shoot them an email through their website 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.
oooo the things i could do with this chocolate :)
I can’t even imagine how divine it must taste. Chocolate is my biggest weakness…I can never say no. Everything I bake always taste better when it’s made with chocolate.
stone ground artisan chocolate, oh my! makes me think of the Juliette Binoche in ‘Chocolat.’ and Mexican Cinnamon Chili — fantastic!
cheers,
*heather*
Now, the trick would be resisting the temptation to literally tear into the packaging. If I could exercise just a modicum of restraint, I’d not only have chocolatey goodness to enjoy, but pretty, pretty packaging to pop into a little frame.
The labels are so pretty!
I am always up for trying new chocolate
Wow, how exciting! Pick me! I remember going round the schaffen burger factory and it was just heavenly!
*raises hand* me! I want to win! So excited about this chocolate, and I love the fact that it’s local and so well crafted. Great thing to come to Nashville.
Love, love, love the new Mexican chocolate bar! The hot chocolate made from it at the Fall Fest was the best I’ve had.
Awesome contest!
Win or lose I’ll definitely be looking them up next time I’m in town for a hockey game. Ha.
I can’t wait to taste one of these bars! The salt and pepper version sounds wonderful!
I’m such a sucker for good chocolate. This sounds amazing; you’re lucky to have it as a local business.
Oops, I don’t know how to do a link to my tweet about the giveaway!
That sounds amazing!! MMMMM mexican cinnamon chili – now i’m drooling. if i don’t win, i might have to take a road trip to get some. :)
Please count me it. The sea salt sounds so good. I am a self confessed salt-aholic and this sounds like a great combo.
BUHHHH, this sounds amazing. I’ve GOT to buy some Mexican Cinnamon Chili. Immediately. Enter me, please!
Oooooh, the flavors all sound so divine! Wouldn’t they be wonderful in truffles! (Which I just happen to be making as Christmas gifts this year.) I’ll be bookmarking their website for future use. Thanks so much for the chance at the giveaway!
they look AMAZING. I would love to win – thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to enter, please, if Canadians may – it looks like they have some unique flavours.
The wrapping for the chocolate is just lovely. Pretty wrapping makes anything taste extra good. We eat with our eyes first.
Yum…..
Not only would we love to win the chocolate, but we love your blog and it’s posted on our blog http://www.catsbythesea.blogspot.com/
Hurrah for chocolate!
Salt & Pepper?? I must taste this!
Wow, I had no idea Nashville was such a foodie town. I’ll have to come by for chocolate and the tomato fest!
I used to live in Nashville and looooove chocolate! In fact, I met my husband there! =) Hooray for local deliciousness!
Oh, those sound so delicious! I’m impressed you can let go of a few to give away and not eat them yourself. :)
Chocolate sounds delicious! And hooray for local! 3/50 Project, anyone?
WHooohoo for Chocolate! Pick me! These are going to make great favors for our wedding out of town guests!
Thanks for introducing me to a great local artisan! I’m surprised I haven’t seen O&S chocolate before, but I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for it.
Add me to the list–sounds delicious!!
wow, what an awesome tour! and that packaging is a work of art! i think i’d save that first and then eat the chocolate. thanks for contest!
Mmm, chocolate…
We consider Ghirardelli Chocolate local here in California, but I would love to try another local product.
I adore Olive & Sinclair. I’ve been spending far too much money on this lately; it would be awesome to win!
My mouth is watering – and the packaging makes it even better!
I love love LOVE sweet and would love to try their salt and pepper bar. Also, their package design is gorgeous!
Delicious! I would love to try Salt & Pepper… I’m looking them up! :)
http://twitter.com/kjpugs
Tweeted!
I can’t resist chocolate. I always ask my fiance to bring home a “sweet treat” after he is out!
I’m jealous! I’m in the wrong side of TN. I wish it was available in Memphis too! I guess I’ll just have to get some on my next time in Nashville or order online!
This sounds and looks absolutely heavenly. Their chocolate combinations seem genius.
Yum! My favorite treat lately is chocolate. I love the pics from the tour! It is really cool to see how things come together into a final product. Thanks!
oh my.. that’s my kind of giveaway! fancy chocolate in cute wrappers.. i’m sold
looks delicious! love the packaging.
mmm chocolate
Love some O&S Chocolate. Just tweeted it http://twitter.com/theeverett
I live in a tiny village, surrounded by nothing by farms for miles. While driving past huge fields of corn and cows on my way home from the supermarket (20 miles away), I wondered why I wasn’t buying local produce and meat. There are farm stands everywhere. Going to work on it.
I love dark chocolate, especially with salty or savory additions–the cinnamon-chili bar sounds wonderful.
Oh, yummmmm! What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks!
Count me in! Here’s the link to my site: http://thejoinersdonashville.blogspot.com/2009/10/lunchtime-list_29.html
That label is adorable!! I like the whole brand they developed.