With a call on Wednesday before Thanksgiving from the inspector from Ag and Markets, I was expecting to set a date for this week for our inspection. Instead he said he was in Massena and was willing and able to stop by and do the inspection the day before Thanksgiving.
I was definitely grateful for that. We passed with no problems. We got our notice and posted in the window. The check for the food processing license wen in the mail on Friday and we satrted making chocolates on Saturday. Wwwwoooooo Whoooooo.
We are still waiting on the display cases, but at least we will have product to put in them when they arrive...hopefully this week.
We are planning a ribbon cutting with the Potsdam Chamber on Friday, Dec. 8 and our grand opening on Dec. 9. Needless to say, the village is a buzz and we better have a lot of chocolates and candy on hand. Everyone wants some for Christmas.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
The Tide is Rising
The buzz is still buzzing and we are still plugging away at the holes in the boat, hoping to get this ship sailing. I saw a sign today..."I hope by ship comes in before the dock rots." Boy did that hit home.
The new water heater should be installed on Sunday. Hey, the installer suggested that, not me. I told him, "If you don't mind working on Sunday, that works for me."
I hope to close on the second loan on Tuesday, if the lawyers tell me that they are finally happy with the endless paperwork they have heaped into the river. Shouldn't there be a law against that?
And the display cases were delayed yet again. It seems that they finally got the glass, only to find out that the lamanent that I picked was being discontinued. I was then able to pick the exact match for the custom cabinets that were installed this week...From the Heart. They look fabulous!
The large temperer and the cooling cabinet that had been on back order were also delivered today. Now we have a "fancy" cupboard to put in trays of chocolate to cook within 10-15 minutes.
We are to meet with some Clarkson students on Monday and their investors. They will sell a selection of SLC on the hill. For those of you who are not familiar with Clarkson, it is a fine engineering and busienss school, located in Potsdam, and known for its NCAA Division I hockey (same league with Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Cornell, etc.) Craig Conroy and Eric Cole are alums. But I digress.
So our new date to reach is Dec. 2. Hopefully we can start producing very soon, and get the place stocked.
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving, everyone.
Ellen
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Water Calming
So the latest on the water saga is that it was only a 6 gallon tank in the ceiling!!! No wonder we only got two inches in a 10 gallon sink (and that is just one basin). So we have on order a tankless, inline unit that will deliver hot water on demand. (All the rage in Europe, I'm told.) Hopefully we can also get someone who is skilled to put it in. I'm not really confident about that one. The two local guys I talked to hadn't installed any. Since I ordered from Lowe's...they said they could install too. Here's hoping the plumber isn't a special order too!
Hopefully will have this special order by the end of the week. Nov. 17. Then we still need an inspection, hopefully before Thanksgiving.
On a positive note the stove was delivered Friday and I believe the other cabinets are not too far behind.
And more good news, we have the signature Bear Paws ready. This is a peanut butter and jelly flavor in milk chocolate. Very, very yummy. You won't find that flavor just anywhere.
Hopefully will have this special order by the end of the week. Nov. 17. Then we still need an inspection, hopefully before Thanksgiving.
On a positive note the stove was delivered Friday and I believe the other cabinets are not too far behind.
And more good news, we have the signature Bear Paws ready. This is a peanut butter and jelly flavor in milk chocolate. Very, very yummy. You won't find that flavor just anywhere.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
What's In the Shop?
I was happy to join this blog to keep it updated but I wish the news were better. As noted in Troubled Water...things right now are not going great. I opened the door for the "fix-it" guy...hopefully, to fix the hot water heater but alas, I don't think he really fixed anything. He put in a new heating element...and then, can't figure out why the damn thing doesn't work! His only other option (after his sage "wait and see if it resets" advice) was to get a new water heater. Oh, and did I mention the water heater is in the ceiling?!
But on a better note, all of our orders and deliveries are showing up. We now have a gazillion pounds of chocolate (just no where to temper it yet) in milk, white, dark, and an extreme dark. We have colored cocoa butters to make the chocolate look "pretty". We have Jelly Bellies in about 12 flavors and some of their other stuff, like lemon drops, sour trout, and swedish fish. We have Jelly Bellies in soda pop flavors...these are soooo cute. They come in a small soda bottle shaped container and are filled with Jelly Bellies in the flavor of the soda pop. We have 7-Up, Grape and Orange Crush, A&W Root Beer, and Dr. Pepper. Yes...Dr. Pepper...minus the caffeine!
We also have several flavors of gourmet popcorn, including Chocolate Rain. We also have the Linda Lollies...a whole assortment of flavors including their dessert flavors. And I just received yesterday, and they're still out in the garage (mostly because each box weighs about 35 pounds!) Asher's organic and sugar-free chocolate bars. These are regular old prepackaged chocolate bars and not for melting down. Apparently, college kids requested organic chocolate which I suppose is better than them requesting "free-range" chocolate. Ha!
We also have a partial order of our gift baskets and containers. We will be making gift baskets by request, special-order, as well as having some already made and ready to go. Some of our ideas for gift basket themes include, The North Country Basket: including maple syrup and local products probably placed in an Amish basket. The College Basket: which may include a college themed item (a mug or keychain) as well as a Potsdam gift certificate. The Wedding/Anniversary Basket: to include champagne glasses filled with chocolate. The Magical Basket: to include special "magic wands" (pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with moons and stars), chocolate frogs, and jelly bellies. The Wild Center Basket: to include Adirondack Bark, and chocolate otters.
We've got lots of ideas and these are only a few. Naturally, all baskets will include an assortment of Saint Lawrence Chocolates. Our line is looking to have 12 flavors of creams in milk and dark, and a few white. Pretzel rods will be popular as will the chocolate covered Oreos which we experimented with this weekend. Yummy! Bark will always be ready to go...Cranberry Lake Bark already is popular with some of our "test" subject. Cranberry Lake Bark is a wash of dark chocolate dotted with cranberries and pine nuts. Frozen Cranberry Lake Bark is the same using white chocolate.
We're also working on a gumdrop recipe to make chocolate covered jellies and on a hot cocoa recipe. I'm working on a powdered hot cocoa mix but we have discovered a "sipping" chocolate that requires you to melt the chocolate and add your milk to that...while whisking...that's the very important part. Me, I'm the lazy cocoa maker and prefer the pop-it-in-the-microwave version, but Ellen assures me that the "sipping" chocolate is simply divine..."like chocolate pudding before it thickens".
So I hope this little temptation answers a few more questions about what we'll be carrying...when we finally get some hot water and some cabinets. When the kitchen is inspected...and I can start making the inventory. And don't be shy about sending some ideas our way...they won't get made right away, since I have about 2,000 pretzel rods ahead of you, but we can file them away for our first "expansion" to the flavor line.
I'm soooo excited.....can you tell???
Ange
But on a better note, all of our orders and deliveries are showing up. We now have a gazillion pounds of chocolate (just no where to temper it yet) in milk, white, dark, and an extreme dark. We have colored cocoa butters to make the chocolate look "pretty". We have Jelly Bellies in about 12 flavors and some of their other stuff, like lemon drops, sour trout, and swedish fish. We have Jelly Bellies in soda pop flavors...these are soooo cute. They come in a small soda bottle shaped container and are filled with Jelly Bellies in the flavor of the soda pop. We have 7-Up, Grape and Orange Crush, A&W Root Beer, and Dr. Pepper. Yes...Dr. Pepper...minus the caffeine!
We also have several flavors of gourmet popcorn, including Chocolate Rain. We also have the Linda Lollies...a whole assortment of flavors including their dessert flavors. And I just received yesterday, and they're still out in the garage (mostly because each box weighs about 35 pounds!) Asher's organic and sugar-free chocolate bars. These are regular old prepackaged chocolate bars and not for melting down. Apparently, college kids requested organic chocolate which I suppose is better than them requesting "free-range" chocolate. Ha!
We also have a partial order of our gift baskets and containers. We will be making gift baskets by request, special-order, as well as having some already made and ready to go. Some of our ideas for gift basket themes include, The North Country Basket: including maple syrup and local products probably placed in an Amish basket. The College Basket: which may include a college themed item (a mug or keychain) as well as a Potsdam gift certificate. The Wedding/Anniversary Basket: to include champagne glasses filled with chocolate. The Magical Basket: to include special "magic wands" (pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with moons and stars), chocolate frogs, and jelly bellies. The Wild Center Basket: to include Adirondack Bark, and chocolate otters.
We've got lots of ideas and these are only a few. Naturally, all baskets will include an assortment of Saint Lawrence Chocolates. Our line is looking to have 12 flavors of creams in milk and dark, and a few white. Pretzel rods will be popular as will the chocolate covered Oreos which we experimented with this weekend. Yummy! Bark will always be ready to go...Cranberry Lake Bark already is popular with some of our "test" subject. Cranberry Lake Bark is a wash of dark chocolate dotted with cranberries and pine nuts. Frozen Cranberry Lake Bark is the same using white chocolate.
We're also working on a gumdrop recipe to make chocolate covered jellies and on a hot cocoa recipe. I'm working on a powdered hot cocoa mix but we have discovered a "sipping" chocolate that requires you to melt the chocolate and add your milk to that...while whisking...that's the very important part. Me, I'm the lazy cocoa maker and prefer the pop-it-in-the-microwave version, but Ellen assures me that the "sipping" chocolate is simply divine..."like chocolate pudding before it thickens".
So I hope this little temptation answers a few more questions about what we'll be carrying...when we finally get some hot water and some cabinets. When the kitchen is inspected...and I can start making the inventory. And don't be shy about sending some ideas our way...they won't get made right away, since I have about 2,000 pretzel rods ahead of you, but we can file them away for our first "expansion" to the flavor line.
I'm soooo excited.....can you tell???
Ange
Monday, November 06, 2006
Troubled Water
So, as I checked our the new sink this weekend, I made a discovery that my hot water was not staying hot. Can't pass inspection without hot water. Thus, first thing this morning, I called the contractor. He checked...circuit breaker it seemed. As we talked, he ran the water...hmmm same problem, only two inches of hot water before it goes cold.
I call the landlord. He says that the neighbors reported not having hotwater on Friday, and someone was working on. It might be a related problem. I certainly hope so, I 've told the inspector, I'm ready to have him visit.
I call the landlord. He says that the neighbors reported not having hotwater on Friday, and someone was working on. It might be a related problem. I certainly hope so, I 've told the inspector, I'm ready to have him visit.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Needed Update
We are getting very close to opening. We are pushing to be open by Thanksgiving!
The chocolate has been delivered, along with the Jelly Bellies, containers, Linda's Lollies, and we have a lot of packaging.
The shoppe looks wonderful. Light green walls, aqua colored tile. We added fleur d'lea hangers for the coats, and Angela put together the computer desk and chair.
We have our refrigerator and sink in place. Hope to have our inspection this week (Nov. 6) with NYS Dept. of Ag and Markets. We are waiting on the custom cabinets with the stove. As soon as the inspection is done and the stove is hooked up, we'll start making our inventory. Then will all else is in place we will open our doors.
Will try to keep everyone posted. Angela, the GM, will also be able to post now...she'll be much better at getting you up to speed.
The chocolate has been delivered, along with the Jelly Bellies, containers, Linda's Lollies, and we have a lot of packaging.
The shoppe looks wonderful. Light green walls, aqua colored tile. We added fleur d'lea hangers for the coats, and Angela put together the computer desk and chair.
We have our refrigerator and sink in place. Hope to have our inspection this week (Nov. 6) with NYS Dept. of Ag and Markets. We are waiting on the custom cabinets with the stove. As soon as the inspection is done and the stove is hooked up, we'll start making our inventory. Then will all else is in place we will open our doors.
Will try to keep everyone posted. Angela, the GM, will also be able to post now...she'll be much better at getting you up to speed.
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