Pacari Ecuadorian Organic Chocolate

Pacari Ecuadorian Organic Chocolate makes delicious, sustainable, exotic flavored chocolate. This socially and environmentally responsible company, owned by Santiago Peralta and Carla Barboto, buys only certified organic beans directly from small-scale Ecuadorian cacao growers that have been raising their trees for hundreds of years.

Pacari Ecuadorian Organic Chocolate, 19th Americas Food And Beverage Show,
Miami Convention Center, Miami, Fal
Copyright 2015 by Helen A Lockey

They were the first company, starting in 2002, to craft single-origin organic chocolate made entirely in Ecuador. I interviewed them at this year’s 19^th Americas Food And Beverage Show in Miami Beach, Fla.

Pacari, a Quechua word for “Nature,” pays farmers premium, over market, prices for their cacao beans so they can continue to grow their crop using environmentally friendly sustainable methods such as biodynamic practices.

The result is rich, delicious chocolate made with unique ingredients like this year’s standout bar made with Andean Lemon Verbena creating a spicy, lemony tasting bar. I also enjoyed the gorgeous rose scented chocolate bar made with Andean Rose Geranium.

You can find Pacari Ecuadorian Organic Chocolate at Trader Joe stores at the Fairchild Botanic Tropical Garden’s Gift Shop in Coral Gables, Fla.

Or you can go directly to Pacari’s website and learn more about them like their raw bars and spirulina bars. You can also learn more about their biodynamic practices.

Delicious Edible Bugs, Hotlix® Inc.

Bugs are delicious to eat. They are full of protein and fats and are tasty alternatives to empty nutrient snack foods. If you’ve thought about tasting some then a good place to start is with some from California based Hotlix® Inc.

Edible bugs for dinner?
Copyright 2015 by Helen A Lockey

I bought some a few years ago at the South Florida Fair. This year I bought flavored Larvets in BBQ flavor and Crick-ettes in Salt N’ Vinegar flavor.

The larvets were crunchy with a mild BBQ popcorn flavor. I have not tried the crickets yet but from past experiences of eating chocolate covered crickets I’m sure these salt n’ vinegar ones will be just as good.

You can buy these bugs and others online at Hotlix® Inc.  or at many novelty events and stores around the country.

Blanc De Fleur, Sparkling Florida Wine, San Sebastian Winery

St. Augustine, Fla.—San Sebastian Winery is making sparkling wine. But what sets their sparkling wine—Blanc de Fleur—apart from the competitor is that it is a Florida, made-by-hand muscadine sparkling wine created using methode champenoise. This means the tiny bubbles occur naturally after two in-bottle fermentations.

Blanc De Fleur, Florida sparkling wine, San sebastian Winery,
St. Augustine, Fla.
Copyright 2015 by Helen A Lockey

I recently got to try Blanc De Fleur at a San Sebastian Winery cocktail hour put on for loyalty customers and the Press.

Bland De Fleur is an award winning wine. It has taken home two gold metals and two silver metals this year.

The reason for these awards is most likely because of the complexity of flavors created by winemaker Jeanne Burges, who has honed her craft, over the past 26 years, in the art of delicious wine making.

Blanc De Fleur has a light, slightly sweet, drinkable, delicate bubbly style with distinct muscadine fruitiness. It would go very well with duck or on its own for a toast.

If you want to get your bottle of this high anti-oxidant (muscadine grapes have higher anti-oxidants than other wine grapes) sparkling wine then go to http://www.sansebastianwinery.com

Or visit them at 157 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084,

Phone 1-888-352-9463

Spent Mash Cookies, Brew Five Points, Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville, Fla.--Intuition Ale Works gives their spent mash to a coffee house instead of a farm. The coffee house in question is known as Brew Five Point. Owned by Jack Twachtman and Jason Fisher this fusion spot which is both a craft beer and coffee bar is located in trendy, Historic Five Points community of Jacksonville.

Brew Five Points' Oatmeal cookie made with Intuition Ale Works spent
mash, Brew Five Points, Jacksonville, Fla.
Copyright 2015 by Helen A Lockey

I went in for a glass of brew and ordered a porter. Then I realized after two sips this beast of deliciousness was going to knock me over if I didn't have something to eat. I asked the barkeep what they had for sale and he directed me to the cookie made with Intuition Ale Works spent mash for $2.25.

It was delicious and went very well with my beer.

If you want to try one of these cookies you can find them at 1024 Park Street, Jacksonville, 32204 Phone: (904)374-5789

Brew Five Points is open most days at 7:30 a.m. except on Sat and Sun when they open the doors at 9 a.m. Closing times vary depending on the day so check with them about their hours.