Capitol Chocolate Fountains Blog http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/ Capitol Chocolate Fountains Blog en-us How Much Does it Weigh? http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=146 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=146 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

This was our candy buffet at the Washington Bridal Showcase on Sunday at the Patriot Center. There were several brides whose jaws dropped when they saw it and exclaimed, "That's exactly what I want." Wow, it made us feel great!

When discussing details with a few of the brides, several said it would be a DIY project. They said they had checked out information on the internet and knew all of the secrets of creating a spectacular display.

First let me say, I am all for DIY projects! I don't want any of this to be misinterpreted as being down on DIY but more of a reality check. Ok, good.

For purposes of this demonstration, the bag used is 4" x 2" x 8".


How much is in this bag of M...M's? It doesn't look like a lot, does it? Well, if you follow the advice on some bridal blogs and DIY sites, they say this will be enough per person for your candy buffet.





That's all of 1/4 lb. or 4 oz. Do you think that's all your guests will put in the bag?

How about these Gummi Bears? How much do they weigh?


Again, 1/4 lb. Sure doesn't look like a lot, does it?


How about these Pina Colada Jelly Belly's?


Ok, you got me. It's 1/4 lb. again.


And finally, the sour candies. Wanna guess how much they weigh?



Yep, again 1/4 lb.

Let's put them all together now.


There's still plenty of room in the bag too!

So, you still think 1/4 lb. of candy is enough?


When I recommended a pound a person to the DIY'ers they looked pretty shocked. Looking at the above example, I think now you can begin to understand why that is my recommendation.

In elaborating on that idea of a pound a person, you really want your candy buffet to be a feast for the eyes as well as delighting your guests with something sweet to take home. There is nothing worse than seeing the candy wiped out in 10 minutes because you thought you could get away with using less than what you really needed.

We'll be talking more about candy soon!
From containers, to prices, to hot weather, to setting it up and taking it down.

Stay sweet, my friends!
Please leave a comment (or two!)

]]> Bridal Show Abundance http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=145 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=145 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:48:00 GMT that time of year again. Bridal show season! They're everywhere! Some are small, rather intimate shows that offer a few select vendors or featured products while others are large events that offer everything imaginable for your special day.

If you're a bride-to-be, an event planner or someone who just wants to see the latest styles, the season's hottest colors and trends, decorating tips and ideas and everything else under the sun, here's my advice: GO!

My other advise is to wear comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water, bring a notebook, go early and plan to have a great time!

If you are a bride-to-be, it would behoove you to do a little research before you go to a show. If you are looking for something specific make sure you go to see that first! It's easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. Realize that you won't get much time to talk one-on-one with the vendors because there are just so many people there!

Use the notebook you brought to write down what you LOVE about those vendors/products/services that WOW you and want to find out more about. Otherwise, you'll forget. Call them the next week to discuss the details. Keep in mind, many of these vendors will be exhausted the next day so perhaps make your call Tuesday or Wednesday.

Set up appointments with them! Visit their offices, check reviews about their services. Ask the important questions. Oh, what are the important questions? I'll have another post for you tomorrow which will deal with that question!

Did I mention, we will be at this Sunday's Bridal Showcase at the Patriot Center? We will be sharing a fabulous space with the wonderful Cakes by Happy Eatery. More about that later too!

Make it a wonderful day!

]]> I Won an iPad2 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=144 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=144 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:28:00 GMT SERIOUSLY, I DID!

I wouldn't kid around about something like that.

Last night, Regie and I attended Entertainment Exchange's Grand Opening of their new Showcase Theater. It's conveniently located at 2217 Distribution Circle, Silver Spring, Maryland.

When we arrived, we were offered valet parking by Atlantic Valet and proceeded inside. We provided our RSVP's to the gentlemen at the check in area and were each given a red ticket which was going to be used for the raffle.

We mixed and mingled with lots of friends, both old and new, in the special events industry. There were some wonderful sponsors for this Grand Opening that must be mentioned.

Since we were not involved in the planning for this marvelous event, I'm going to steal this from "Sir" Andrew Larris' Facebook post from today. "All events are a team sport so Entertainment Exchange would like to thank the team who made it happen behind the scenes: Eddie Fam (IMPACT Marketing and Events), Frost Lighting DC, Kelly B Jenkins (Capital Decor and Events), Joann Chae (Atlantic Parking Services), Dave Markowitz (Professional Bartenders and Servers), Bill Bowen (Suburban Media Group), Neal Freed (Freed Photography), Joanie Rylander (Purple Onion Catering), Finishing Touches Events, Say Cheese Paper Props, Select Event Rentals, Audio Solutions, U Take the Cake, and the wonderful Doreen Barlow Tisone of Engaged! Magazine!"

We noshed on delectable bites from Purple Onion Catering and experienced a new (ok, new to ME) Pumpkin Pie martini made by Dave Markowitz of Professional Bartenders ... Servers, Inc. It was beyond description. In fact, I had to have 2 of them just to make sure the first one was really THAT good. Sure was!

A couple of hours into the event, the drawing for the iPad2 was going to happen. I had my little red ticket in my hot, martini-holding hand. The place was packed! There were probably 250 people anticipating their ticket number being drawn and winning the coveted prize.

"Sir" Andrew Larris was accompanied by Pat Richett and Doreen Tisone of Engaged! Magazine for the drawing. Doreen pulled out a ticket and Andrew read the number. It was as though I was having an out-of-body experience. I followed along as MY ticket number was read. You could hear a pin drop.

For that one, split second I was Charlie Bucket (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) who held a Golden Ticket. (Shameless chocolate reference, I know!)

My hand went up and a "Wahooooo" came from my mouth! I proceeded to the front of the dance floor area where Sir Andrew held the beautiful slim box. Wow! What a moment! I think I really felt the excitement after I was walking back through the crowd. So many wonderful "congratulations" from people.

We left a while later and on the drive back to Virginia, Regie and I decided we'd stop at 7-11 and take our chance at the MegaMillions drawing. Yes, we did. And no, we didn't win the $42 million.

]]> Making a Difference and GIVEAWAY http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=143 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=143 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:25:00 GMT
Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for this new year. A new calendar is just waiting for you to fill it up with new goals, special dates and vacation plans!

Some people make resolutions they hope to keep in the new year. The most popular resolutions are to lose weight and stop smoking. We all say we want to exercise, lose weight and on and on. While good-intentioned, I think they're more of a set up for failure. New habits are hard. And even harder to keep. My advice? Keep it simple and attainable. Pick one and stick to it.

I decided last year that I would focus on others rather than myself for my resolution.

For those that know me, I am a quilter. I love the relaxation it provides me as well as an expression of creativity. I'm learning to love fabric - ok obsess about it - and find myself eager to find a fabric store whenever I venture into a neighboring city or town.

Last year I made a resolution to make a quilt for a soldier. My sister was my inspiration for this as she has made several of them. She is friends with Gail Belmont, the Director of Quilts of Honor. If you have some time, please click on the link to learn more about this wonderful organization.



I finished the quilt in July and gave it to my sister to take to Gail to continue its journey. I have made this my resolution for this year too. It's wonderful to something for someone else and feels great.

In addition to that, I have resolved to write 1 handwritten note a week. Who doesn't love to get a personal note? And, honestly, who gets any these days? Besides, the Postal Service needs all the help it can get! I have already sent mine this week!

So now it's your turn. What are you planning to do this year to make a difference in SOMEONE ELSE'S life? Leave a comment below. On January 16th, I'll pick a random person to win a 2 1/2 lb. tub of imported Belgian Callebaut chocolate!

Also, please "LIKE" us on our Facebook page which is Capitol Chocolate Fountains.

You must live in the US and have a real street address (no PO boxes). I promise (pinkie swear) I will not sell or provide your email address to ANYONE.


***Congratulations Samantha, you're the winner!***

]]> Candy is Dandy http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=139 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=139 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:02:00 GMT
We've been doing them for a while now but mostly for our corporate clients. At the request of several brides and others in the special events industry, we are now offering them for your special occasion!

There is a lot to write about candy buffets and I will do that in the next several posts.

I don't want to overwhelm anyone with too much information in one gigantic post, so I'll break it down into several smaller ones.

Stay tuned .....

]]> Back At It http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=138 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=138 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:15:00 GMT
We've been busy with lots of new clients including hotels, caterers and event sites.

We've added custom Candy Buffets to our offerings and will share more specific information about them in upcoming posts.

We're ready to get back to telling and showing you what we're doing!

So tell us what you've been doing by leaving a comment. You never know, there may be a giveaway involved!

]]> Wedding Wire Rated http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=136 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=136 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:54:00 GMT

Thank you to those who have reviewed us on WeddingWire!
We are WeddingWire rated for 2011.

]]> Questions to Ask Before Renting a Fountain - Part 1 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=134 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=134 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:17:00 GMT
With all of the bridal shows and open houses taking place this time of year, it's a distinct possibility you've seen a chocolate fountain in action.

While they're a great addition to any celebration, there are a few things you should consider when selecting a chocolate fountain company for your event. We'll break down the questions you should ask into several posts. That way, you'll have all of the information necessary to make an informed decision.

1. How do you clean your fountains?

This may be something you never really thought about before reading this, right?

At Capitol Chocolate Fountains, we take cleaning our equipment very seriously.
We are committed to you and your guests having a cleaned and sanitized fountain when you rent a chocolate fountain from us.

We made the investment in a commercial high temperature dishwasher, the CMA 180.


Why is this important? 2 words- clean and sanitize.

Water temperature for the CMA 180 reaches 155-160 degrees (F) in the Wash cycle. CLEAN
Water temperature for the CMA 180 reaches 180-195 degrees (f) in the Rinse cycle. SANITIZE


The continuous supply of 180 degree (F) hot water assures a proper sanitizing rinse with every cycle.




A little too technical? Sorry. I know this wasn't something you even thought about before we mentioned it. Aren't you glad we brought it up?

Does the chocolate fountain company you are considering have this type of equipment? Ask them!



If they tell you they put their chocolate fountain in their dishwasher at home, STOP! Google "home dishwashing machine temperature sanitize" and see the results. Or you can check out this eHow article on this specific topic.

For the same reasons, cleaning a fountain in a home sink is inadequate too.


Be sure to ask this simple question. You and your guests deserve equipment that is both clean and sanitized.
Please leave your comments and/or questions about this topic below and we will be happy to answer them.

]]> Hunt Country Celebrations Bridal Show http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=133 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=133 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:24:00 GMT

Here is the information about the show! Be sure to add it to your calendar!


]]> Thank you for visiting us http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=131 http://www.chocolatefountainblog.com/index.cfm?postID=131 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:58:00 GMT
For those who did not get a chance to attend, keep checking the blog as we'll be letting you know where you can see us. We've got tastings, bridal shows and other events where you will have the opportunity to sample our imported Belgian chocolate.

Stay tuned!


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