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MAGGIE MONDAY: "Love" for Chocolate
By
Maggie Crane, WINK News
Story Created:
Feb 11, 2008 at 8:18 AM EST
Story Updated:
Feb 11, 2008 at 12:46 PM EST
Valentine's Day is just three days away, so how about a homemade treat for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day?
For this "Maggie Monday" how-to, our Maggie Crane dips into the wonderful world of chocolate.
Who better to go see than one of the premier chocolatiers in the entire country? You know who he is -- Norman Love -- and he's unveiling new goodies to get you in the mood for the "lovliest" day of the year.
"Peanut butter and jelly, cookies and cream..."
His name literally spells his "Love" for chocolate. Norman Love got his start as one of the finest confectioners in the country seven years ago and never dreamed he'd be producing thousands of bite-sized goodies like he is today.
"My intentions were to be a very small wholesaler, to make something very special for some friends on the east coast and drive the chocolate to them, and then all of a sudden, CNN got a hold of some and named us the top 10 candy-makers in the United States, and we were kind of launched into the arena we play in today," Love says.
Welcome to his world -- filled with gooey gnosh and creamy chocolates. His signature style keeps the customers coming for creative confections with infectious flavor.
"We manufacture nearly 35,000 pieces a day, but of course it fluctuates depending on the time of the year, and Valentine's Day is one of our busiest holidays, and right now we are racing to try to get ready," Love says.
So how about an extra pair of hands to help?
"Would you like to try to fill one?" Love asks Maggie to help.
But first, she have to learn how. It starts with that glossy gleam on top of every chocolate. Norman Love and his staff use coco butter to hand paint each candy mold.
"By taking your finger and touching the inside of the mold -- about four at a time -- and then in a "c' motion, I create that little bit of swirl," Love says.
Next, add on white chocolate over the dark and let it dry.
The end result is beautiful!
"The shine is natural and the marbling effect of the white, the dark and the milk chocolate shell creates that beautiful image," Love says. "From here we create a cinnamon roll."
That begins with a plastic mold covered with a stream of chocolate.
"Go ahead and start right here, pass it underneath and let go of the pedal," Chocolate-maker Francine instructs.
The chocolate is then set to vibrate to push air bubbles out. Now the mold is done and it goes flat down, which then creates the chocolate shell.
The excess chocolate is then scraped off and melted back into production.
"You know, I just wanted to make sure, because if you would have told me that it would go to waste, I would have offered to take that for you!" Maggie says.
"There's a huge line in my store of people wishing and wanting to become taste-testers here at Norman Love Confections, and we always have an opening!" Love says.
After the molds are made, mix masters create creamy fillings to flood the new shells. It takes four hours to finish each batch of candy.
Another chocolate store staple hopscotches across a grate, creating a tried and true truffle.
"I think American consumers are still very in love with truffles because of that soft creamy interior," Love says.
Next, WINK News gets an exclusive preview of what's new for the sweetest day of the year -- it's heart-shaped edible art!
"We'll be able to place six large long-stemmed, chocolate-dipped strawberries and not only can you eat the strawberries, but you can eat the whole box! It's chocolate!" Love says.
This affordable luxury is shipped all over the country.
"At the end of the day, the chocolate needs to arrive -- whether it's a wholesale customer or it's an Internet customer in California -- perfect," Love says.
And everything -- even the peanut butter -- is made right here at the Fort Myers factory.
"We buy only raw ingredients from all corners of the world," Love says.
With 36 different delights to tempt your taste buds, the chef himself makes a recommendation.
"So one of those is your favorite?" Maggie asks. "Yes ma'am, you've got it -- and that's Tahitian caramel. It's very pure, very fresh and really delicious," Love says.
This is one man with a serious sweet tooth, and judging by the response from customers in his chocolate salon...
"Mmmmmm wow!"
His delightful designs are sure to impress.
Norman Love has received accolades for being one of the top confectioners in the country from the likes of CNN, Rachel Ray, the Food Network and Consumer Reports.
He's having so much success that he's even added a new store at Coastland Mall in Naples.
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If there's something you want to learn how to do, send Maggie an email at maggie.crane@winktv.com.