Peterbrooke Chocolatier
About a week before Easter, I was driving through my supermarket parking lot, when I saw something that literally made me slam on my brakes. A new chocolate shop had opened up, practically in my own backyard! Forget the supermarket! I pulled into the closest parking space and headed inside.
The name of the shop is Peterbrooke Chocolatier. The store is part of a franchise which includes almost thirty locations throughout Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Founded in 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida, owner, Phyllis Geiger, named her business after her children Peter and Brooke. The company still maintains its base of operations in Jacksonville.
According to the company’s web site, Peterbrooke creates its mouthwatering masterpieces by skillfully blending special milk, dark and white chocolate to create delightfully delicious confections with lusciously creamy fondant centers, fruits, nuts, cookies and even potato chips and Rice Krispies treats! Perhaps the most popular item in Peterbrooke’s repertoire is their phenomenal chocolate covered popcorn, which Geiger describes as a “pure gift from God”, and was invented purely by accident! Peterbrooke offers a large selection of sugar free products as well.
From the moment I stepped into that bright and inviting shop, I knew that I would return often. It was like being in chocolate heaven! There were shelves upon shelves of tantalizing chocolate displays, each more beautiful than the next. The shop’s proprietor, a lovely woman named Diane, welcomed me with a friendly smile, and more importantly, lots of free samples! Let me tell you, that chocolate is GOOD! In fact, it is INSANELY GOOD!
I purchased some lovely Easter baskets for my nearest and dearest, as well as a hefty stash of chocolate for myself. A girl’s gotta eat, you know! I wished Diane good luck with her new shop and promised I’d be back soon. Really soon, as it turned out. I’ve been back twice already to stock up on that amazing popcorn!
In addition to all of their different molded, enrobed and hand-dipped chocolate creations, Peterbrooke also offers bags of chocolate buttons for cooking and baking. I picked up one of the dark chocolate bags and began putting it to good use by making a great chili recipe that I found on their web site. I’ve provide the recipe below, but you could certainly use your own favorite for this.
If you don’t have a Peterbrooke Chocolatier near you yet, don’t fret. The company also has an online store where you can fulfill your own chocolate fantasies.
PETERBROOKE CHOCOLATE CHILI
Adapted from Peterbrooke.com
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 vidalia onion (chopped)
1 lb chopped sirloin
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes and green chilis
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1/2 ounce dark Peterbrooke chocolate
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 cup beer
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon tabasco
1 tablespoon chili powder (or to taste)
1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans
Directions:
Put olive oil in a large iron skillet.
Add chopped onions & cook until tender (not brown) and opaque.
Add a pound of beef, cook till lightly browned.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, chocolate, beer, salt, tabasco, cumin & chili powder. Cover & simmer 30 minutes.
Add kidney beans & heat thoroughly, season to taste.
Serve topped with diced & shredded cheese.
Enjoy!
