No fret, cocoa babies, we’ve got you covered. Back by popular demand is one of our most favorite events of the whole year: Mom’s Day Dessert Decadence. Take a look at the yum-yums we’re cookin’ up just for mom:

Exclusively, Mother’s Day, Sunday May 13th with seatings at 3 & 5pm, guests can enjoy tea service complete with a tantalizing array of 10 petit four desserts with Mom in mind! The price is only $25 a person & includes a FREE Box of 2 Truffles for each & every Mom ($5 value). RSVPs are required & at only 64 seats, we expect this event to sell out. Call us to make reservations at 619.578.2984! In the mean time, take a look at our menu. Commence salivation now:

Warm Lavender Blueberry Scones with Orange Peel Vanilla Bean Butter

Strawberry Rhubarb Stuffed Almond Macaroon

Blackberry Sage Shortbread

Frozen Berries with White Chocolate Lemon-Thyme

Cabernet-Poached Pear with Walnut & Gorgonzola

Rose Petal Burnt Caramel Pot de Creme

Sea Salt Caramel Yogurt Parfait

Frozen Peanut Butter Mousse with Brownie Crumb Crust

Dark Chocolate Bourbon Banana Cake

Black-bottomed Sea Salt Nib Oatmeal Cookie

Sounds pretty good, eh? Take a look at the adorable Rose Petal Pot de Creme, one of my personal all-time favorites!

But I digress… all this talk about future deliciousness & I’ve got another dinner to plan. Take a look at our next Small Plate Monthly Dinner: Indian Delight!

Exclusively on April 21st, with seatings at 4, 6, & 8pm, guests will enjoy three courses of cocoa-clad creations with an Indian flare. Our resident curry-authority, Autumn, is particularly excited. The last time we showcased this theme, she took the menu on as a side-project & did not disappoint. Take a look at two of the platings from way back when in 2011:

Looks good, no? As these events typically sell out, don’t hesitate to call to save your spot: 619.578.2984. In the mean time, I will close by tempting your tastebuds with the entire line-up. Check it out:

Garlic Naan with Coconut Shrimp & Mango Chutney [optional starter]

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup with White Chocolate Blood Orange Olive Oil Drizzle

choice of entree:

Creamy Spinach with Pan-fried Cheese Curds -or- Chicken Tikka Masala

both served with Candied Cocoa Nib & Pumpkinseed Basmati Rice

Farina Pudding with Chile Burnt Caramel Hazelnut, Bruleed Banana, & Vanilla Bean Gelato

Shortly after, our first foray into marshmallowy confections debuted at the cafe under the name Marshmallow Almond Rococo. Remember that? It was delicious & airy & all the things you’d expect from the marriage of artisan marshmallow & couverture chocolate. Absolutely delicious!

Continuing the theme, we expanded the concept to include multiple flavors & a new packaging concept, all in time for our Second Year Anniversary Party. Eight flavors in total stocked our shelves for the next two years & we were even showcased on the Food Network’s Kid In a Candy Store with our friends from Plush Puffs.

Then in early 2011 I had a revelation which continues to reverberate throughout my company. It had been over eight years since I began dabbling in chocolate & looking back on it all its a wonder Eclipse is still around! Not that we weren’t making delicious wares at a fair price… quite a different problem had developed over years of creative product development. Eclipse had grown large enough for me to step aside from the grind of daily production thanks to the thankless efforts of my staff (Susan, I’m lookin’ at you!), & I could finally gain some valuable time for larger business concerns. I came to the conclusion that while everything we made was simply delicious & irresistibly tasty, the idea of branding & consumer psychology had obviously escaped me. Rococo? Case in point! Listen up & hear why:

Oddly enough, I’ve lost 60 pounds in becoming a professional chocolatier. No kidding! When I was but an idiot with chocolate dreams, I used to sit on my couch & watch the Food Network eight hours a day while devouring the eight-layer cake I no doubt just finished frosting. It was a pretty gluttonous existence. To this day, most of my friends can’t belief how fast I can put away a plate of food… but I digress! Until I began making food & confections full-time, I was more or less eating it full-time. So naturally the shift in lifestyle from foodie to professional ushered in a new relationship with food. Today I’m told I’m a skinny guy, but the deeply routed fat-kid will always know the real truth… I live to make food & eat it!

And so became the life-cycle of our dear Rococo! When it was originally imagined, it was tasty, full bodied, & fat… a bit Rubenesque, if you will. And why shouldn’t it be? Who wouldn’t want to hack into a giant block of exotic rocky road? Well, as it turns out, plenty! I was a fat kid at heart making an over-sized confection… but the overwhelming feedback was that people would like something more orally manageable. Plus, not all flavors are created equally… so it became obvious a creative re-envisioning was in order!

So as I sit at one of the cafe tables blogging away, I find myself longingly peering over to the chocolate shelf where the last few Rococo lay awaiting their ultimately gluttonous consumption. Make way, you by-gone relics of a clunkier, less refined age of Eclipse! A new era of fantastic fluffy confections is before us. Behold: Burnt Caramel Rocky Road! Its softer & tastier than ever, & packed with plenty of Plush Puffs & our famous Creme Fraiche Caramel. And at $9 for a box of two barely mouth-sized blocks, its a treat plenty big enough to share! Take a look at its two chocolatey incarnations:

Sea Salt Caramel Rocky Road- Creme fraiche caramel & vanilla bean marshmallow rocky road in 55% dark chocolate, topped with candied cocoa nib & grey sea salt.

Chile Spiced Pecan Rocky Road- Creme fraiche caramel & vanilla bean marshmallow rocky road in 38% milk chocolate, topped with chile-candied pecan.

Stop in today or order online here!

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:

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!!!

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

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!

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

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

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!):

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!

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/

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”!

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

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