I Love To Shop Local - Sweet Mary's Chocolates, Pilesgrove, NJ!
Joe and Mary Crevino of Sweet Mary's Chocolates visited with the Pennsville Woman's Club this afternoon. Could there possibly be a better pair than women and chocolate?
The Crevinos shared the story of the accidental beginning of their business ten years ago. A friend of theirs was 'marrying off' their daughter and wanted some cute, little chocolate seashells to serve as favors.
Mary's mind went right to work. She asked herself, "How hard could this be?"
They found out very quickly what a wonderful, friendly business this chocolate-thing is! They have met fellow chocolate enthusiasts all over America, including Elaine Gonzalez who is known as one of the most famous chocolatiers in the entire country. Joe struck up a friendship with her when they 'swapped' services.....he taught her about email and technology, while she shared her chocolate-making tips with him.
It sure paid off! The chocolates that were served today at Woman's Club were out-of-this-world! The Crevinos import the finest chocolate from Belgium, . They explained to the ladies how to tell good chocolate from the not-so-good (not real) chocolate. When reading the ingredients, if one of the first three is palm kernel oil.....that is not chocolate, but mostly trans-fat. *gasp*!
The club learned that "butter is to making a great cake as cocoa butter is to making great chocolate." Some of the larger companies have been cutting back on the cocoa butter....but not Sweet Mary's!
Other ways to judge good chocolate is to break it up. Well-tempered chocolate should 'snap'. It should also possess three very important qualities:
1) It should have good eye-appeal. When you look at it, it should 'turn you on'.
2) When you put it in your mouth, pay attention to the 'mouth-feel'. It should melt in your mouth!
3) The taste........
One of the ladies piped up....it should be an experience like that of a great kiss.
At this point, Joe Crevino added that chocolate is really a legal addiction. He joked, "There's no chocolate that is bad chocolate, in my opinion."
Some of their upcoming Easter specials include: an assorted nine-piece box with Easter Egg top, solid Easter rabbits, filled Easter eggs (peanut butter, coconut, butter cream, heath bar crunch, key lime, lemon, orange, cherry, raspberry, toffee, Amaretto, hazelnut, maple, black walnut, vanilla butter cream, toasted coconut, strawberry, caramel, creme brulee, mocha), Easter bunny marshmallow pop with huge chocolate ears (white chocolate only), dark chocolate truffle egg filled with a dark chocolate ganache.
Oh my......
By the way, they're still making those cute, little chocolate seashells!
Sweet Mary's is located at 646 Lincoln Road, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098. Tours of the candy factory can be arranged by calling 856-769-2314 or email sweetmary@jcsoftware.com
Hours by appointment
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