CHOCOLATE FAMILY FUN: M&M’s and HERSHEY

M&M’s

Video Screen Animation outside of the store

Since this was my New York City Chocolate tour, I braved the crowds in Times Square so that I could experience M&M’s World; an over the top, multi storied tribute to all things M&Ms. The store celebrates the nostalgia of the M&M’s brand while seamlessly intertwining a love for pop culture and New York City.    

Green as the Statue of Liberty and Blue decked out for "Saturday Night Fever"

It is hard not to be in awe of the two story wall of chocolate that covers more colors, flavors, and mixes of M&M’s than you’ve probably ever seen. Here, in New York’s largest candy story, there are special blends that pay homage to local sports teams and even the taxi cabs. 

New York Yankees, Ms. Liberty, and Taxi Mixes of M&M's

Fun for the kids comes in many different forms as there are interactive areas, music, and lots of merchandise. The characters that we’ve come to know through the brilliant television commercials are constantly walking around the store and always ready for a photo op.

That's me in Yellow with "Yellow"

The store covers 25,000 square feet in the heart of Times Square with a huge video screen outside to match. It’s definitely worth the trip so pack your patience and be prepared to get lost in the brightly colored wonderment that is M&M’s World Times Square.

HERSHEY

Herhey's Times Square at night

Hershey’s Time Square, located across the street from the M&M’s store, was also a necessary destination on my NYC chocolate tour. Hershey’s is the producer of my all-time favorite “everyday” chocolate bar, Mr. Goodbar. (I still remember my first time having one in elementary school as a part of a Hershey’s Miniatures mix.) Hershey’s Times Square store, though a far cry from the 3 story M&M behemoth, it is still worth the trip for Hershey lovers.

The way I first experienced Mr. Goodbar

Upon entering the doors of Hersey’s Times Square, you are kissed by the greeter. That is to say, he or she hands you two Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses. The options here in candy and merchandising are far less plentiful than their neighbor across the street but don’t cry for the Hershey’s corporation as this isn’t exactly an apples to apples comparison.

The Hershey corporation has put most of their “Hey, come check us out” energies into a town in Pennsylvania … named after their founder! For those who have never been to Hershey, PA (aka the Sweetest Place on Earth), it makes a free standing store pale in comparison. There is a theme park, lodging, dining, shopping, and even golf courses! Whereas your family could easily spend an hour in the M&M’s store, you could easily stay a week in Hershey, PA.

Hershey, PA

IN CONCLUSION

I know that we have left some heavy hitters of the chocolate world out of our first ever Chocolate Week. Lindt chocolate truffles are a favorite of mine as are the chocolate raspberry stars made by Godiva. There are also other chic boutiques for chocolate in the city that we did not get to. Perhaps we need to revisit chocolate on the blog and then expand our horizons beyond New York. We could do a stop in Hershey, PA before boarding a plane and hitting the chocolate museums in Canada, France, or Germany. Alas, while our love for chocolate is great our budget is not. I do hope that we introduced you to something new in the chocolate world or at the very least, provided a fond reminder of something familiar.

I welcome any comments that you might have. As always, thanks for stopping by JarrodOnline.com.

Don’t forget to head over to our JarrodOnline Facebook page and click “Like”. There you will find extra pics and video clips not seen on the blog as well as access to contests!

BEST CHOCOLATE COCKTAILS: MAX BRENNER, Chocolate by the Bald Man

This is further proof that no matter how you mean it, a chocolate bar is never a bad thing.

Outside the restaurant - we got FREE PARKING right across the street!

By no stretch of the imagination is the Max Brenner restaurant for adults only. It’s quite the contrary. With a fully loaded gift shop and a menu that includes items such as cocoa dusted waffle fries and chocolate chunks pizza, the restaurant is more than equipped to handle chocolate lovers of all ages. I fully expected to report about the food until our waiter changed the course of this post by speaking seven magical words, “Can I get you something to drink?”

One of the Chocolate Chunk Pizzas

Sticking with the chocolate theme, my buddy, Chris and I perused the adult beverages and placed an order. It wasn’t long before the waiter returned to the table with two very agreeable dinner guests; “Max’s White Russian” and a “Berry Nutty Professor.”

My buddy, Chris and I. He and his wife are expecting a little one so his late night Chocolate Drinks may done for a while!

With definite points for presentation, the “White Russian” looks like one of the drinks that you see at another table and say, “I want one of those.” It arrives in two parts. Part one is the vodka and dark liqueur in a sleek rocks glass accompanied by two plump marshmallows on a skewer. The stroke of genius for me is part two; the shot glass of liquid white chocolate that comes along for you to mix in the drink. That element alone heightens the experience before you get to sip (and dunk your marshmallows, of course.) The final drink itself is so smooth and tasty that it’s not long before you’re ready for another. I completely understand why the menu touts it as their best seller.

Our dinner guests - Max's White Russian and the Berry Nutty Professor

Not to be outdone by the “White Russian” was the “Berry Nutty Professor,” which we ordered at the suggestion of the waiter. Frangelico and Castries Peanut Rum, two nutty flavored liqueurs, are mixed with Chambord, which adds a nice raspberry kick. Those flavors are paired over ice with a liquid milk chocolate that’s sweet, silky, and downright delicious. To gild the lily, a juicy chocolate covered strawberry is set atop the glass and it seems at once, that all is right with the world.

Chris and the Crepe

OH YEA … THERE WAS FOOD TOO!

I can’t say that I tasted any cocoa in the Cocoa Dusted waffle fries but they were very good. We also ordered onion rings with a chocolate ranch dipping sauce. The rings and dipping sauce were excellent but again, I cannot say that I got any chocolate taste at all. Our burger and pasta were just ok but dessert really delivered! Though we didn’t brave the chocolate chunks pizza, the Hazelnut Cream Banana Toffee Crepe dessert was just as over the top and amazing as it sounds!

After the crepe - clearly the napkin was added for the picture because I've spilled nothing on it!

Overall, the food certainly leans more closely to TGIFridays or Applebees than it does towards Le Cirque. It’s slightly expensive for the type of food it is but the portions are large and you can’t get hazelnut crepes at Applebees!

Some of the funky decor - Chocolate Bars on the wall

Now it’s YOUR turn: Make no mistake, you need to have drinks and dessert at Max Brenner’s. “The Bald Man” gets my vote for an unforgettable Girl’s (or Boy’s) Night Out, Date Night and even Family Day (perhaps minus the cocktails.) Be prepared for a crowd as the restaurant was even busy at 10:30pm on a Wednesday night. There are four locations in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, and Philadelphia but you can also check them out at their website.

Another shot of the restaurant

I’m already plotting my next trip back but in the meantime, we’ve got one more stop as we wrap up Chocolate Week tomorrow at the blog.

Head over to our JarrodOnline Facebook page and click “Like”. There you will find extra pics and video clips not seen on the blog as well as access to contests!

MOST UNIQUE: Vosges Haut-Chocolat

I'm not so sure about Indian Curry in my Chocolate!

Have you ever had chocolate infused with sweet Indian curry and coconut? What about ginger, wasabi, and black sesame seeds? Those combinations may sound insane to you but trust me, they are worth some consideration.

A few years ago, I received a gift of Vosges Haut-Chocolat truffles with Italian flavors more commonly associated with pasta or poultry.  In this box, Taleggio cheese, fennel pollen, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar were all comingling with chocolates in a way that I had never seen before. Not all of those combinations found themselves on my favorites list, however, it was an unforgettable chocolate experience.

 Recently, I called on my friend, Pam Vanecek to join me on a journey through nine very unique chocolate bars from Vosges. Along with being an awesome mother of three, wife, and friend; Pam KNOWS good food! I figured that between the two of us, we could figure out if Vosges really was serving up Haut Chocolat!

Pam uses her discerning palate to put Vosges Chocolates to the test!

Here are some HIGHLIGHTS from our oh-so scientific research!

Our strategy was to start with the most unusual bars and if we hated them, we would not have those flavors lingering by the end of our tasting. Up first was the Naga Bar with its sweet Indian curry and coconut wrapped in deep milk chocolate. Believe it or not, this was the surprise hit of the afternoon. I think Pam and I both feared the worst but when we bit into the chocolate, we found incredible balance in the flavors. The curry added both a mildly spicy warmth and sweetness that played nicely with the chocolate. The coconut flavors in the bar were very faint but complimentary. Pam, a lover of dark chocolate, would have liked to try this bar in a more intense chocolate but even as it were, Vosges was off to a great start.   

We tackled the Woolloomooloo Bar next. It had roasted and salted macadamia nuts paired with Indonesian coconut and hemp seeds in deep milk chocolate at 45% cacao. (At 50% cacao, the chocolate by definition becomes semi-sweet.)  This was another winner for both of us. Pam, who usually doesn’t like coconut, found the flavor so faint but complimentary, that this was one of her favorite bars. The roasted macadamia nuts added an element that almost came across as salted caramel.  Neither one of us could say what, if anything, the hemp seeds added but we weren’t complaining.

From the shelves of the Vosges Haut-Chocolate NYC store

While tasting, we noticed across all of the bars, that the smaller the bite, the less consistent the flavor would be. In the tiniest bites, you might taste only one element of the flavors present in the bar whereas bigger bites certainly gave a more harmonious and balanced flavor.

The bar that caused the most controversy at the tasting was certainly the Amalfi Bar. White chocolate with lemon zest and pink peppercorns sounded great to me, though Pam was skeptical. Like a trooper, she ventured into the white chocolate, of which she is not normally a fan. Her bites yielded a lemony flavor that was overshadowing any real “chocolate” taste. Sitting across from her, I was enjoying every bite of the lemony, peppery symphony so I persuaded her to try a bigger bite of a peppercorn to counter the “all lemon taste” she was experiencing. BIG MISTAKE! We came to the first bite that Pam described as just plain “AWFUL!” After some laughter (and Pam cleansing her palate), the remaining Amalfi Bar was slid to my side of the table, never to be touched by Pam again!

We tasted six other bars including Mo’s Milk Bar with hickory smoked bacon and a smooth Barcelona Bar  perfumed by the inclusion of hickory smoked almonds. Towards the more familiar end of the spectrum was Bapchi’s Caramel Toffee Bar that consisted of toffee, walnuts, and pecans while the more exotic Oaxaca Bar’s Tanzanian bittersweet chocolate and chile peppers earned high marks from us as well.

All in all, Vosges Haut-Chocolat succeeds on a number of fronts. The quality of the chocolate is certainly noticeable but the thought, creativity, and craftsmanship that goes into devising the flavors is probably what is most impressive of all. Perhaps with the exception of an Amalfi Bar, I think both Pam and myself would enjoy just about any of these treats again.

Now it’s YOUR turn: Vosges Haut-Chocolat began in Chicago but you can order their treats through their website. If you would like to replicate our chocolate tasting, Pam and I enjoyed the flavors found in the Mini Exotic Candy Bar Library. But certainly don’t stop there. Vosges is known and highly regarded for their truffles, so do check them out and report back!

REMEMBER: Chocolate Week continues on the blog tomorrow when I visit a Chocolate Themed Restaurant!

Head over to our JarrodOnline Facebook page and click “Like”. There you will find extra pics and video clips not seen on the blog as well as access to contests!

What better way is there to spend a gorgeous spring afternoon in New York City than on your own Chocolate Treasure Hunt? To get you started on the right foot, I took on the arduous task of strolling from shop to shop and sampling confections prepared by some world class artisans. Hey, it’s a rough job but someone’s got to do it!   Chocolate Lovers of the world, this WEEK at JarrodOnline is for you!

Tuesday through Friday of this week, I will be taking you on a chocolate tour starting out with my pick for …

BEST CHOCOLATE OVERALL: Jacques Torres

A Jacques Torres Sampler

To own the web address, mrchocolate.com, you’d better be more than good … and he is!

I visited two of the Jacques Torres stores, his flagship at 350 Hudson Street, and the location within the Chelsea Markets Center. Before you approach either store, the unmistakable aroma of chocolate wraps itself around you and offers you no option but to venture within.

The shop is lined with gift boxes and goodies galore. Some are on free standing displays while others await you behind the counter. There are refrigerated cases and available seating for those who wish to dine in on the premium chocolate options. Behind the glass walls you get to see the inner workings of Jacques Torres’s own chocolate factory with workers, machinery, and the product for which “Mr. Chocolate” is known the world over.

Counter at the Flagship Store

The Chelsea Markets location is a smaller store but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in “MMMMmmm”. The associates in this store are incredibly helpful (and available for a photo op if you ask nicely!) It was here that my taste test compadre for the day, 13-year old actor/singer/athlete/all around awesome guy, Michael Nigro and I, sampled the wonderful world of Jacques Torres chocolates.

FYI -The associate who helped us navigate through the endless cocoa based options, Regina, remarked that 13-year old Mike had a gift for selecting the chocolates that contained liquor. She assured us that it was safe as the liquor cooks off during the process so no breathalizer test was necessary.

Regina and Mike at Jacques Torres

HIGHLIGHTS:

The chocolate chip cookie at Jacques Torres is very popular so Michael and I needed to try one. Having seen more than a few chocolate chip cookies in our day, it would take some doing to impress us. However Mike’s exclamation of “WOW” after his very first bite signified that Jacques Torres had done just that.

I also had heard about the “Wicked” Hot Chocolate which was indeed “wicked” good. Made with allspice, cinnamon and ground chili peppers, it’s a deliciously spicy take on a classic.

Chocolate Scale

Mike’s favorite piece of chocolate was called “Liquid Caramel” – described as a unique caramel with …ahem… a twist of rum. He gave honorable mention to a chocolate called “Got Milk Chocolate” and also noted that he could imagine someone who really liked coffee enjoying one of his selections called “Cappucino”. Not so high on his list was the “Hearts of Passion” which he said tasted like there was fruit inside but he just wasn’t too keen on it.

My favorite was a selection recommended by Regina called “Heavenly Hazelnut.” The Jacques Torres mastery of chocolate comes through in the very simple and clean flavor of the chocolate accented by the delicious ground hazelnuts. Though it doesn’t count as real chocolate, the “Love Bug” made with Key Lime ganache and white chocolate was also a real winner. Dark chocolate lovers should try the “Fresh Coconut” which was another home run recommended by Regina.

Assorted Chocolates - Those white ones are the "Love Bugs"

If you are a chocolate lover, do yourself a favor and go see Jacques Torres. There are six stores in New York but worldwide access is available on his website. His artisan chocolates would make a GREAT gift for Mom (with Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday) or for any other chocolate lovers in your life … like a blogger in New Jersey whose face is in the upper left hand corner of your screen!

Thanks for stopping by the blog and check in tomorrow as CHOCOLATE WEEK continues with my pick for MOST UNIQUE!

Head over to our JarrodOnline Facebook page and click “Like”. There you will find extra pics and video clips not seen on the blog as well as access to contests!

(Here’s a clip of the master himself on The Chew earlier this year around Valentine’s Day)

1. Being too chicken to even enter the dance contest because Alton Blue, a classmate and reigning king of teen night, was such an INCREDIBLE dancer (and skater.)
2. Peeling myself off of the floor all night long, fall after fall after fall on my first and last trip to “Teen Night.”

Thinking that it was time to craft some new roller skating memories, I called on a buddy of mine from the gym, Terry, to show me a few moves. He’s been skating for the last seven years and the video below contains some highlights from my lesson.

Jarrod Fun Fact - My sixth birthday party was held at the United Skates of America Skating Rink. We had skating, pizza, and the Skate-A-Saurus (think Barney the dinosaur on wheels!) Good Times!

Though I clearly am no skate prodigy, I had a blast at the skating rink and will be back soon. The music was awesome, the mood was uplifting and everyone was there, young and old, to have a great time. (I suppose it is hard to grimace on wheels. My face alternated between a smile and self induced terror – but that’s just me!)

Now it’s YOUR turn: Clearly, roller skating isn’t anything new. If you’re near Union, NJ, certainly check out Skate 22 or “Go Forth and Google” to find your nearest rink. Besides being A LOT of fun (and not expensive at all) it’s also a fantastic form of exercise. There are cardiovascular, endurance, and strength benefits according to Roller Skating International in conjuction with the effect on balance and coordination. I can attest to the cardiovascular because I was dripping with sweat by the time I left … I’m still working on the balance and coordination part !

BEFORE YOU GO! Be sure to check out and click “Like” on our JarrodOnline Facebook page. There you’ll find more good stuff like clips and pics not seen on the blog as well as chances to win prizes from time to time!

Getting some instruction at class

Not long ago, I found out that one of my personal sheroes, Valerie Nunez, (check her blog out here) and her husband, Eddie, had been going shooting (bows and arrows shooting) on Friday nights. I couldn’t resist so I called my buddy, Kenee, and we took to the range at Wa-Xo-Be Archers in South Brunswick, NJ to try our hands at the sport.

That's Val! I wouldn't mess with her if I was you!

Wa-Xo-Be Archers hosts two hour open shoots on Friday nights where archers of all levels (novice through advanced) come and shoot for about ten bucks. Ordinarily the capacity is limited to 30 participants but on this night, due to the increased demand, they allowed 40.

One of the more experienced marksmen

The two hours were conducted more like shooting practice than a true beginner’s class, though all of the novice archers were given a brief safety rundown. Our instructor, Mark, taught us the best way to hold the bow and exactly how we should handle the arrows. He performed a brief vision test on each of us before putting each of us into the shooting rotation. (The vision test was necessary to see which eye was dominant so he knew how we’d need to stand.) At that point, we waited for our group to be called and it was time to shoot.

(Check out our instructor, Mark, in action)

We’d been instructed that our goal was NOT to get a bull’s eye. Rather we should try to get a grouping of arrows within the same six or seven inch vicinity. Consistency is what we were looking for over hitting the target in one particular spot. (Though on his first two attempts, Kenee shot arrows directly into the center of the target. And as for me … well, not so much.)

With Kenee, Ready ... Aim ...

When I stepped up to shoot for the first time an adrenaline rush came over me. There was no practice bow or suction cup arrow, this was the real thing. In a line of other archers, I lifted my bow and prepared to send my arrows flying towards my target. Deep breath… Ready. Aim, pull back the arrow … and FIRE!

Being guided by Joe

Some of the arrows landed on the target while many others did not. A few flew over the target and found their way into the back wall while others ricocheted onto the floor. Sharpshooter or not, these were some of the coolest sounds in the world; the whiz of the arrows flying through the air and then the sound of the points landing into the targets.

Kenee with Joe, who gave us some pointers

What I loved most about the open shoot is that even though it was not a true class, there was an abundance of experienced archers around; all more than willing to share tips, tricks, and anecdotes. One man, Joe B, took Kenee and me under his wing for the night. He gave us pointers and cheered us on as we attempted to become expert marksmen.

Wa-Xo-Be does offer classes and outdoor shooting in addition to these Friday night indoor shoots. Kenee and I agreed that this was something we would certainly be up for doing again. We had such a great time that night … and for ten bucks a piece! This is another one that I highly recommend putting on your to do list!

Go Forth and Google: You might be surprised to find out how many archery clubs are around. The sport has seen a huge boost in popularity since the Hunger Games phenomenon, and rightfully so. It’s great fun for all ages and who knows, should you be selected to represent your district, knowing how to wield a bow and arrow might come in handy!

]]> http://jarrodonline.com/hunger-games-training-archery/feed 3 http://jarrodonline.com/winner-announced http://jarrodonline.com/winner-announced#comments Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:39:12 +0000 Jarrod http://jarrodonline.com/?p=907 Thank you to everyone who participated in our contest to win the $25 Gift Certificate to AMC Theatres.

Effie Trinket from the Hunger Games stopped by to help me select a winner. Check her out in the video below making the announcement!

Remember! – Subscribe to the blog emails, stay tuned to our Facebook page, and check us out on Twitter because you never know where the next contest may pop up!

CONGRATULATIONS to our Lucky Winner!

SO WHAT IS PINTEREST?

Pinterest has become the third most popular social media platform, behind only Facebook and Twitter, and reached the ten million unique visitors mark quicker than either of those. In short, Pinterest is an online pin board where you can post and organize pics and clips of just about anything you find on the web. It’s like the “favorites tab” of your Internet Explorer browser on STEROIDS! (visually appealing, legal steroids that you share… minus the “roid rage!”)

I, however, have become one of “The Men of Pinterest.” We are a small yet mighty group and today I will document why you men out there may want to join us.

Here are my “Top 5 Reasons Why Pinterest is Great for Men”

1.       IT’S EASY! – Men don’t like to do extra work. Creating pin boards on Pinterest could not be easier. The interface is clean and well organized while the controls are amazingly intuitive. When compared to programming the latest tech gadget, assembling the new computer desk, or just mowing the lawn – Pinterest WINS!!!

2.       YOU’RE THE BOSS! – Any man with a Napoleon complex (quoth the 5’7 and ¾” blogger) knows that every now and again, you just want to command authority. Even you taller guys who are forced to take orders from anyone on a daily basis can understand that. With Pinterest, you want a pin board about whatever weird hobby or interests you have (minus the obscene ones), Pinterest will comply.

3.       YOU’RE “TRENDY,” NOT GIRLY – If you ever wanted to scrapbook but were afraid that your buds would poke fun at you, Pinterest is your outlet. Because the buzz on Pinterest is so BIG right now, you could start your own pin board under the guise of “staying current with the trends.” What’s more, if any of your guy pals find out about your pin boards, it’s because they’re pinning too!

4.       IT’S A GREAT WAY TO MEET WOMEN – Now I know that not all guys are looking to meet women BUT for you single heterosexual men out there, this is the place for you! In lieu of embarrassing yourself by doing the robot at that Single’s Mixer on Friday night, just post some pictures of a few cuddly kittens and watch the attention you get.

5.       IT’S EASY! – This point begs repeating. There is a Pinterest bookmarklet that you can install on your browser of choice. Whenever you find something that you want to pin, just click it! You can categorize it anyway you want, or not, and it’s that simple.

In all seriousness, I do enjoy Pinterest for the sharing of experiences with people who like the same things that I do. It’s also great for inspiration. A quick search on the Pinterest boards will yield pics of places you’ve never seen, foods you’ve never tried, books you’ve never read and more.

If you have not already, do check it out. I’ve only been on for a few weeks but you can find me there at http://pinterest.com/jarrodonline/. You do need an invitation to get started. You can request one from the site or just shoot a note to your favorite blogger .

Here’s a quick video from CBS news about Pinterest!

Don't get too comfortable

Recently, I took an unforgettable tour of the over 500 strange artifacts from around the world that make up Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in New York City. Armed only with my digital camera and admiration for all things outlandish, I made my way through the odd collection that resembled no museum I had ever been in before.

The stage is immediately set when you walk up to the door of Ripley’s Odditorium.  You are greeted by “Sexy Sadie the Bearded Lady” who beckons you to enter and enjoy all that awaits you inside. Just beyond the opening gates you are given a very brief history of Robert Ripley, the man responsible for the world that you’ve just entered. A cartoonist by trade, Robert Ripley had a passion for traveling. In the early 1900s, he sketched some unusual sporting events and named it, Champs and Chumps. The name was changed to Believe It or Not! and the rest is history.

With a face like that, who could resist Sadie?

As you walk through the Odditorium, you are presented with opportunities to experience the exhibits through all sorts of media. There are things hanging above, hidden behind, and moving straight towards you. There are exhibits meant for you to crawl in, sit on, and become a part of while others are so rare, you may only view them through glass. You will see video, hear music and watch performers and patrons alike trying their best to entertain. The “museum” is spread over two floors, with twists, turns, and surprises that make it one of a kind fun for visitors of all ages.

One of the tallest men in the world

By the end of my walk through, I smiled as I reflected on my time in the Odditorium.  I’d been startled, intrigued, grossed out, enlightened, and fascinated all on one self guided tour. As I exited the museum, I thought for a moment about some of the similarities that I shared with Mr. Ripley. Passion for exploration and new experiences are part of what drove him to create the Believe It or Not! world. Those same passions are certainly what fuel this blog. Granted, I don’t need a shrunken head to have a good time but visiting his Odditorium made me a huge fan of Ripley’s … Believe It or Not!

Now for YOUR trip: Put this one on your to-do list! There are 25 locations of the Ripley’s attractions in the US (not counting the Ripley’s Aquariums) and 8 international locations. I spent a little over an hour in the Odditorium in Times Square all by myself but it would certainly make for a great family activity and a memorable date night! Check out the  Ripley’s website  for discount tickets and a preview of all that’s waiting for you.