Gettin' Fresh at Bittersweet!

You've always known Bittersweet to be your destination for fine chocolate goodies and delicious drinks, but now you can come to us for freshly baked loaves of ciabatta bread! Berkeley's own 5th St. Bakery, our source for all our baked goodies, bakes these daily for all our stores and let me tell ya, they are awesome!

It is incredible with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or to make into garlic bread, that is a favorite of the staff.

We include a slice of ciabatta with every bowl of soup we serve, so make sure to try us out when you're looking for a quick bite to eat!

What is a Bicerin?

No matter how you say it a Bicerin (beach-er-een) is yummy! This Italian style chocolate and coffee drink is rich and heavenly.

We use a scoop of our each of own blends of Mocha mix and Bittersweet mix and melt them in hot water, as the European style. Pour over a shot of Espresso and top with our housemade whipped cream and it is nothing but goodness. Similar to a mocha, it is darker and richer. I prefer it.

Come by and choose your favorite drink today.

Try something new! Askinosie White Chocolate Nibble Bar

This month I am choosing the Askinosie White Chocolate Nibble Bar to discuss.

Normally I am not a white chocolate eater. For me it tends to be too sweet, but this bar is a whole different animal. First, Askinosie is the first small-batch chocolate maker in the U.S. to make white chocolate from the bean and not only that it is the only single origin 34% white chocolate that I know of. It is made from the Soconusco Bean, which they also make a 75% dark bar from that we carry (I highly recommend this bar as well).

Among some of the other interesting facts are the dairy used is from goats milk, instead of the usual cow's milk and it has the cacao nib in the bar for a nice crunch. The goats milk adds a totally different and complex flavor and the cacoa nib also helps to cut some of the sweetness of the white chocolate and adds more complexity.

I tried a tasting of the Askinosie Soconusco White Chocolate Nibby Bar and the Askinosie Soconusco 75% Dark Bar, just to see and compare. You can definitely tell that they come from the same bean, but that is about all that compares. They really are different. The white chocolate is nice and creamy and the dark is one of my favorites, but they really can't be compared.

This bar, like all of the other Askinosie Bars, is free-trade and organic.

Try something new. The Askinosie White Chocolate Nibby Bar is a lot of fun and enjoyable, not as sweet as a regular white chocolate bar and has a nice crunch.

Opportunity of a Lifetime!

Looking to make a little extra cash? Well we are

LOOKING FOR A SUBSTITUTE DELIVERY DRIVER

Our dear colleague Brok is getting married and we are looking to cover 7 shifts of his. If you, or anyone you know are looking to pick up some extra hours, please let me know. (Just be sure to check in with your shop manager, so you are not taking away from any barista responsibility and will not be going into any overtime)

The position originates from the Rockridge location and begins at 6:30 a.m. and goes until 11 or 12, depending on the workload of the day.


Shifts available are

Thurs. 3/5

Fri. 3/6

Mon 3/09

Tues. 3/10

Wed. 3/11

Th. 3/12

Fri 3/13


The wage is $11/hr.


Please let me know if you or anyone you know of may be interested!


Thanks!

David

david@bittersweetcafe.com

To Bittersweet or to Classic?

One of the most often questions that we get here at Bittersweet is "What is the difference between a Bittersweet and a Classic?" Well, let me see if I can put the question to rest. These are two of our most popular hot chocolates and there is a big difference between the two.

The Classic is our typical American style hot chocolate. It is our own unique mix of milk and dark chocolate blended into your choice of dairy (whole milk, 2%, nonfat, or soy) and is served in a 12 oz. cup.

The Bittersweet is our European style hot chocolate. This is our unique mix of four dark chocolates melted into hot water and is served in an 8 oz. cup. This is a darker and richer chocolate experience than the Classic and more like a classic drinking chocolate.

Both of these options are equally yummy and delicious and it usually comes to personal chocolate preference or mood as to which one to choose. They both can take you to that wonderful chocolate heaven that most chocoholics know.

Sunday's are Fundays!

In the New Year we are trying something new. Every Sunday is Game Day at Bittersweet Cafe, we are calling it Sunday's are Fundays.

Here's the scoop:

When you buy a drink and a pastry you will receive a copy of the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle.

So come in from the cold on Sunday's and have some family fun time. Sunday's are Fundays and Bittersweet Cafe Rockridge.

New Soups and Bread from 5th Street Bakery

Now at Bittersweet Cafe's we have ciabatta loaves brought in fresh daily from 5th Street Bakery and brand new organic soups.

They have set up a schedule of fresh delivery daily of the soups, and here is the breakdown:

Monday: Chicken Picata with Fried Capers

Tuesday: Roast Cauliflower with Crumbled Blue Cheese*

Wednesday: Black Bean and Turkey Chili with Tortilla Strips and Creme Fraiche

Thursday: Carrot and Orange with Coriander Cream*

Friday: Grilled Escarole with White Bean and Smoked Bacon*
(vegetarian without the bacon garnish)

Saturday: Porcini Mushroom, Beef, and Farro with Fried Onions

Sunday: Potato, Celery Root, and Leek with Sundried Tomato and Olive Tapenade*

*Vegetarian

Enjoy!

Did you hear the Amadei reference on 30 Rock?

If you were watching 30 Rock this week on NBC, as I was, you may have heard a reference to the "World's Most Expensive Chocolate" Now I don't know if this is true, but they mentioned the Amadei Porcelana 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. One thing I do know is that it is good.

Now we currently carry a couple of very good chocolates from Amadei, unfortunately not the Porcelana Bar. We do have the Chuao and Tavoletta dark bars, as well as the Tavoletta Milk Bar, which I think is the best milk that we carry. As for the Chuao, when doing a staff tasting all of the employees said, "Wow". It is one of those bars that you just like to savor, really rich and creamy with some great hints of berries.

Stop by and try Amadei if you haven't before, or come in and reaquaint yourself with it. You won't be disappointed.