Wine, Chocolate & Coffee Oh My! Virginia Wine Expo 2/27 – 3/1 February 13, 2009

Join us!!  Wine and Chocolate are the truly the best of both worlds.  Add Organic and gourmet flavored coffees, and you’re just short of heaven.  This year the Virginia Wine Expo is at the Richmond Convention Center starting Friday, Feb 27th through Sunday, March 1st.  We’ll be there along with 50 Vineyards providing more than 300 wines to sample.

Check out the latest in wine accessories, with our Coffee Infused Chocolates as one of the ‘best tasting’ accessories.  Our five flavors of chocolate have now been paired with 8 wines from three different Vineyards.  Our Orange Seville and Key Lime is perfect with a Viognier and Rose’ (Cave Ridge Vineyard), a Chambercin and Gewürztraminer (James River Winery) and (Vault Fields) ‘Red’ table wine. For more info:  www.virginiawineexpo.com.  Stop by for samples of our top 3 wine pairing favorites!!

Valentines Day: Most Romantic or Least Favorite Day of the Year? February 13, 2009

On the cusp of Valentines day, we’ve been ‘covered in chocolate’ so to speak, in handcrafting decadent delights in many forms and fashion.  Chocolate covered marshmallows with pretty little pink and red hearts covering creamy smooth raspberry flavored chocolate; hand dipped pretzels – the ultimate combination of crunchy, salty and sweet for your guy (or gal); Rich, buttery english toffee lathered in a decadent coffee infused chocolate, topped with the freshest pecans. Sigh! All this effort to help show the one you love (or like a lot) that they are thought of.

Valentines Day, or, as my daughter puts a ‘not quite so eloquent’ spin on it - ”Single Awareness Day”,  is the one day of the year when Chocolate is the number one expression of love, friendship and thoughtfullness.  A simple heart shaped box, some velvet,  some sporting a cartoon character, a rose, a favorite racecar,  each filled with decadent treasures speak to all.  Or speak to most- at least 75% of women. Studies show that 75% of women buy chocolate all year, however, during the days and minutes right up through February 14th, 75% of all chocolate purchases are made by men.  Makes perfect sense.  If it’s women who are savoring chocolate all year, then really – what else is there for you to give your sweetie!  I won’t go into the other studies which are the affects of chocolate as an aphrodisiac, but put two consenting adults together with a box of chocolate and…everybody wins.  

What about those of us who are on the other side?  We, who are celebrating “Single Awareness Day“, the one day of the year that reminds you… if you darn sure don’t already know it…. that you are single!  First… Who cares!!   Instead of going on a diatrod about independent women of today, (which I’m prepared to do), I say – ‘Buy it yourself’. Buy flowers, buy chocolate, crack open a rose’ or merlot, rent a movie, get a massage, or get your nails done.  Call your friends, and be a friend. Have a girls night out.  Send a card to someone who really needs it.  Treat yourself like you treat others, instead of the other way around.  Relish in your independence and freedom on this day, as one day, you’ll meet your life partner and your life will never be the same.  For now – Carpe Diem! (Seize the day, seize the wine and seize the CHOCOLATE)

Tropical Bark – Coffee Infused Chocolates! February 12, 2009

Tropical bark with fresh coconut and lime zest

River City Bean has a new line of coffee infused chocolates -   The Key Lime Bark is simply ‘off the charts’ in flavor and texture.  We start with a base of  rich creamy chocolate, add just the right amount of Toasted Coconut coffee (glorious by itself) a sprinkling of fresh toasted coconut, a touch of lime, and a beautiful green zest.  The combination of flavors is just an explosion of tropical heaven. 

Don’t pass up the Blue Hawaii bark which features 100% Kona coffee, freshly  toasted coconut and tropical flavoring. It’s pure paradise!

The Cranberry Orange Burst was designed with Orange fans in mind.  Add cranberry raisins to the mix, and it’s a sunshine burst of citrus that leaves you wanting for more.

Love Chocolate? Come to the ‘Dark side’ – we’ve got what you need! January 31, 2009

Pina Colada flavored rosette

Welcome to River City Bean Company.  We’re are a coffee and chocolate company that specializes in Coffee Infused Chocolates.  The perfect union of ‘all that is good’.  Check out our website which features our Fair Trade Organic coffees, our Specialty blends and a lovely line of Gourmet flavored coffees.  A great cup of joe, but just add ice cream for an absolutely divine dessert.

Our chocolates were crafted using our flavored coffees as a base.  Each flavor is based with it’s own signature coffee.  We infuse the coffee directly into the chocolate.  This results in a smooth, savory, sensational ‘melt in your mouth’ chocolate with a slight crunch of the coffee.  The Raspberry Mocha is the reining ‘Queen’ of the chocolate flavors, but the Key Lime and Pina Colada, new this spring, is about to take over the ‘Throne’ (so to speak).  We offer a line of Cafe Crunch chocolates, Tropical Bark, and a line of color coordinated wedding/party favors.

On the coffee side, our organic line is smooth as silk, never a bite or bitter aftertaste.  Our conventional blends are a good option when your particular ‘cup a joe’ has that certain ‘bite’ that you’re accustomed to. The gourmet flavored coffees just can’t be beat.  They’re the perfect 3:00 treat to help get you to the end of your day, or just wonderful as a full blown dessert when you top it off with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.  A really nice treat for your friends and family.  Check us out soon!