Family Fun Idea: Black Mountain Chocolate
By Guest Blogger Brent Peters, Chocolate Maker, Black Mountain Chocolate
Yes, Winston has its very own chocolate factory! And it’s so much more than that.
We make our own chocolate here at Black Mountain Chocolate. We use organic and fair-trade cocoa beans and just a few other simple ingredients to craft small batches of goodness. Folks seem to enjoy the intense and fruity flavor of our chocolate – and free samples are always available!
Best of all, you can experience the entire artisan process. Our little Factory has big glass windows, with a series of interesting displays and posters to explain how the cacao fruit becomes chocolate. Our roaster looks like Thomas the Tank Engine, and kids love the chocolate fountain that molds our bars. On any visit, you might see roasting, winnowing, grinding, tempering or hand-wrapping. Self-guided tours are available any time the Factory is open, and are most interesting in the afternoons when the Factory is in peak production.
In addition to the self-guided tours, we offer Guided Tours & Tastings on select Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Guided tours last about an hour, and cover the entire chocolate-creation process from bean to bar. You get behind-the-scenes access to the Factory, and a guided tasting of ours and other artisan chocolate. You’ll need reservations since we limit access to keep the experience personal. Guided tours are appropriate for upper-elementary aged children and up.
But it’s much more than just a Factory! In our Kitchen, our pastry chef turns our chocolate into a delicious array of treats. You’ll find brownies, blondies and cookies, including the best macarons around. (Macarons are a fancy sandwich cookie, with almond flour meringue shells and a ganache or buttercream filling.) We also offer a variety of chocolate-covered bon bons and truffles with delectable flavors.
Relax and enjoy your treats with a beverage or gelato. We feature a full espresso and cappuccino bar, with fresh coffee from Dynamite Roasting in Asheville. BMC is the home retail location for Chad’s Chai, and we’ll be glad to make you a hot or iced version of any of his teas. Westend Coffeehouse creates our gelato – including a BMC chocolate flavor. You can enjoy the gelato straight, or as a sundae or float. There’s just the right nibble for every member of the family!
But don’t just take our word for it. Check out our reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor. Join the BMC community on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram for news and specials.
Every visit is fun, but we often have special events at the Factory. In conjunction with the Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Hop, we have a Chai and Chocolate Party on the first Friday of each month. Parties usually feature live music and sometimes food trucks! On one other Friday each month, our pastry chef offers a three-course dessert tasting – a really fun date idea!
And we’re excited to offer the largest prize purse in fair history for the Black Mountain Chocolate Kitchen Challenge at the Dixie Classic Fair this year! Create a special chocolate dessert with your kids and get free admission to the Fair. Details here .
Black Mountain Chocolate Factory + Kitchen sits in the Big Winston Warehouse, a renovated historic tobacco warehouse, with a craft distillery and open market area next door. The North Trade Street (Downtown Arts District) area – where BMC is located – has really come alive lately, with the Mast General Store and the Artivity on the Green Park among the new attractions.
Come visit Black Mountain Chocolate for a warm smile, friendly welcome and tasty treat each and every visit.
Sponsored by Black Mountain Chocolate
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