The chocolate shop has been a whirlwind of activity as of late… Vday rolled in like a hurricane & everyone here has been knee deep in chocolate-making in attempts to keep up with demand. Thank goodness for our 2012 expansion! Have you heard? Eclipse is growing up fast & we are excitedly searching for new opportunities with a new production space just to keep up with demand! Its gonna be a big year for Eclipse!

But its not all chocolate bars & salted caramels… have you attended one of our Small Plate dinners? Each month we feature a multi-course prix fixe event with savory offerings infused with chocolate, vanilla bean, or burnt caramel. Sounds delish, no? Take a look at the next event coming up:

Exclusively, March 10th, with seatings at 4, 6, & 8pm, guests will enjoy a complete experience we’re calling an American Bistro Dinner. Seats are $30 a person, & the menu goes as such:

Parmesan-Panko Crusted Crab Cakes with Chive Hollendaise [optional starter]

Roasted Crimini Mushroom Bisque with Candied Cocoa Nib

Choice of Entree:

Chicken Pot Pie with Flaky Gruyere Crust  -or- Linguine Avocado-Carbonara

both served with Vanilla Bean Vinaigrette Dressed Mesclun Greens & Heirloom Tomato

White Chocolate Peach-Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Creme Fraiche

To make reservations, call 619.578.2984, but don’t wait… these dinners sell out! Until then, take a look at the yum-yums we served for February’s Sweetheart Dinner:

Many of you have asked to see a comprehensive list of all the yum-yums we’re planning for the big day comin’ up. After all, what’s Vday without chocolate? Well, we’ve got you covered… and then some! Take a look at this list of amazingness… its a doozy!

Sweetheart Dinner- Tuesday, February 14th, with seatings at 4, 6, or 8pm.

Five courses of romantic fair plated to impress! Chairs are $45 a person with an optional 5-flight wine pairing (+$20). Double date (reserve a table for 4) & each guest gets a FREE Box of 2 Truffles. See the full menu here.  And check out our Foursquare deal if you’re into that sorta thing!

Sweetheart Brunch- Sunday, February 12th, open seating from 9-2pm.

Join us for our Weekend Chocolate Brunch for your choice of any 3 plates for $14. All guests will receive a FREE Creme Fraiche Cupcake with 3-plate purchase. See the menu here.

Speaking of cupcakes, now through Vday, we’ll be featuring a new flavor perfect for the holiday. Its a little ditty called Caramel Cardamom Rose [yellow cake+burnt caramel filling+chocolate cardamom-rose filling+candied rose petal]. Cupcakes are $4 each, 3 for $10, or 9 for $27. This fancy flavor will be available each day while supplies last.

But what about those Exotic Salted Caramels you’ve heard so much about? We’ve got more than just that! Take a look at our Sweetheart Collection… its a mighty tasty box of deliciousness for only $30. We’ve got this baby for purchase through the holiday. Take a look:

And of course what chocolate shop would be complete without an AMAZING array of chocolates? When it comes to Vday romance, nothing trumps a box of Exotic Artisan Truffles. Our case is already busting at the seems with more infusions than ever! Take a look at the full list we’re featuring for the holiday:

Lavender Sea Salt Caramel [milk]

Caramel Pecan [milk]

Peanut Butter Toffee [milk]

Goat Cheese Tarragon [dark]

Chile Burnt Caramel [dark]

Double Coconut Milk [dark]

Ginger Green Tea [dark]

Apricot Brie [dark]

Pomegranate Sage [dark]

Bergamot Orange Peel [dark]

Vanilla Bean Sassafras [dark]

Goat Cheese Fig [dark]

Double Dark Chocolate [dark]

Black Sesame Anise [dark]

Double Espresso [dark]

Cardamom Rose Petal [dark]

Macadamia Orange Peel [white]

Lemon Ginger [white]

And brand new & exclusive for the 2012 Vday holiday: Vanilla Bean Blossom [white]

Truffles are 2 for $5, 10 for $20, or a giant box of 28 for $50! Individual flavors available until they sell out! Look how pretty they all are!!!

Valentine’s Day Dinner has always been a personal favorite of mine. There’s just something about designing a menu with a heart-warming theme. I’m not really a romantic sap, but I do enjoy presenting a complete tasting experience that is filled with love. Rich luxurious flavors come to mind that mingle & effervesce before uniting in harmony. And isn’t that what Valentine’s Day should be about? Whether it be lover or mother, sister or brother, treat someone you care about to a heart-warming dining experience. But enough poetry, take a look at these yum-yums yourself:

Mm, sounds lovely doesn’t it? Join us Tuesday, February 14th, to experience this five course feast. Seatings are at 4,6, and 8pm and chairs are $45 each. You can even enjoy an accompanying five course wine pairing for an extra $20. RSVP required… so call the cafe already. Space is limited! 619.578.2984

Its a brand new year & my staff & I are thrilled to usher in a new & exciting Eclipse! First up? Its time for a quarterly menu change for our Sunday Brunch. Having received rave reviews for our house-made mole this past weekend, we’ve decided to add a little Latin to our weekend faire. And yes… I said “weekend”! Starting in March, we’re expanding our Sunday Brunch to all weekend long! Saturday & Sunday? That’s two whole days of deliciousness!

But until then, just one day will have to do ya. And starting this Sunday, we’ve got new menu items to tempt your tastebuds. Take a look at these yum-yums:

cheesy tamales with green chile & brute cocoa mole

huevos rancheros with black bean-shallot mash, panela cheese, & brute cocoa mole

potato-spinach quiche with chile burnt caramel hollendaise

fig & orange peel stuffed french toast with premium maple syrup

chocolate cherry buttermilk yogurt with walnut-oat granola

All these new plates & more… 16 in total from which to choose! Plates individually priced, but the best deal in town is any three for $14! Every Sunday from 9-2. Cya then!

It’s almost 2012, can you believe it! To kick-start the new year, we’re diggin’ deep into Mexican tradition and featuring our best-selling Latin Mole Dinner once again. The Mayan’s may be checkin’ out, but we’re celebrating the beginning of a brand new year with all the best that Latin America has to offer. If you’ve joined us in Januarys past, you’ll know that our Brute Cocoa Mole is not to miss. After all, anything with 30+ ingredients that takes a week to make is well-worth the wait. Here are the full details:

For $30 a person, guests will enjoy 3 courses of Latin deliciousness. We will have seatings at 4, 6, and 8pm exclusively on Saturday January 7th. RSVP are required so don’t wait to call to save your space. This is traditionally one of our best-selling dinner! 619.578.2984. Check out the full menu:

Grilled Shrimp Quesadilla with Sundried Tomato Guacamole (optional starter)

Cheesy Tortilla Soup with Black Bean Salsa Cruda

Choice of Entree:

Pulled Pork Tostada with Green Chile, Creme, & Lime -or-

Roasted Chile Relleno & Corn Enchiladas with Smoked Sea Salt

both served with Brute Cocoa Mole & Roasted Garlic Pico de Gallo

Molten Mocha Cake with Whipped Creme Friache & Chile Burnt Caramel Sauce

Xmas is just around the corner… have you gotten your holiday fill yet? Of course not, its barely December! Well tuck in cocoa-kiddies, we’re servin’ up a delicious smattering of holiday-stuffed yum-yums. And what’s better than a few cozy seasonal savories? When they are paired with desserts and wines! Oh, you haven’t tried a Threeway yet? Well get out from under that rock and join us on Friday nights for our version of a delicious wine and food pairing, but petit! Each Friday Night Threeway menu features a small savory paired with a small sweet paired with a half glass of wine. Its all the deliciousness with none of the overwhelming portions. Each menu features three tasting platters to choose from ($12 for 1 or enjoy all 3 for $30). Take a look at what we’re featuring through the Xmas season (12/10 & 12/16):

Vanilla Bean Threeway:

Roasted Beet Mac & Cheese+White Chocolate Cranberry Mousse+Fire Road Pinot Noir

Burnt Caramel Threeway:

Glazed Ham & Brie Croissant+Gingerbread Cream Pie+Hienz Eifel Icewine

Chocolate Threeway:

Blue Cheese Souffle-stuffed Mushroom+Salted Chocolate Pecan Tart+Andrew Murray Syrah

Its less than two weeks before Thanksgiving, and I’ve been dreamin’ up a new menu to satisfy your wildest holiday dreams. After all, isn’t that what a good Friday Night Threeway is all about? Well, its not just a sexy wine-pairing event… this time its a seasonal celebration! For the next three weeks we’re aimin’ to satisfy all the holiday food cravings you can muster. I know I can’t wait to sink my teeth into Thanksgiving turkey with all the fixin’s… but why stop there when we can have a little more fun? Take a look at our next selection of mini meals:

Vanilla Threeway:

Roasted Rosemary Turkey with Vanilla Parmesan Mornay Sauce+Sweet Corn & Vanilla Bean Custard+Vinum Cellars White Voignier

Caramel Threeway:

Sausage & Sweet Potato Tart with Toasted Pecan+Burnt Caramel & Cranberry Pot de Creme+Urban Uco Red Malbec

Chocolate Threeway:

Wild Mushroom Dressing with Cocoa Brown Sugar Gravy+Spiced Pumpkin Tiramisu+Altadonna Red Sangiovese

This menu begins Friday November 18th from 6-10pm, and will be featured again on the 25th and 2nd. After that, its gone! Until then, tempt your tastebuds with a photo of the Wild Mushroom Dressing (one of my personal favs!):

San Diego Beer Week starts today and droves of tourists, beer enthusiast, and generally jovial drunkards are already swarming into our Finest City! And that means we’ve got another monthly Small Plate dinner comin’ up next weekend… and its all about the beers this time. We’ve joined forces with San Diego’s own Ballast Point Brewery to present a delicious multi-course meal made especially to showcase their crafty brews.

The dinner is November 12th and we have seatings at 4, 6, and 8pm. Tickets are only $25 a person. Enjoy the optional three-course beer pairing for an extra $15. Thankfully we take reservations for our Small Plate dinners, so there’s no worry about not getting a seat. But call us ASAP before there’s nothing left! 619.578.2984

Take a a look at the yum-yums we’re featuring this time:

Starter: Spicy Smoked Beef Sausage on Buttermilk Toast with Burnt Caramel Ale Mustard (optional starter sized for 2, +$12).

Intro: Potato, Leek, & Ale Soup with Aged Cheddar & Cocoa-Glazed Bacon. Paired with Ballast Point’s Abandon Ship.

Main: Choice of Beef Shepard’s Pie with Parmesan Potato-Parsnip Crust, -or- Five Bean & Roasted Root Veggie Chili. Both served with White Chocolate Soda Bread. Paired with Ballast Point’s Calico Amber Ale.

Finale: Double Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Candied Orange Peel & Beer Caramel. Paired with Ballast Point’s Barrel Aged Sextant Stout.

Here’s a pic of the entree for this dinner… and its beer pairing. Not. To. Miss!

Have you heard of San Diego Beer Week? It’s only the most exciting craft brewery festival in the whole of the USA! And its just around the corner! From November 4-13th, our Finest City will be inundated with throngs of thirsty tourists just hankering for a swig of tasty brew. And if they stop by Eclipse, we will be tempting them with delicious food AND drink! Take a look at the great events we’ve got to celebrate the affair:

Friday October 29th, November 5th, November 12th

Friday Night Threeways, Beer Edition: $12 per tasting platter, all three for $30

Caramelized Shallot & Walnut Torte+Oktoberfest Caramel Cheesecake+Paulaner Oktoberfest

Grilled Sausage with Burnt Caramel Porter Mustard+Sticky Toffee Pudding+Stone Smoked Porter

Chocolate-glazed Bacon-wrapped Dates+Frozen Peanut Butter Mousse+Ommegang Three Philosophers

Saturday November 12th

San Diego Beer Week Dinner with Ballast Point Brewery: $25 per guest (+$15 for Ballast Point beer pairing trio)

Grilled Sausage With Burnt Caramel Porter Mustard (optional starter)

Potato Leek Pale Ale Cheese Soup with Cocoa-Glazed Bacon

Choice of Entree:

Beef Shepard’s Pie with Parmesan Potato-Parsnip Crust -or-

Five Bean Chili & Roasted Root Veggie Chili

both served with Imperial Stout Soda Bread with White Chocolate Chunk

Double Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Orange-Lager Caramel

For complete details on the week’s beer-related events, take a look at their site: http://sdbw.org/

The holiday season is before us and my team is scrambling to launch a new service in time for the gift-giving rush! After all, who has time to waste looking for parking at the mall when you could simply do all that work from home via the web? Take a look at our new program:

Eclipse Gifts by Mail is a full-service shipment program perfect to match all your personal or business gifting needs for the upcoming holiday season! All you need do is supply us with the name and shipment information for any gift you need sent on your behalf, and we will do the rest! How much easier could the holidays get? Here are the full details:

Each month we will feature a set of collections available for gift shipments that are custom-designed to reflect the delicious chocolate offerings perfect for the season. All collections are organized in $35 set prices and shipment costs are mainstreamed for fast and simple ordering. You can choose to put together as many collections as you like to compile for your perfect gift impression. You can even choose to gift multiple shipments for a “Chocolate of the Month” gift! But don’t forget yourself! Who wouldn’t want to treat themselves to a monthly shipment of Eclipse goodies? Take a look at the first few months available:

November-

Autumn Truffle & Salted Caramel Assortment-

Box of 10 Seasonal Truffles (including Pumpkin Muscavado, Sweet Potato Spice, Pomegranate Sage, and more)+Box of 10 Exotic Salted Caramels

Autumn Rococo Assortment-

Three Boxes of Rococo (including Toasted Coconut Toffee Rococo, Chile Burnt Caramel Rococo, Citrus Honeycomb Rococo)

Autumn Chocolate Bar Assortment-

Seven Large Chocolate Bars (including Spiced Pumpkinseed, Sweet Basil Mint, Sea Salt Nib, Peanut Butter Toffee, Gingerbread Crumb, Mango Masala, Orange Peel Anise)

December-

Winter Truffle & Salted Caramel Assortment

Box of 10 Seasonal Truffles (including Pumpkin Muscavado, Peanut Butter Toffee, Goat Cheese & Fig, and more)+Box of 10 Exotic Salted Caramels

Winter Rococo Assortment-

Three Boxes of Rococo (including Peppermint Almond Rococo, Espresso Toffee Rococo, Gingerbread Spice Rococo)

Winter Holiday Gift Set-

Winter Caramel Gift Set (including 9 Salted Caramels, Spiced Pumpkinseed Bar, Gingerbread Crumb Bar, Peanut Butter Toffee Bar, Sweet Basil Mint Bar)

January-

Drinking Chocolate & Marshmallow Assortment-

Three Tins of Drinking Chocolate (including Chile Burnt Caramel, Rosemary Mint, Cinnamon Masala, all packed with Vanilla Bean Marshmallows)

New Year Rococo Assortment-

Three Boxes of Rococo (including Citrus Honeycomb Rococo, Chile Burnt Caramel Toffee Rococo, Salty Dulce de Leche Rococo)

New Year Chocolate Bar Set-

Seven Large Chocolate Bars (including Sea Salt Nib, Macadamia Ginger, Salty Dulce De Leche, Peanut Butter Toffee, Blackberry Sage, Espresso Walnut, Orange Peel Anise)

February-

Sweetheart Gift Set-

Sweetheart Caramel Gift Set (including 5 Salted Caramels, 4 Rose Petal Caramels, Blackberry Sage Bar, Macadamia Ginger Bar, Orange Peel Anise Bar, Sea Salt Nib Bar)

Drinking Chocolate & Marshmallow Assortment-

Three Tins of Drinking Chocolate (including Chile Burnt Caramel, Sea Salt Caramel, Orange Peel Vanilla Bean, all packed with Vanilla Bean Marshmallows)

Sweetheart Truffle & Salted Caramel Assortment-

Box of 10 Seasonal Truffles (including Cardamom Rose Petal, Balsamic Pink Peppercorn, Honey Saffron, and more)+Box of 10 Exotic Salted Caramels

For complete information, email us today and ask for our Eclipse Gifts by Mail ordering form. We even have a few premium options like this Lucite Gift Set for those friends and clients who you need to “wow”!

Have you joined us for a Friday Night Threeway yet? It’s the talk of the town! We’ve got all you need to tempt your taste buds and spice up your weekend. Take a look at the details:

Every Friday night from 6-10pm, guests may join us to enjoy their choice of one small savory item+one small sweet item+one half glass of wine. And all for just $12! What’s better than that? You get all the excitement of a full meal paired with a wine, but all distilled down to the size of a tasty snack! But wait… it gets better! Each Friday, guests will have their choice of the “chocolate”, “vanilla bean”, or “burnt caramel threeway”, and the menu will rotate every three weeks.

Perhaps a snack isn’t enough? Well we’ve got you covered there, too. Individual Threeways are only $12 for the plating, but guests may enjoy all three Threeway Tastings for only $30. For you quick thinkers out there, that means its half price for the last tasting. That’s six snackable items and three glasses of wine… plenty of tastes to explore and none of the gluttonous regret later! Who ever said appetisers weren’t appropriate for dinner?

Here’s our new menu that begins tonight. Can’t make it this week? Don’t fret, we’ll be showcasing this mini-menu for the next weeks:

Vanilla Bean:

Caramelized Shallot Quesadilla+Blueberry Tres Leches+Millbrant Vineyards Merlot

Burnt Caramel:

Baked Brie en Croute+Orange Peel Creme Caramel+Poet’s Leap Riesling

Chocolate:

Cocoa Chile with Cornbread+Frozen Chocolate Mousse+Karly Wines Zinfadel

When I was first asked to be part of Food Network’s Kid In a Candy Store (along with my good friends at Plush Puffs), I certainly underestimated the impact it would have on the coming year! Looking back on it all, Eclipse certainly has come a long way in the past few years. And in just five days, the second of my national tv spots will debut on the Cooking Channel!

Its all part of my plot for world chocolate domination, of course. But seriously… this exposure marks the second of our three national tv spots this year! Better yet, each is on a different network! What’s next you ask? Comin’ up later in the fall is our debut on PBS, and when added to our spots from Food Network and the Cooking Channel this triad of exciting television spots make up the coveted “Foodie Trifecta” (I term my good friend Doug coined and thus is totally official in all constraints of the term). Whether or not this noble achievement comes attached with trophies, awards, and corporate sponsors has yet to be determined, but at least I have something to write home about!

Here are all the juicy details for the upcoming show:

United Tastes of America- “Bacon” Episode: CCUTA-212H

Airing schedule (all Eastern Standard times)

October 4th- 10pm, 2am

October 8th- 6pm

October 9th- 9pm, 1am

October 16th- 730pm

Wow! Four years! I gotta say, even I have a hard time remembering all the details of our first few seasons of running a retail chocolate shop and cafe. Seems only yesterday that I was dreaming up all the delicious ways to tempt you all! So in honor of our upcoming Fourth Year Anniversary, we have scheduled our first ever “Best Of” dinner! After nearly 40 monthly Small Plate dinners (seldom repeating menu items), guests can finally join us for our first event entirely devoted to showcasing all the most tantalizing platings from our first four years of events.

This “Best Of” event is not to miss! The price is only $25 per person and we have three seatings this time on Saturday, October 22nd at 4, 6, & 8pm. Call the cafe today to reserve your space. 619.578.2984. Take a look at the full menu:

Cocoa-glazed Bacon-wrapped Dates (optional appetiser)

French Onion Soup with Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Toast & Parmesan Crisp

Choice of Entree:
Chocolate Bacon Caramel Cheeseburger
Roasted Root Veggie Mac & Cheese with Panko Parmesan Crust

Both served with

House-made Tater Tots with Dipping Sauce Trio

Frozen Peanut Butter Mousse with Brownie Crumb Crust & Smoked Sea Salt

Ever dreamed of a career in the artisan food industry? The holiday season is before us and the Eclipse Chocolat Team is growing! We are searching for a personable, detail-oriented, and driven Wholesale Account Manager to help us grow our brand and spread the good word about exotic chocolate!

Compensation is a base salary + a healthy commission once quotas are achieved. Experience in sales is preferred, but enthusiasm in craft food and sustainable business is a must! Responsibilities include:

Sales-

• Serve as the key point of contact for all wholesale relations.
• Maintain current wholesale relations and order volumes.
• Research and establish new accounts to increase sale volumes.
• Negotiate contracts with vendors and distributors.
• Prepare monthly reports that forecast demand.

Marketing-

• Participate in product development on specifications such as design, color, packaging, and size.
• Identify potential markets for established products.

Operations-

• Prepare invoices for pending orders.
• Prepare regular reports for Accounts Receivable and make collections inquires when necessary.
• Make actionable recommendations on all functions within the Wholesale Chocolate revenue stream.

Applicants should email info@eclipsechocolat.com with a Cover Letter, Resume, and List of References.

With all these new tasting events at the cafe, sometimes I think I must be designing new menu options in my sleep! So many tasty vittles to share with you all… take a look at the new Sunday Brunch menu items that are rollin’ out this weekend. As always, brunch is served each Sunday from 9-2, and attendees are welcome to enjoy a 10% on additional chocolate or pastry purchase after dining.

Eggs in a Basket

two eggs bakes in buttermilk toast+white truffle sea salt+chive+melted parmesan cheese+chile-burnt caramel hollendaise

Apple Cinnamon Stuffed French Toaste

burnt caramel cream cheese & green apple cinnamon stuffed french toast+real maple syrup

Tomato Goat Cheese Quiche

creamy quiche with roasted cherry tomato, goat cheese, & peppercorn+flaky puff pastry crust+chile burnt caramel hollendaise

Parmesan Crusted Spinach

creamed spinach spiced with white peppercorn, nutmeg, & smoked chardonnay oak sea salt+ vanilla bean parmesan-panko crust

Dark Chocolate Salted Croissant

flaky pastry stuffed with dark chocolate & espresso sea salt+vanilla bean creme friache

Strawberry Lavender Cobbler

white chocolate biscuit+strawberry lavender compote+vanilla bean creme fraiche