TheChocolateLife on Clubhouse – Weeks 24 & 25

➡️
My co-host this week is David Greenwood-Haigh, a Chef/chocolatier with more than 40 years of experience. David is fellow IOH MasterChef craft guild of chefs; judge, export champion; Academy of Chocolate, International Chocolate Awards.

Plan to start your day listening in and participating: Live From Brooklyn, NY and streaming globally ... it’s The Daily Open Chocolate Chat on Clubhouse! News, views, and wide-open conversations about topics in cocoa, chocolate, and more Weekdays starting at 10am EDT.

The Chocolate Life
The Chocolate Life is THE club on Clubouse that covers the important topics in cocoa and chocolate – topics you won’t hear discussed anywhere else. Our promise? No 💩. 💬💬 Join the Daily Open #Chocolate Chat weekdays at 10am EDT to be a part of the conversation. ⚡️⚡️ Want to connect with Clay di…
Don't have a Clubhouse account yet? Use this link.

To make the most of your TheChocolateLife on Clubhouse (TCL on CH) experience don’t forget to:

  1. Become a member of TheChocolateLife.com. There is a free member tier, but paid membership options are available and your support is greatly appreciated.
  2. Follow me – @discoverchoc – on Clubhouse.
  3. Follow me – @discoverchoc – on Instagram.
  4. Spread the word by adding a quote or thought you had about a room as a comment to that day’s IG post and/or here on TheChocolateLife (you do have to be a member to comment).

Monday, August 30 – Episode 24.01
Destination: Nigeria

Clay is heading to Nigeria on Wednesday and this is a new series for TCL on CH that looks at places members will be traveling. Tips, tricks, things to look for (and look out for), and more.

I am especially interested in local chocolates and spices that are difficult if not impossible to find here in the US.

Sumbala - Wikipedia
Also known as dawadawa – this is something I am definitely going to be looking for. h/t Thomas Forbes for pointing this out.
Alligator pepper - Wikipedia
h/t DGH
Aframomum melegueta - Wikipedia

Tuesday, August 31 – Episode 24.02
Designing a Chocolate Factory: Part 2

Questions you should be asking yourself – and questions you should be prepared to answer when your consultant asks you them.

Mentioned in the room: questions to consider when designing a chocolate/confectionery factory:

  • Budget: CapEx versus TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
  • Doors & Corridors – width and location, room to maneuver.
  • Windows – size and position (where is North? Path of the sun?)
  • Floors – can they carry the weight?
  • Traffic – where is parking, roads, loading dock (or street loading)
  • Stairs – even steps that might get in the way of loading in heavy items
  • Power – type (single- and three-phase), amount, panel location(s)
  • Climate control – zones, temperatures, storage, crystallization, roaster/melanger
  • Air handling – dehumidification, filtration against cross-contamination
  • Lighting – color temperature, explosion-proof, general vs task
  • Water – how much, for what purposes, chilling, filtration

H/T Nick Davis, César Aguilar, Christian Tyler, and Christopher Curtin for their contributions and of course to David Greenwood-Haigh for his daily support.

Snowing cocoa? Chocolate factory glitch dusts Swiss town
Residents of a Swiss town got a bit of a shock when it started snowing particles of fine cocoa powder due to a chocolate factory malfunction.
Revolutionary Walk-In Coolers | The CoolBot by Store It Cold
Our revolutionary walk-in coolers have been featured by TED, USAID, Feed the Future, and many more. Check our affordable, reliable refrigeration solutions.

Instagram promo image (in the gallery below) credit: original image by Jason Goh from Pixabay


Wednesday, September 1 – Episode 24.03
What’s on YOUR Bucket List?

What are the foods, experiences, places, and people on your list?

Instagram promo image (in the gallery below) credit: original by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash


Thursday, September 2 – Episode 24.04
B is for Baking and Brownies

TCL on CH club-co-admin David Greenwood Haigh will lead this room on baking, with a focus on brownies.

🎙🔴 B is for Baking Brownies - The Chocolate Life
Thursday, September 2 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss.

To prepare you for this episode, why not binge on “TheChocolateWire Curates: Brownies” Playlist on YouTube? (TheChocolateWire is a press/PR--focused aspect of TheChocolateLife I started in May 2020 to help companies out during the pandemic). As the playlist description says, I watched hundreds of brownie recipes on YouTube so you wouldn’t have to. At the time of this writing there are 27 videos, and the following is from one of my fave YT cooking series:

Maybe not the best brownie recipes but following the progressions is what’s important (and fun) here. And chocolate is supposed to be fun.

Instagram promo image (in the gallery below) credit: original by NordWood Themes on Unsplash


Friday, September 3 – Episode 24.05
Thank Chocolate! It’s Friday ...

What’s so special about Friday’s and Chocolate? Tune in to find out – hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Thank Chocolate! It’s Friday1 - The Chocolate Life
Friday, September 3 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss. What’s so special about Fridays and chocolate? Tune in to find out!

Instagram promo image (in the gallery below) credit: original  by Josiah Gardner on Unsplash


Monday, September 6 – Episode 25.01
Spicy Chocolate Mundae

Hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Spicy Chocolate Mundae - The Chocolate Life
Monday, September 6 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss. Spice blends from around the world that go with chocolate. What are your favorites?

Tuesday, September 7 – Episode 25.02
Ruby Tuesday

The Beatles? Kaiser Chiefs? Chocolate? Hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Ruby Tuesday - The Chocolate Life
Tuesday, September 7 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss. The Beatles? Kaiser Chiefs? Or chocolate?

Wednesday, September 8 – Episode 25.03
Wednesday’s Car

Hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Wednesday’s Car - The Chocolate Life
Wednesday, September 8 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss. Workflow tips and tricks.

Thursday, September 9 – Episode 25.04
Hot! Hot!! Hot!!! Chocolate Thursday

Hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Hot! Hot!! Hot!!! Chocolate Thursday - The Chocolate Life
Thursday, September 9 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss.

Friday, September 10 – Episode 25.05
Thank Chocolate! It’s Friday ...

What’s so special about Friday’s and Chocolate? Tune in to find out – hosted and moderated by David Greenwood-Haigh.

🎙🔴 Thank Chocolate! It’s Friday. - The Chocolate Life
Friday, September 10 at 10:00am EDT with Clay Gordon, dghchocolatier. (Rec) The Daily Open Chocolate Chat: Discuss. What’s special about Fridays and Chocolate? Join in to find out.

What We’re Working on For Future Rooms

I am headed to Nigeria for a business trip and so am looking for ideas for rooms and club leaders and guests to step in while I am traveling as I will be unable to join in.

  • Monday, September 13 – Debrief: Nigeria
  • Day TBD – Cottage Food Laws (h/t Thomas Forbes).
  • Day TBD – A Lighter Side: Chocolate in Movies, Musicals, & Comics. From Willie Wonka to Chocolat to Spiderman villains the Universe and beyond! (h/t DGH).

Help The TCL/CH Community Grow!

Spread the word to friends and colleagues by sharing room links and inviting them to join CH if they are not already using the app, follow TheChocolateLife on Clubhouse, and participate in the Daily Open Chocolate Chats.

Have a comment on a room? An idea for a future room? Let us know, below!


Featured Image Credit: Original by Manasvita S on Unsplash