progress on Chocolatour is being made

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Thanks to everyone who contributed to the fundraising campaign for Chocolatour. Together, we raised $7,800 in just five weeks. That will cover a small print run of the book and pay for editorial and design costs.

The writing of the first edition of the book is almost complete. All the chapters that have been written have been professionally edited. The cover has been designed. The internal pages are being designed. The book will be printed by late June. The e-book will be available at the same time. Stay tuned to this site for updates on how to order your copy.

Thanks for your support, and please pass this link to every chocolate lover you know so that they, too, can subscribe and join the Chocolatour.

 

crowdfunding campaign in support of Chocolatour

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Thanks to everyone who has an interest in fine artisanal chocolate and experiential travel, “Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate” will soon become a reality.

As it will be a very expensive book to produce because of the more than 50 colour photos that will be contained in the first edition of the book, we’ll be using a fine grade coated paper for the book to ensure that the photos are well reproduced, and so that you will have an amazing experience when you read Chocolatour.

We therefore launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help raise the cost to print and produce the book. That campaign is now closed, but you can still donate via the “Donate” button to your right.

You can view the Indiegogo campaign at http://igg.me/p/354780/x/1102796. The campaign has raised more than $7,700 (via online and private donations) in five weeks and we are pleased with that. Those funds will enable a small print run and should cover most of the production costs. Additional donations are most welcome as we can then print more books and plan promotional events.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video and slideshow in support of Chocolatour at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DZhekCxRcU.

Thanks so much,

Doreen Pendgracs

Author, Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate 

Chocolatouring in St. Lucia

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It’s always fun talking about my chocolate travels. Thanks to Marlene Van Helden of CJ107 fm radio in Gimli, Manitoba for her ongoing support.  This interview about our visit to the Chocolate Festival in St. Lucia is about 10 minutes long and originally aired on January 18, 2013.

Jan 18/13 interview about St. Lucia

jade-mountain

Chocolatouring in St. Lucia led us straight to Jade Mountain

You can read more about the trip and see a selection of photos on my chocolate travel blog in these four posts at http://diversionswithdoreen.com/?s=st.+lucia.

Declaration of World Chocolate Weekend

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Hello chocolate travellers! As I’m researching and writing Chocolatour, I continue to learn of chocolate events all over the world.

International-chocolate-shows

Salon du Chocolat holds 20 shows across 5 continents

To my surprise, it would appear that the largest number of chocolate events of the year 2013 will occur March 23-24.

I’m therefore declaring the weekend of March 23-24, 2013 to be World Chocolate Weekend. I’m not sure how to go about making that official (I will check!) but in the meantime, to help with your chocolate travel plans, here are some events that we’ve got ear-marked as places to be when planning your Chocolatour:

Festivals and Events to be held on World Chocolate Weekend:

London, England:  London’s Easter Chocolate Festival will be held March 22-24, 2013. Details will be available at http://www.festivalchocolate.co.uk/festivals/london/.

Zurich, Switzerland – Salon du Chocolat: Zurich hosts an international chocolate show March 22-24 at the Messe. http://zurich.salon-du-chocolat.com/accueil.aspx

Mons, Belgium – Chocolate Festival: March 23-24 marks the 10th anniversary of the event and there will be lots of Belgian chocolate tastings and demonstrations to enjoy. http://www.visitbelgium.com/index.php/calendar/calendar-of-events-2013

San Francisco, California - International Chocolate Salon: To be held at Fort Mason Center, March 24, 2013. http://www.SFChocolateSalon.com/

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest, Albuquerque Convention Center, March 23-24, 2013. http://www.chocolateandcoffeefest.com/

Norfolk, Virginia – Virginia Chocolate Festival, Scope Exhibition Hall, March 23-24. http://www.vafest.org/2013/virginia-chocolate-festival-2013 

Kona, Hawaii - Big Island Chocolate Festival, March 23, 2013. Updates at http://www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com/

If you know of other chocolate events planned for this momentous weekend, please let me know!

Enjoy your chocolate travels, and I’ll see you along the chocolate trail.

 

chocolate travel around the world

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If you haven’t visited the Travel and Escape site, you’re missing out on some great travel stories from some of Canada’s best bloggers.

Thomas Haas of Vancouver has an amazing chocolate shop

Thomas Haas is one of the finest chocolatiers in Canada

I’ve done two stories for them on my favourite chocolate destinations. Please drop into http://www.travelandescape.ca/2012/10/5-more-chocolate-destinations-you-need-to-taste/. From there, you can also list to the first post which is entitled, “Top 5 Destinations for Chocolate Lovers.” Enjoy!

 

inspiration for the book

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Hello and thanks to everyone who is along with us on the Chocolatour.

A big thanks to Irene Levine of the “Life Goes Strong” site who has interviewed me for her column. Please take a look at this link to read about my inspiration in writing “Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate.”

The writing is going slow but well and the inspiration is strong as we begin planning Chocola-tours for 2013. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss any of the news!

some of our favourite chocolate destinations

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I’ve had the unique pleasure of travelling the world in search of the best chocolate.

There are definitely some travel destinations that ooze chocolate and cater to the traveller in search of fine chocolate.

chocolate-shop-in-Switzerland

The chocolate shops in Switzerland offer vibrantly colourful window displays

In this article I wrote for the Next Avenue site, you’ll find some of my favourites: http://www.nextavenue.org/article/2012-08/worlds-best-chocolate-destinations 

 

Chocolatour will take you around the world for chocolate

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Welcome to Chocolatour! My name is Doreen Pendgracs, and I am your tour master, chief chocolate taster and author of the upcoming book, Chocolatour: A Guide to the World’s Best Chocolate.

chocolate-tasting-with-Doreen

chocolate tasting is always fun

This is the site where you can follow along on our chocolate travels, and plan your own journeys in search of the best chocolate.

For now, please subscribe to our chocolate travel blog at http://diversionswithdoreen.com/. And also find some chocolatour-enticing images on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/chocolatour/. 

To help you discover new chocolate and trends, you may be interested in following our online chocolate newspaper, Chocolatour News. We follow the movers and shakers of the chocolate world, as well as the most interesting chocolate lovers! Join us and subscribe at http://paper.li/wizardofwords/1310439305 to see what’s hot in the world of chocolate.

You’ll find plenty of destinations have already been covered on the blog and we have introduced you to a good number of chocolatiers and chocolate makers to entice you. We’re continually adding to that, so please subscribe and visit often.

But remember. When you’re chocolatouring, be sure to bring an extra carry-on bag for your travels! Chocolate is bulky, it is heavy and it must be protected from excessive heat. But wow! Is it worth the effort to find it, care for it and ensure it arrives home with you safely.