The evening began slowly, with invitees strolling in, looking eager but cautious because they didn't know what to expect.  The truth is--- neither did I.  This was the first Industry Night I ever had at my store!  I watched as guests mulled through the boutique examining all the contents that I pour my heart into.  One by one, I watched as guests got more excited over my chocolate creations; it is always a little nerve racking wondering if guests will love the factory and boutique as much as I do.  

It wasn't long before the room was filled with respected bloggers including Estarla, Pardon my Crumbs (Fight on!), Pleasure Palate, Shop Eat Sleep, Food Fashionista, Chocolate Snob, LA Dessert Examiner, The Roaming Belly, and Uncouth Gourmands.  I shared stories about my love for chocolate especially the animals for spring and how you can get creative with the Easter holiday coming up.  I also talked about my inspiration for the factory and boutique design, my culinary background and French influence, and they also wanted to know about how I met my husband Jacques Torres-- "Mr. Chocolate."

Once we all got to know each other, guests were free to explore the factory and boutique.  Then everyone began clicking away, taking pictures of all the hidden treasures I have inside the shop.  As you can see, the store is ready for Spring and intricately decorated with bright yellows, pinks, spring baskets, eggs, and Easter inspired chocolate by my Mom. 

Next, I invited everyone back to the factory portion of Madame Chocolat where we began our chocolate and wine pairing. Guests got cozy in between the large steel tables.  I just unmolded giant centerpiece bunnies so they were waiting in the factory for me to decorate.  I just finished decorating the bunnies very early Monday morning!  Production is busy right now so fitting in such a big artisan project was tough, but I got it done!

When everyone was gathered around-- I just went for it.  The wine poured and complimentary bonbons were passed around for tasting. I instructed people how to savor the chocolate and took note as to what flavors they experienced and liked the best.  Guests were very vocal, explaining every burst and asking in depth questions from chocolate production to seasonal flavors. We had three pairings; white, milk and dark chocolate, with several selections within each category. Some of the bon bons that were tried were Jus d'orange, Cafe, Amour, Mademoiselle, Monsieur, and Ooh La La.  All seemed to be well received.

The energy in the shop was amazing, which makes me so happy! This night the (chocolate) stars were aligned because the night flowed effortlessly and all the guests seemed to talk to one another as if they have known each other for years.  A glass of wine was accidently knocked over a platter of dark chocolate mendiants, but that's perfectly fine...I packaged all the chocolate up for our guest to take home and enjoy!  The factory was filled with chocolate lovers, smiles and laughter; a chocolatier's dream.  All in all, I can safely say the night was a success and I have made some new friends that I hope to see dining out in Los Angeles!  Thank you to Lauren of Dossier Event Experiences for coordinating Industry Night.  I look forward to spending more evenings like this at Madame Chocolat.  When I read the blogs from my guests, I was blown away.  It's great to know everyone walked away with happy memories and of course a small gift bag of my favorite chocolate coated treats like Milk Chocolate Coated cheerios and Chocolate Krispy Coconut Delights!

Nobody needs to wait for a special event to come to Madame Chocolat!  The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10am - 6pm so please come on in.  If you don't like chocolate, please note that we also have a cafe serving coffee and tea and we also offer fresh baked croissants too.