According to some, this hot New Jersey summer has been good news for peaches with fewer bugs, no diseases, and a smaller peach with more concentrated flavors.

Diane starts by making a peach puree from these delicious Jersey peaches and blending into a ganache of white chocolate, butter and heavy cream. This flavorful center is enrobed in white chocolate and finished with a hand applied peach decoration.  The result is as delightful as it is beautiful.

Click here for locations where Donna & Company chocolates are sold.

The Italian Pantry Bistro, Cranford, NJ

On Wednesday, August 4th, 7-9 PM, the Ganache Groupies will be meeting at The Italian Pantry Bistro, for a pairing of beer with Diane’s chocolates and small plates by Chef Frank Rizzo (click for map).

Call for more information and to make your reservations, call the Pantry at (908) 272-7790, or Diane at 908-272-4380.

Join Diane on at the Whole Foods Market, Madison, NJ on Tuesday 13 July from 2 pm – 6 pm.  This event will be a “prelaunch” of Diane’s chocolates at Whole Foods.

“Since opening my business over 5 years ago, my customers have often suggested that I offer my chocolates through a major chain like Whole Foods Markets,” Diane Pinder said.  “I’ve resisted because I always want my chocolates to be their most fresh and didn’t know how I could ensure that was the case on a national basis.”

Whole Foods Market Rose City approached Diane recently after reading about Diane’s Edible Jersey Local Hero 2010 Award.  The market manager was seeking quality New Jersey food vendors, and a meeting convinced Diane that working with a local Whole Food Market could create a close working relationship that would meet customers’ high expectations.

“Whole Foods and I agreed to start by offering my Donna Toscana gourmet chocolate bars, 6 and 12 piece boxed Donna Toscana truffles and chocolates, and my new 6 and 12 piece CocoaBee Honey Caramels,” Diane said.  “I’ll be stopping by the Market from time-to-time for ‘meet the Chocolatier’ events and, depending upon customer demand, may consider a display case where customers can select chocolates for custom boxes.”

As part of this event, Whole Foods will be raffling off 3 Gift Baskets of great local products, including chocolates from Diane.

Whole Foods Market – Rose City/Madison
222 Main Street
Madison, NJ 07940
(973) 822-8444
click here for map/directions

Diane will be participating in the East Coast Wine & Food Festival, Pennington, NJ, a celebration of New Jersey world-class restaurants, great wineries and an amazing wealth of farm-fresh products, meats, seafood, honey, cheeses and more.   Enjoy a great day of food, and say hello to Diane who will be selling her new line of Honey Caramels.

Click here for more information and to learn about other upcoming events.

Our special Chocolate of the Month for Father’s Day is handsome with a bit of mystery added.

Diane starts from the outside in, first creating a hand-crafted dark chocolate shell with a random black pattern against a rich reddish-orange background.  She then fills part of this shell with a unique blend of Grand Marnier, caramel, and milk chocolate. The balance of the shell Diane fills with a mixture of dark chocolate and chocolate crisps, and then Diane seals the shell with a thin layer of chocolate.

One bite will take Dad through a rush of taste and texture, from the snap of the tempered shell, to the light crunch of the chocolate crisp, to a lucious balance of orange caramel and milk chocolate.  You might find yourself joining dad in a taste yourself!

This special Father’s Day chocolate is available at the Americana and Skylark Fine Diners, and other select Donna & Company distributors (click here).