Tag: Italian

Which Coffee Franchise is Best for You?

When it comes to the wonderful wide world of franchise business opportunities there are plenty from which to choose. The coffee franchise is one particular franchise that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds with new businesses and franchises being created in this field on a very regular basis. Much like the drink, coffee franchises have seen a few evolutions during the course of the last decade and business is, quite literally booming in little drive thru coffee shops and huge coffee cafes across the country and around the world.

The big problem with this is that as businesses are created and franchises made there are more decisions that must be made when deciding on whether or not to open a coffee franchise of your own. If you do decide to open a coffee franchise, there remains the question of which coffee franchise is the best choice for your management style and desires for your business future.

Putting pen to paper is always a great way to begin the search for the perfect franchise. Study the establishments in your area and the general vicinity in which you would like to place your coffee franchise (assuming of course, this is the sort of business you are planning to pursue) and do the math. Some questions you will want to ask are: are there existing coffee franchises in the area and what sort of competition will they create? What type of market do you have for the business you are pursuing? Will business be largely seasonal and is there a way to cut cost during slower seasons that will not jeopardize the reputation of your business and the good name of your coffee franchise? Are you interested in a “hands on” business or do you wish to leave the running of the business in the capable hands of managers? Finally, you need to ask yourself if you can feel passionate about the coffee franchise you are considering?

Each of these questions is an important question to answer before deciding if a particular coffee franchise meets your needs. Different franchises have different requirements and some will only deal with franchise owners who are interested in a direct involvement in the daily running of the business. Others are a little more open to investment franchising. You should also ask yourself if you prefer a coffee franchise that deals with one thing and does that one thing exceptionally well or a franchise that handles coffee and something else.

Building a business is a lot of hard work. Investing in a coffee franchise is a good beginning for many investors that are willing to put the effort into learning their business well (as are any franchise opportunities) but they are somewhat risky in light of extreme competition in many areas and battles with the big names that everyone is familiar with. Choose wisely when deciding the coffee franchise you will pursue and make sure it is one that you can enjoy working with as hard work is a requirement for building a successful franchise.

Belgian Pralines and Shell Chocolate

Belgian chocolates are considered as the food of the champions, the rich people’s indulgence and also the masses, and a temptation for lovers. Every year, Belgium is able to produce chocolate products of about 172,000 tons. You can even find over 2,000 shops offering their precious chocolate goodies.

The sublime chocolate confection of Belgium is praline. This is a skillfully sculpted shell made of chocolate that conceals a filling in the center; and once you eat it, it explodes in your mouth with an astounding texture. Most of the chocolatiers in Belgium make their chocolate products like praline by hand. They believe that this brings out the best in chocolate. You can find chocolate stores that sell luxurious pralines in almost every small village or town.

You can also find Belgian sea shells like that of GUYLIAN and Parthenon foods. The price of the chocolate shells range from $10 to $13 and is very affordable for chocolate lovers. There are different online stores that can provide you with this great product. The shells are made from the finest quality Belgian chocolate, a name that you can truly trust.

Chocolate shells, especially that of the Belgian chocolate, are all hand-made. You can use the chocolate shells as cake decorations, or you can give it as party favors. If you want to use it as a favor, for every pound, you can get a maximum of 65 pieces of the chocolate shells. For your cake decoration, you can purchase 40 large pieces of the chocolate shell. When you place an order, especially in an online store, make sure that you specify how you’re planning to use the shells. The chocolate shells are edible, and just to ensure its freshness, place an order the day before your party.

Any form of chocolate is well-loved by almost any individual. Aside from using chocolates in cake decorations or as delicious treats in parties and social gatherings, it is also a perfect gift that can melt your loved-ones heart. Show your loved-one how much you cherish and love her by giving her Belgian shells chocolate. This is an excellent gift idea that you can use this coming Valentines Day.

Give her something new this Valentines. Sometimes, flowers and jewelry are so ordinary during this special occasion. So why not give her Belgian shell chocolate? And if you can actually make one yourself, so much the better; just order a Belgian chocolate from your nearest chocolate shop. By adding a personal touch to your gift, you can give her the most romantic gift that will be remembered for life.

Belgian chocolates are not only perfect for Valentines Day. In fact, you can use it for almost any occasion. People from all walks of life love chocolates because of its delicious sweet taste. It is not only loved by children but also of adults as well. Give your friend or a family member a sumptuous Belgian shells chocolate treat for his or her birthday, or even without a specific occasion.

When you give other people gifts, they will somehow feel that they’re extra special. This can even be more felt if you give a chocolate gift. So when a certain occasion is about to come up, dont forget to include Belgian chocolate in your list. This is a party must-have that fits for any occasion.

The Chocolatey World Of Belgian Seashell Chocolates

Believe it or not chocolates are good for your health. There have been studies that were conducted by major research institutes that people who constantly eat chocolates have a longer life span than those who dont usually eat them. Chocolates are also filled with antioxidants that fights off cancer, cardiovascular diseases, thwarts off strokes, and lowers down blood pressure. Chocolate also has large amounts of iron and magnesium.

Other than its health benefits, chocolates can make you feel much better in a more legal and tasty way compared to alcoholic beverages and medications. The ingestion of chocolates induces the release of hormones called endorphins which promotes a state of happiness or a feel-good emotional experience.

Chocolates are also believed to be an aphrodisiac. It has been so since the time of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations in South America. It is believed that ingestion of chocolates stimulates sexual energy and consequently makes people fertile. It is also said to relieve exhaustion because of its nutritional aspects. Energy bars of athletes are mostly chocolates mixed with another substance for energy enhancement.

The team up of chocolate’s health benefits with the best chocolate confection the world, Belgian chocolates, then there may be no more stopping for people who are still skeptics of the chocolate magic that has been driving people crazy since it’s coming to European shores.

With chocolates, nothing beats the Belgians in making this sweet taste of heaven make its way to salivating chocolate crazy individuals. Belgian chocolates are deemed to be the alpha male of all chocolates. Even its rival Swiss counterparts bow to its gastronomical powers. The distinctive factor of Belgian chocolates that makes it outstanding is the excellent quality of the ingredients and the perfect chocolate making techniques that has been refined through the centuries.

Belgian chocolates come in many shapes in sizes. One of the preferred forms of Belgian chocolates is the seashell shaped ones. After all, a seashell is a symbol of many positive things in life. Seashells are thought to be gifts from the ocean. With its various shapes and forms, it is the symbol of uniqueness and beauty. One great symbolism of the seashell is created by Boticelli in one of his artistic creations. In his painting of “The Birth of Venus”, the seashell is depicted as the vessel of beauty, rebirth, love, and godly attributes to the earth.

Therefore, seashell shaped Belgian chocolates are perfect for symbolizing the chocolate’s representation of heavenly experience of a sweet filling wrapped in a beautiful chocolate shell or praline. One bite will surely bring you to the heavens.

With the Belgian seashell chocolate’s rich in symbolism, it has become a popular item for gifts to loved ones. As gifts, packages for these chocolates should also be perfect. With the finesse of Belgian craftsmanship, chocolates are made of excellent materials which include top notch delicious fruits, high quality chocolate, and natural vanilla. Artificial flavoring, which is common among inferior types if chocolates, is never included in the ingredients of Belgian chocolates.

In the quest for Belgian seashell chocolates, do not just opt for ones that are sold in supermarkets that claims to be made by the use of Belgian techniques of chocolate making. The most likely that you will be having a taste of real Belgian chocolates is in Belgium. There are no other places here on this planet where you can perfectly eat Belgian chocolates. Plus, with the country’s fine tourist destinations, Belgian chocolates, especially the seashell shaped ones, are the perfect snack as you go on sightseeing in the beautiful country of Belgium.

The History of Pasta in Italian Food

The most widely recognized element of Italian food today is pasta. Pasta is a signature of Italian food in all parts of the globe. It is easy to store and prepare and therefore became the ambassador of Italian food to the world. Pasta has a much older history than other common dishes in Italian food like pizza and tomato sauce.

There are many myths surrounding the time when pasta actually entered into Italian food. The most common of these myths is that Marco Polo introduced it to the country from his extensive travels. However, pasta was already a part of Italian food during Marco Polo’s life. To get to the heart of the matter you must travel even further back in history. In fact the most accepted theory on the introduction of pasta to Italian food takes us back to the eighth century. During this time the Arab invasions greatly influenced Italian food and are the most likely start of pasta’s life in Italy.

Since the wheat used for this early pasta thrived in Italy, it quickly spread and by the 1300’s dried pasta was immensely popular and found all over the country. The appeal of pasta to Italian food was its nutrition and its long shelf life. These factors made pasta a great candidate for long ship voyages and because of this it was one of the first Italian foods to be introduced to the world. By the time pasta made its world debut much advancement had been made and there were many different shapes and forms of pasta being used in Italian food. The Italians had also developed ways to make pasta faster and more efficiently, making it an integral part of Italian food and Italian life.

The next important phase of pasta’s development in Italian food was the introduction of the tomato of course. Today pasta and tomato sauce go hand in hand when thinking of Italian food, but the marriage wasn’t made until 1839. Prior to this time tomatoes were just being introduced to the world from the Americas and many Europeans believed them to be poisonous. It took a long time for people to trust the tomato enough to eat it and include it in Italian food. However, once the tomato was accepted it was welcomed with open arms and took off in Italian food, especially in the southern regions of Italy.

Today one only has to look at the numbers to see just how big a role pasta plays in Italian food. Italians eat over three times as much pasta as Americans. Their pasta consumption is over sixty pounds per person per year. It’s no wonder that pasta is considered the cornerstone of Italian food. In fact, pasta is used so extensively in Italian food that Italy must import most of its wheat in order to keep up with the demand. This popularity of pasta and Italian food has caused pasta to be mass produced. This has lead to an inferior quality of pasta being used in American Italian food. The best pasta is still found in Italy where they stick to the same recipes handed down through the generations. A true Italian food lover must try some authentic pasta made in Italy if they want to capture the authentic taste of Italian food.

The Journey of the Belgian Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is a delicious drink that is a cocktail of cocoa powder or chocolate, sugar, and milk. This toothsome beverage can be traced back to the Mayan and Aztec civilizations in which they consumed their chocolate drinks made from roasted cocoa seeds mixed with spices like chili and achiote or annatto. The chocolate beverage was not only enjoyed but was also revered. Unfortunately, not everyone has the honor to drink chocolates during those times, only the members of the upperclass can drink it.

Chocolate was thought to be helpful in relieving exhaustion and was associated with fertility. The cocoa beans were also used by these old civilizations as currencies.

But the chocolate mixture during the old times is not as delicious as todays. When European settlers came to the south Americas, they even found the drink a bit repulsive. Even when Christopher Columbus has returned to Europe and brought with him cocoa beans from his travels to the New World; the chocolate was still a bit ignored.

It was only the time when a certain Hernan Cortez visited Mexico in the year 1517 when chocolate is beginning to make its way to the world. Cortez then met the Aztec Emperor, Moctezuma, and was introduced to some of the emperors traditions and activities. One of which is his favorite beverage, the chocolate. The emperor served Cortez the chocolate drink in a goblet made of gold, which was very impressive. The chocolate of the emperor was then a mixture of powdered cocoa beans, vanilla, spices, and honey.

The ritual must have impressed Cortez that he brought a lot of cocoa beans back to his native Spain. He also brought with him equipments for making chocolate beverages. The Spaniards kept the recipe a secret for a long time that it was only after one hundred years that the beverage became very popular in Europe.

When chocolates found its way to Belgium, it was like a match made in heaven! Belgians are known for their exquisite cuisine that is at par with the French. They even claim that their food is cooked in the way of the French but served generously like those of the Germans.

The Belgians have their own way of making chocolates. Through the years, they have honed their skills and perfected the manufacturing of chocolates of the best quality. In this perfection of this delicacy, it is easy to assume that chocolates are to Belgians as electronics gadgets are to Japan.

There are a number of varieties of Belgian hot chocolates to choose from and all seem to send the drinkers to paradise. From the moment the lips touch the cup and smell the aroma of the beverage, you will already feel the essence of the beverage being absorbed in your body. As you taste it a little you know that youll crave for more except that it will burn your tongue if you drink it in one gulp. Consequently, slowly consuming it is what makes it more pleasurable! And the perfect aftertaste that is like no other hot chocolate you can find anywhere else in the world.

No wonder that chocolate lovers seem to salivate more than the usual every time they here the word Belgium. Probably daydreaming of gargling and finally drinking all the Belgian hot chocolate they can gather up when they get the chance to visit the land of chocolates.