chocolate post (it's been a while!)

[oakenguy]

Local LJers who are in the b0st0n and davis_square communities might have noticed the posts for the Emperor Norton Stationary Marching Band fundraiser this Thursday. (A fine example is here at http://community.livejournal.com/ensmb/7734.html).

Especially keen-eyed LJers might have noticed this line right here in the middle of the evening's offerings:
Custom Truffles inspired by ENSMB & the Madcap Rumpus Society from Truffleupagus. I know *I* noticed it, since Truffleupagus is, essentially, me.

Custom flavors are a new thing for me (with the exception of Foresthouse Crunch, which was created as a direct request from foresthouse back in the day and I'm glad she did), but as it turns out they're a hoot to come up with. First I went to the ENSMB website and checked out their song titles. Then I sat back and thought about circus bands and circuses and general. Then I got a special request from the band's contact person, who liked the thought of a flavor named after her stage persona.

And then I got desperate and started IMing people to ask for ideas. :P (Emperor Norton, sadly, was not a foodie...or let's say that if he was, he left no blog behind listing his favorite dishes).

The Final 5:
*Emperor Norton's Imperial Blend Peach brandy being wildly popular in San Francisco during Norton's reign, it went in here. (Sourdough was popular too, but there are some things even I won't try). Per mjolnir_babe's suggestion, it's coated in a shell of marbelized white & milk chocolates. Someday I'll have the skill to write Imperius Rex! on each one, but not this time.

*Mad Squirrel They've got a song called 'Mad Squirrel March'; I had four kinds of nuts and hazelnut liqueur. It worked!

*Black Diamond I'm a little proud of this one. I named it after the rogue elephant I posted about a few weeks ago, and set out to make the strongest, bitterest truffle ever seen. And then I added espresso. I'm sort of scared of these, to be honest.

*Madcap Rumpus Another pun based on the name of the circus troupe that performs with the band. Spiced rum and dark chocolate go together like Paris Hilton and vapidity.

*The Whipcracker The request flavor from the performer, and another one that I'm surprised and pleased by...she asked for "something innocently sweet, with something that snuck up and whapped the taste buds". So milk chocolate and raspberry liqueur for the sweet innocence, cloves and wasabi for the whap, and Chinese 5-spice powder for the "what the HELL am I tasting?". All in a shell of white chocolate. It's just wacky--I've never worked with a truffle that tasted so different depending on how chilled it was. If it was a superhero, it would be Ambush Bug.

So anyhow, locals, if you're not doing anything (like, oh, being in a play all you Firsties) and want to support a great band and eat a lot of chocolate, come out to this event!

Comments

[spookyhandle.livejournal.com]

Too funny! I'm actually (sort of) involved with Madcap Rumpus. I've yet to do a show with them for a variety of reasons, but I'm on their performers role call, as it were. I himmed and hawed about signing up for this event for a long while, and finally decided I had too much else on my plate right now, to revive my roaming gypsy bit... but maybe I'll swing by, just to say hello, and at least see the troupe in action.

[sairisse.livejournal.com]

Crap. After reading (and drooling over) the descriptions of the chocolates, I realized I already have plans for Thursday night. But... truffles... they're so good...

[bellebet.livejournal.com]

Man, those sound tasty!

[anadandy.livejournal.com]

*Mad Squirrel They've got a song called 'Mad Squirrel March'; I had four kinds of nuts and hazelnut liqueur. It worked!

I think I would actually kill for one of these right now.

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

Much Ado folks ahve no excuse. It's our dark night before we open on the 4th. ;)

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

Oh, those sound so yummy and fun and interesting! I wish I could come and try them all!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

So are any vegan? Your answer will determine whether or not I stand by my auction donation! :)

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

Want.

Aw, man!

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh! I have rehearsal! Maybe I'll get out early and be able to navigate the Bermuda tesseract that is Boston roadways in time to partake. (This is my way of saying, "Sorry, I'll either be busy or tearing my hair out trying to get there").

How are the business cards working out?

Aw, man, #@%&*!

[(Anonymous)]

(&*&%$#@! Forgot to log in)Ugh! I have rehearsal! Maybe I'll get out early and be able to navigate the Bermuda tesseract that is Boston roadways in time to partake. (This is my way of saying, "Sorry, I'll either be busy or tearing my hair out trying to get there").

How are the business cards working out?

Aw, man (Third time's a charm)

[superrob.livejournal.com]

(&*&%$#@! Forgot to log in)Ugh! I have rehearsal! Maybe I'll get out early and be able to navigate the Bermuda tesseract that is Boston roadways in time to partake. (This is my way of saying, "Sorry, I'll either be busy or tearing my hair out trying to get there").

How are the business cards working out?

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

Those sound awesome :)

Won't be able to make it, but I'll be cheering your truffles on from afar! I love the idea of the Mad Squirrel Truffle :)

[scixual.livejournal.com]

Sally Jones gasped with glee when I mentioned I knew what you were up to, and sends her love.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I wish I could be there and have truffles! (Although I'm scared of the Black Diamond ones).

Aw, I'll always have been your first inspiration for custom truffles. *is special*

Re: Aw, man (Third time's a charm)

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

The business cards have been great, and got a lot of compliments last night!

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Oh, awesome! Send some right back to her. :)

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

*SO special!*

Have I mentioned that Deb and I are hooked on 'Black Books', and it's totally because of you?

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Mwahahahahaha! (evil Dylan laugh)

I am glad! You know he's in a new movie that just opened, right? I haven't seen it yet, but it's also got Simon Pegg, so I'm guessing it's pretty good to awesome. (It's called Run, Fat Boy, Run).

Hooray, Black Books and Dylan!

Re: Aw, man (Third time's a charm)

[superrob.livejournal.com]

I need to talk to you for about 10 min. regarding that, on the phone. Can you bear that much tech time?

[scixual.livejournal.com]

Will do. She was talking of a road trip.

[magickcat.livejournal.com]

I was hoping that you had listed the descriptions over here! Whew! If I may suggest, in the future, perhaps inserting a card with the descriptions inside the box.
After such an event, all I remembered was "whipcracker is white and mad squirrel is nuts" hahaha.
But YUM!
So good!
I have one whipcracker left. Boyfriend stole one for breakfast and I'm gonna have to hide the last one from him...