Chocolate Factory!

So remember how I said my group was to learn gastronomy, tourism, viticulture, and that kind of stuff? Well, what better way than to go to a french chocolate factory, a vineyard, and a bakery! So this past week we were lucky enough to go to all these places, and get a behind the scenes view of everything. 

First we visited the chocolate factory where our lovely guide/chocolate maker extraordinaire  Christophe was nice enough to show us the ins and outs of the chocolate making process. Honestly, I know we learned some history about Christopher Columbus and some Tyrants, but the sight and smell of all the chocolate was just too distracting to really absorb any of the information we were being given. Lucky for me the info part of the tour was the shortest. Christophe showed us how the chocolate is tempered and how they make all of their molds and decorative calligraphy and even a chocolate rose! We finished up the tour with a look at the chocolate making machines, some (ok lots) of free samples and a visit to the front store to buy some (ok again a lot) of the chocolates we saw being made! Marie and Romu were especially happy to hear about this field trip because they were able to sample the treats with me!

That same week we got to visit yet another vineyard. This time it was much more educational we were finally able to see everything we've been learning in the classroom the past few weeks. First we saw the vines, then the pressers, fermentation tanks, barrels, and finally the finished product. We tasted the wines, which according to French rating (they have this really complicated rating system that involves big french words like appellation that I just can't quite grasp) are very highly rated, but I have to be honest weren't my favorite. However the guide/owner was SO nice and put up with all our silly questions and wine tasting faces (we don't quite have the swish and spit part down so gracefully, if there is a graceful way to do it) and all-in-all it was a great day at the vineyard!

Now that's a LOT of wine!

Lastly that week we went to a boulangerie (bakery) to see how the oh so wonderful french baguettes and madeleines are made. The (cute) head baker, who's been going to culinary school for 7 years now, walked us through the steps of making their best sellers. We got to watch the process, which was a little dull because all it really involves is kneading dough for the bread and whipping up egg whites for the cookies. But then we got to sample the treats, fresh from the oven! It doesn't get much better than that!