Caroline Alexa McBride: I am Caroline Alexa McBride here at the Cacao Bar and Tea Salon, at MarieBelle's chocolate in New York's fashionable Soho district. The room is absolutely gorgeous. The antique furnishings and crystal chandeliers create a very classic European vibe. MarieBelle's is famous for their velvety Aztec hot chocolate. So let's go meet the founder of this chocolate dream and go behind the burner to meet Maribel Lieberman.
We are here with chocolatier and founder of MarieBelle chocolates, Maribel Lieberman. What makes your chocolates unique?
Maribel Lieberman: Well, I have a background in design, so when I started designing my recipes, I also started designing the art work that was going to go on top of the chocolate.
Caroline Alexa McBride: How do you get these little pictures on here?
Maribel Lieberman: It's created on a large piece of paper, it is straighted, then it's the scanned into the computer, then it's reduced a minimal size to that size. Then we do a silk screening with cocoa butter and a food color.
Caroline Alexa McBride: What tips can you give us when we are pairing wine with chocolate?
Maribel Lieberman: When you are drinking a light wine, I would suggest to pair it with a chocolate that has neutral flavor. Not fruity, I don't recommend to go with the patching fruits or pineapple. You have to go with neutral flavor, the saffron, the cardamom, great flavors, the cinnamon. Now if you want to go a darker, dispresso with a full bodied wine is amazing.
Caroline Alexa McBride: So the tip is, the stronger the drink, the lighter the chocolate. The chocolate is strong and you want to emphasize the chocolate, you go with a lighter drink.
Maribel Lieberman: Yes, yes, yes.
Caroline Alexa McBride: So how do you make your signature, a hot chocolate in the cocoa bar?
Maribel Lieberman: Well, we use a ice cappuccino machine, a steamer. It is more practical to use the steamer, we use actually water to make the European style hot chocolate that I am known for.
Caroline Alexa McBride: Okay, so if we don't have the steamer at home, you heard what we do.
Maribel Lieberman: You must have a stove.
Caroline Alexa McBride: Guys, everyone has the stove. I think we all live with that.
Maribel Lieberman: When put your boiling water, you just measure the water. Let's say I am going to make 2 little cup of hot chocolate.
Caroline Alexa McBride: Smells so good.
Maribel Lieberman: And then you mix it.
Caroline Alexa McBride: Wow! Look at it, it's getting thicker and thicker as you stir it and it smells great. The smell is actually intensifying because of the heat. It's great that you use the small cups. There you have it, MarieBelle's famous Aztec hot chocolate, made at home on the stove when you don't have the steamer, you can do it.
Maribel Lieberman: Very simple and you know what, if you have left overs, if you can't drink it all, put in the refrigerator and it becomes like a pudding. It's amazing.
Caroline Alexa McBride: Wow! That's amazing.
Maribel Lieberman: So nothing is lost.
Caroline Alexa McBride: There are so many ways to enjoy it. Thank you for showing your creativity and your talent with us. We really appreciate it.
Maribel Lieberman: You are welcome, my pleasure.
Caroline Alexa McBride: And now my favorite part. It's time to drink it. It's so thick, rich and creamy. You have to try it. Behind the Burner members can bring the decadence of MarieBelle's chocolate into their own home by taking advantage of our special promotion. Stay tuned to Behind the Burner where we give you the tip, tricks and technique that are lighting the culinary world on fire.
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