I香蕉视频直播檓 sitting in a wingback chair in the luxurious Gold Lounge of Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 iconic Fairmont Empress hotel, soaking up the spectacular view of the Inner Harbour as velvety milk chocolate melts in my mouth.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a little darker than your typical milk chocolate with a 46.5 per cent cacao content, and I did that because it has more of a depth of flavour to it,香蕉视频直播� explains the Fairmont Empress香蕉视频直播檚 executive pastry chef, Gerald Tan. 香蕉视频直播淚 was inspired by the ocean so there香蕉视频直播檚 a touch of salt in there, a hint of caramel and honey, and fruity notes. We named it Golden Aura because the sunsets here are so beautiful.香蕉视频直播�
I香蕉视频直播檓 tasting the Fairmont Empress香蕉视频直播� new signature chocolates 香蕉视频直播� the creation of which, I香蕉视频直播檓 told, are a first for a Victoria hotel 香蕉视频直播揳nd they do not disappoint.
香蕉视频直播淲e try to do things that are special and make us stand out, so I really wanted to have a product that defines the Empress in dessert form,香蕉视频直播� Gerald says. 香蕉视频直播淭he whole idea behind creating the chocolate is to have something unique to the property and something that embodies not only the Empress, but also Victoria and Vancouver Island.香蕉视频直播�
With notes of bark and pine capturing the woodsy aromas of the West Coast, red berries from Vancouver Island, and a hint of rose to honour the hotel香蕉视频直播檚 lush rose gardens, the 66.8 per cent cacao dark chocolate does just that. It香蕉视频直播檚 called Midnight Bloom 香蕉视频直播� a nod to all the flowers in the City of Gardens 香蕉视频直播� and it香蕉视频直播檚 Gerald香蕉视频直播檚 favourite.
香蕉视频直播淚 love the dark chocolate because there香蕉视频直播檚 just more intensity to the notes and as you taste it more, you get hints of olives and wine,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a bit stronger than your average dark chocolate, but it香蕉视频直播檚 velvety and there香蕉视频直播檚 no bitter aftertaste.香蕉视频直播�
To find the perfect combination of flavours, Gerald travelled to Paris to taste all of the delectable options at high-quality chocolate maker Barry Callebaut.
香蕉视频直播淭here are different notes of chocolate that you go through and then you narrow it down to the flavour profile you want,香蕉视频直播� he explains. 香蕉视频直播淒o you want it to be sweet or to have a strong cacao taste? I went with the more floral and a bit of fruitiness, and they created three different recipes for me that I brought back for the executive team to taste. And then we decided what was the best fit.香蕉视频直播�
For Gerald 香蕉视频直播� who香蕉视频直播檚 been a pastry chef for 10 years and moved to Victoria a year and a half ago, after working at the St. Regis Hotel in his hometown of Toronto 香蕉视频直播� it was an exciting but also daunting endeavour.
香蕉视频直播淚t was definitely a lot of pressure!香蕉视频直播� he says with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淗ow do you express what the property is about? It was really about getting to know the history of the Fairmont Empress as well as what makes Victoria special. So, I did a lot of exploring.香蕉视频直播�
Making both the Reserve Noir and the Reserve Le Luminaire chocolates even more special is the heraldic emblem embossed on each delectable piece 香蕉视频直播� another nod to the rich history of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 castle on the coast. Highlighted with gold dust on the piece of dark chocolate I香蕉视频直播檓 sampling, the 香蕉视频直播淏adge of the Empress香蕉视频直播� features a cougar (Vancouver Island has the highest concentration of cougars in the world) coming out of a crown that香蕉视频直播檚 rimmed with Pacific dogwood, British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 official flower, and Canadian maple leaves.
香蕉视频直播淭he emblem and the chocolates are truly one of a kind and reflect the essence of our unique property,香蕉视频直播� Gerald says, adding that both signature chocolates are featured in the hotel香蕉视频直播檚 popular afternoon tea, and will be key ingredients in desserts at Q at the Empress this summer.
The raised arms of the cougar on the Empress emblem mean that it holds onto its good fortune and I香蕉视频直播檓 about to do the same by tasting the four-piece bon bon box ($20), available for purchase in the Lobby Lounge. The flavours emerge as a taste of Victoria, and include Empress honey, which is harvested on the property through the hotel香蕉视频直播檚 pollinator program, and even a Saanich berry, with white chocolate that香蕉视频直播檚 oozing with the most delicious raspberry ganache I香蕉视频直播檝e ever tasted. And since it香蕉视频直播檚 the Empress, there香蕉视频直播檚 also a tea-infused Earl Grey Midnight Bloom bon bon.
With Vancouver Island as his inspiration, Gerald and his team of 12 are constantly creating new sweet treats, from homemade ice cream to Gin Baba, a new twist on the citrusy Rum Baba that香蕉视频直播檚 made with the hotel香蕉视频直播檚 famous signature Empress 1908 Gin.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very important for me to make things from scratch because there香蕉视频直播檚 a sense of pride from the team that we came up with this, and that it香蕉视频直播檚 homemade,香蕉视频直播� says Gerald, who香蕉视频直播檚 always loved baking and grew up making chiffon cakes with his mom. 香蕉视频直播淚 find it tastes better, the quality is better and it香蕉视频直播檚 unique 香蕉视频直播� you香蕉视频直播檙e not going to find it anywhere else and I香蕉视频直播檓 constantly amazed at the creativity of my team.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲hat the pastry team comes up with is unbelievable and since Gerald香蕉视频直播檚 changing the menu every season, we always look forward to tasting what the team creates,香蕉视频直播� Empress public relations director Lisa McPhail tells me. 香蕉视频直播淚 was never a chocolate person and now I香蕉视频直播檓 suddenly a chocolate person, which says a lot.香蕉视频直播�
As I bite into the last piece of chocolate on my tasting platter 香蕉视频直播� Midnight Bloom, beautifully decorated with rose petals and freeze-dried raspberries 香蕉视频直播� I ask Gerald if you can have too much chocolate.
香蕉视频直播淚 have a sweet tooth so it香蕉视频直播檚 very hard not to eat everything!香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淲e always taste everything we make but I still have dessert at home every night as well.香蕉视频直播�
