#john down

[newsdock]

By Belinda Goldsmith LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Thursday an independent inquiry into letters of immunity sent to IRA suspects after an angry response to the freeing of an Irishman accused of a 1982 bombing that killed four soldiers in London. Cameron said an independent judge with full access to government files and officials would lead the review and report back by the end of May. Northern Ireland's most senior politician, First Minister Peter Robinson, had threatened to resign unless there was a full inquiry into the guarantees, saying they were a "deliberate attempt to circumvent the courts". Cameron said it was clear that there had been a "dreadful mistake" in the case of John Downey, who walked free from a London court this month because of an immunity letter. Downey, 62, from County Donegal in Ireland, was charged with murdering four members of the Royal Household Cavalry who were killed 32 years ago when a car bomb exploded in Hyde Park as they paraded towards Buckingham Palace on July 20. Source: Reuters

[thechocolatedish]

Road trip!

Well, that was fast, June seemed to just come and go!  What is not necessarily thought as a busy chocolate month (especially with the heat) the chocolate nation has been out and about, doing events, road trips and classes. (Oh and food shows..more on that in another entry).

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY WITH JOHN DOWN AND JOE GUILIANO OF CHRISTOPHER NORMAN CHOCOLATES

        Mid-month we were invited to visit one of our partners, Christopher Norman Chocolates in upstate NY.  To say this was an incredible day, would be an understatement.  Driving 2 1/2 hours north of NYC, John and Joe (and team) have re-located to the country from downtown Manhattan.  Passing farms and pastures, antique stores - and farm houses, it was a gorgeous ride north.  I arrived at my destination, CNC in a renovated church! 

             Behind the green doors the team at Christopher Norman were working to create chocolate to go out that day - so perfectly fresh, I could not wait to taste test (I wanted to help while I was visiting!!).  Kate was working on the final touches  for a local client hand wrapping the boxes, while Joe and John worked on new ideas and flavors, what a day!  As always with Joe and John, they shared their knowledge about chocolate making, their perspective of the industry and showed me the new blends and flavors for the fall (I can't wait)!  It was a perfect day, well, except that I did not take enough pictures of their beautiful work!  You will just have to taste it!!