Wild Olive - An Artisan's Love

Time. This is one of the most precious gifts, someone can offer you. 

It takes time to find the people you love and who love you back, but even more time to grow this love into a beautiful relationship that can last you a lifetime. It takes passion and dedication for that person, in order to learn their habits, their needs and desires. And it takes time to make everything happen for you, the both of you, together.

As you well know, I don’t like grabbing something off a shelf in order to complete a task, but I like to personalize every present. This is why, when I also find a product which has been designed and crafted by artisans, who have dedicated their passion, love and respect of the natural and organic into creating and sharing a work of art with the world, then I know, this is the right kind of gift of love.

The philosophy behind the Willd Olive range is exactly what I defined above: starting from a spark of inspiration, following a creative path, using local, organic, natural products and taking the time for the long skilled and trained hands to process and to finalize a product that is art.

Pantifolia lignosa (woody vanilla forest composition), Rosaria (Wild Olive’s interpretation of the rose), Flora Capensis (real African perfume, composed with indigenious Fynbos), Florae (the white flower composition) and Vetiveria Citrata (fresh, citrusy perfume) are all extremely elaborate and in such a balance with the world they come from, that they are both suited for women and men.

A perfect gift on any occasion. And especially on Valentine ’s Day, when you are truly seeking for that special something for your special someone. 

So why not visit them at their luxurious shop, located in 4 General Eremia Grigorescu Street, Gradina Icoanei area, to find that perfect gift of love.

A French Chocolate Kiss (by zChocolat)

No place speaks ROMANCE more than France. It’s probably every woman’s dream to be proposed for in Paris, the city of love, or simply to just spend time there with her better half, walking hand in hand the large boulevards where fashion, love and gastronomy are at home.

For Valentine’s day (but also for any romantic occasion), the French chocolate maker brand zChocolat has created the Romantic Collection.

 

In two of my previous posts on the blog I had mentioned zChocolat and will quote now the most important information you should know about them:

The chocolates are handcrafted in France by the World Champion Chocolatier and Meilleur Ouvrier, Pascal Caffet. For him, chocolate is an experience, which you will surely understand once you taste one of his 26 recipes created especially for zChocolat, for which he uses no preservatives, no artificial colouring, 100% pure cocoa butter, modest sugar, high cocoa content, no alcohol, and only the best choice for the other ingredients as well, such as Piedmont hazelnuts, Iranian pistaccio, violets, raspberry, Sri Lankan coconut etc. However, not only choosing the best chocolate was a priority for this brand, but offering a customizable service of offering was also top of the list. The handmade packaging can be chosen as well, and it can be personalized with messages, just like my box was. You can choose the name of the receiver to be attached to the box, to give it the ultimate personal feel, you can also have an image put there, choose the personal assortment which will be, for example, sealed in the box with a coded heart-shaped lock...just let your imagination wander,...and zChocolat will offer you the service. 

 

I was lucky enough to receive the Valentine’s Day zBox 42, containing the already known and loved numbered collection, of which every flavour mix I had described here and here, combined with a 12 piece assortment of heart-shaped chocolates, in dark, milk, white and red couvertures.

 

Mystique – a bourbon vanilla caramel dressed in 70% dark Venezuelan chocolate

Amore – dark chocolate ganache infused with bergamot (which for me gave the taste a floral but also fruity note) covered in white chocolate (with a red colouring)

Toquade – strong contrast between 62% dark chocolate ganache covered in smooth white chocolate

Supreme – contrast between smoothness of the milk chocolate cover and the crunchy Piedmont hazelnut praline interior

While I tasted the chocolates from the collection, I stopped for a moment, because I understood why these 4 hearts had been created the way they had. It is telling the story of my boyfriend and I, telling the story of every couple in the world.

It is stating the clear fact that opposites attract. That people (and flavours), even if they seem to have very little in common, if put together, they can evolve into a beautiful relationship, into what I call harmony. Two ingredients can give you the impression of simplicity,but put together, they will create a moment you will never forget. 

It is creating a whole experience, beyond mere flavour and aroma. It is a creation of love.