If I could pick any treat to indulge in, it would be chocolate. While I love its sweet and rich taste, the brown and delightful delicacy also has a melty texture that leaves my mouth watering. In honor of my 26th birthday, my thoughtful and creative husband, Zack, organized a chocolate-making party for me and some friends at Matisse Chocolatier in Englewood. Especially on freezing cold days in the winter, it can be challenging to come up with unique and affordable indoor activities for get-togethers, and this idea was one-of-a-kind. Matisse Chocolatier, a family owned and operated business founded in 1994, specializes in parties and chocolate-making sessions for all ages from 5 to 105. The shop is under National Kosher Supervision by Rabbi Aaron Mehlman and is conveniently located less than a 10-minute drive from our apartment in Teaneck.
As our friends trickled into the party room, I noticed a long table with an eye-catching bright blue tablecloth set up in the middle. Hanging from the walls and ceiling were colorful happy-birthday banners and festive decorations. The feeling was warm and exciting as we were welcomed by the two staff members who would be assisting us throughout the party. We sat down at the table where each attendee found their own basic white paper chef hat and plastic apron. We grabbed markers, wrote our names on the hats, and donned our new accessories.
The staff presented us each with two options for chocolate making: a pizza or a balloon bowl. The main difference was that if you picked a pizza, you could decorate it with toppings that would get melted and infused on top, while if you selected a balloon bowl, it would dry before you could infuse extras. Either way, everyone would also get to dip other goodies into chocolate and decorate them with the garnishes. I decided to create a balloon bowl, while Zack opted for a pizza and was handed a personal pizza box. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and an educational, old-school video about the history of chocolate and how it is made began. I couldn’t stop laughing as Zack offered hilarious commentary throughout the video.
Next, the staff guided us into the kitchen, and we each got to use one of two large chocolate-making machines; one produced milk chocolate and the other dark chocolate. My turn came first, and I chose the milk chocolate machine. The staff member wrote my name on a plate, handed me a pink balloon, and directed me in dipping the balloon halfway inside the chocolate machine and twisting it around. After removing the balloon, I repeated this step again, creating a second layer of chocolate to coat the balloon. Then, I put the balloon on the plate to set, and it became the next person’s turn. Later, after everyone took their turn, the staff put the balloon bowls into the fridge to harden for several minutes.
Although Zack also chose milk chocolate and used the same machine as I did, he followed a different procedure during his turn since he was making a pizza and not a balloon bowl. Handing Zack a deep ladle while holding out a pizza peel, the employee assisted Zack as he dished out and dropped chocolate onto the pan. Together, the two of them tapped out the air bubbles from the chocolate pizza and placed it safely inside the pizza box. Acting hastily so that he could complete his creation, Zack brought his pizza back into the main room where he decked it out in mini marshmallows, M&Ms, Oreo pieces, chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, coconut shreddings, Rice Krispies and sour sticks (which he brought from home). I stayed in the kitchen and watched as each of my friends crafted their chocolate structure, and eventually rejoined everyone in the central area.
While the pizzas were left on the side to harden in their boxes, we were each given a bowl of liquidy dark or milk chocolate and a plate full of marshmallows, pretzels, chips, Oreos and graham crackers. Using the embellishments which were already on the table from the pizza decorating, we encased our snacks in chocolate and garnished them before they solidified. For those of us who made balloon bowls, we would soon stuff our drenched delicacies inside of our chocolate vessels, but first, we had to finish forming them. The balloons were retrieved from the fridge, and bestowed to us along with thumbtacks. On the count of three, my friends and I popped our balloons and scraped them off, revealing beautifully shaped chocolate bowls! After we filled them, the bowls were then packaged for us in elegant cellophane tied with gold ribbon to transport home. The pizza chefs also received fancy wrapping for their chocolate-enveloped refreshments, which they got to bring home in addition to their pizza boxes. The results turned out incredibly tasty, reminding me of my childhood favorite Elite chocolate logs.
I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to celebrate my birthday with friends in such a delightful and tasty way. Besides birthday parties, other sessions include programs for senior citizens, parents with their children, corporate team-building events, baby showers, bridal showers, and girls’ nights out. Additionally, located next to the party room is the shop’s storefront where the main focus is selling customized chocolate for various occasions. If you have an upcoming event, just want to enjoy a fun outing with friends or family, or are looking to purchase customized chocolate, I highly recommend Matisse Chocolatier.
Matisse Chocolatier, Bergen County, New Jersey’s most popular gourmet chocolate shop with a private party room, is located in Englewood. Can book a private kosher chocolate-making session for the family.
Admission: $35 per person for a chocolate-making session
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday: Open only for parties and classes. Please call in advance for availability.
Address: 260 Grand Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: (201) 568-2288
Website: www.getfreshchocolate.com
Ahuva Greenberg grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and lives in Teaneck, New Jersey with her husband, Zack. Professionally, she is a benefits specialist at IPG Mediabrands. Ahuva recently watched “Wonka,” “Anyone but You” and “Mean Girls” in theaters. She runs an Instagram page where she posts about her and Zack’s fun adventures, so make sure you are following @funzacktivities!
