Just in time for Halloween, our next Feature Boutique is a real “treat!” Please welcome Annika from Red Thread Confections!
1. Congratulations on being a MomDot Feature Boutique! Please introduce yourself to the MomDot readers!
Hi there, my name is Annika Pfluger, I’m a professional chocolatier and owner of Red Thread Confections. Red Thread Confections is a unique artisan handcrafted chocolate business. I hand paint each chocolate with organic all naturally colored cocoa butter. I trained at Ecole Chocolat based in Vancouver, Canada and studied artisan chocolates and confections at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. I’m also a single adoptive mom to a beautiful little boy who was born in Guatemala.
2. What is the inspiration behind your product?
I got the inspiration for my company from the ancient Chinese Legend of the Red Thread: “At birth, an invisible red thread connects us to everyone in our life who will become important to us. That thread may stretch and shrink over time, but it will never break.” As an adoptive parent, the red thread legend is very close to my heart. I believe that my son was connected to me by the invisible red thread at birth and that he will also be forever connected to his birth family and birth country by that same red thread. Red Thread Confections honors the red thread legend by donating a portion of the proceeds from each sale to orphanages and organizations which help children both here and abroad. Another part of our mission is to create red thread connections with each of our customers – once you try our chocolates, you’ll be forever connected as well!
3. How did you take your product from concept to reality?
After I traveled to Guatemala, I was struck by the great needs of the children who were left behind with no families. As a former professional classically trained cellist, I really wanted to embark on a profession where I could have more time with my son, have the opportunity to be as creative as possible and also to have the option to give back to his orphanage (and to others). Thus the seed for Red Thread Confections was sewn. I began learning as much as possible about chocolates and confections. I enrolled in the programs listed above and I researched business plan information on the web. I also began renovating the production space for my business location and tracking down all the legal requirements for doing business. But the biggest thing that I did was to practice practice practice working with chocolate and developing my recipes. Luckily there was never any shortage of taste testers available!
4. What sets your company apart from your competitors? What is special about your ingredients?
All of my chocolates are lovingly made by hand using no automated equipment. I use fair trade organic chocolate and as many organic and other fair trade ingredients as possible. I use premium fresh ingredients and don’t use any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in any of my confections. Each piece is hand painted with organically colored all natural cocoa butter.
5. I see that you donate a portion of your proceeds to charity. Can you tell us a little about the ones you have chosen?
Red Thread Confections is currently donating to three organizations – Maine Adoption Placement Service (http://www.mapsadopt.org), Orphan Resources International (http://www.orphanresources.org) and to Half The Sky Foundation (http://halfthesky.org). Maine Adoption Placement Service is the wonderful adoption agency which found my son his forever family. Humanitarian aid has always been a part of their mission and they dedicate a substantial portion of program fees to aid in their efforts in the U.S. and overseas. Orphan Resources International is an organization working directly with orphanages in Guatemala. They supply the physical necessities and volunteers, to help with the care of the orphans, involving work teams to improve the facilities so that the lives of the children can be improved for as long as they stay. The final organization is Half The Sky Foundation, which works with orphanages in China. They provide individual nurture and stimulation for babies, innovative preschools that encourage an early love of learning, personalized learning opportunities for older children, and loving — and most important, permanent — foster homes for children whose special needs will keep them from being adopted.
6. Your chocolates are like little works of art! I am drooling over the Creamy Caramel Turtle! What is the process behind making these little chocolate creatures?
The process for making each of my creations is a multi-step process because of the layering. I work in reverse 1.) polish molds with a cotton cloth to make sure there are no water spots, 2.) make the filling and allow to cool 3.) paint chocolate molds with colors, 4.) fill molds with chocolate and drain to the create outer chocolate shell, 5.) fill shell with filling, 6.) spread on the bottom layer of chocolate to seal the filling inside the shell. In between each step, the chocolate or filling layer needs to crystallize to set up.
7. What is your most popular product?
My best sellers are my Sweet Raspberry Hearts (who doesn’t love dark chocolate with fresh raspberries!) and my Mayan Fire. The Mayan Fire is a confection which is based on the original Mayan chocolate recipe, but with a modern twist. It combines a dulce de leche caramel with dark chocolate and ancho chilis. It’s not too spicy, but just enough to give it a little after kick. Some people are a little hesitant, but once they try it, it’s always their favorite. Also very popular are the animals (Apple Cobbler Owl, Creamy Caramel Turtle and PB Hedgie) because of their unique look and flavor.
CONTEST
Thanks, Annika! I know you are all drooling over the chocolates now, right? Where are the choco-holics on MomDot? LOL! Talk about a totally awesome Christmas present…for yourself. Here’s your chance to sample the creations of Red Thread Confections! Annika has generously donated a gift certificate for one small box of chocolates to one MomDot reader!
Annika would LOVE to hear your feeback on her site and tell her what your favorite chocolates are there (and all of them are not the answer, LOL). Once you do that, you gain an entry~ And momdot will give you a 2nd entry for carrying our banner/link on your homepage.
Now go!
interviewed by Feature Writer Bridgette
Oh man! I ordered some chocolate covered caramel candies from my oldest daughter’s band fundraiser last year and they were so good. I haven’t stopped craving them since and of course band fundraisers only happen once a year so I’ve been out of luck, but those Creamy Caramel Turtles look divine!!! I’ll be moving them to the top of my Christmas list!!!
Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for all the nice comments! I really appreciate it! Please visit my website and join my mailing list to get in the loop for specials and announcements. Right now I have some special SPOOKY HALLOWEEN TREATS (Ghosts and Pumpkins). Order now using code “RTCBLOG001″ and get 10% off. Thanks again everyone! – Annika Pfluger (owner and chocolatier for Red Thread Confections)
Of course I have the MomDot button on my blog!
I like the Apple cobbler Owl, that looks so cute and sounds delish. The sweet raspberry hearts sound good too, I love anything raspberry!
I would love to try the Assortment.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Hey! Do I get bonus entries if I share that tomorrow is my anniversary? That should earn me some chocolate too right?
And your button is on my page!
The Apple Cobbler Owls catch my attention but yes, all of it looks good haha!
hands-down heavenly honey hazelnut. dreaming about it now!
I put you on my blogroll!
I have your banner up!
Okay the Apple Cobbler Owl just looks yummy! Who would of thought of putting apple cobbler into a chocolate treat…yum!
They all look sooo good!! I think the animals assortment would be perfect for me, so I could try out the turtles and the hedgies!
Your link is on my site!
These look to good to eat! I would love some Apple Cobbler owls!
Your button is on my site, thanks!
Hands down, my favorite is the Heavenly Honey Hazelnut. I love hazelnut!
I love the apple cobbler owl. It looks yummy!!!
Sweet Raspberry Hearts sound divine
The sweet raspberry hearts and the creamy caramel turtles sound very delicious and sinful…perfect!
On, the Creamy Caramel Turtles, PLEASE!!!
I have your the Momdot button on my blog, I’m entering twice. I want those Heavenly Honey chocolates.
The Heavenly Honey Hazelnut dark chocolate sounds wonderful.
You’re on my blogroll!!!
Well crap. Now my keyboard has drool all over it after reading this post! LOL!!
The “Creamy Caramel Turtle” sounds TO DIE FOR!!! Yum!
I have your button on my blog.
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com
The pb hedgies look yuumy!
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com
Creamy caramel turtle
jceko77@yahoo.com
I love the Marzipan logs! Yummy
oh i SOOO did not need to see this site LOL. The marzipan (chocolate) looks to die for.
My fave would definitely have to be the creamy caramel turtles! YUMMY!
The PB Hedgie gets my vote. I love chocolate and peanut butter. Yummy!
PB hedgies ahhhhh yummy
The creamy caramel turtle sounds awesome. My husband would be all over the PB Hedgehog. But that Mayan Fire chocolate sounds reallllllly yummy!
I have the momdot button on my blog.
I think the turtles look so yummy!! it ALL looks wonderful, truly works of art!
omg i’m a HUGE marzipan fan so there’s no doubt the MArzipan Logs are my top fave. i wish i could say I love them all but momdot won’t let me.
Your button is on my blog
The PB Hedgie looks good, cute stuff!
Ohmygosh! The apple cobbler owl sounds soooooo yummy!!!!! Perfect for a fall afternoon! =]
we have your button!
the Creamy Caramel Turtles sound yummy!
Creamy Caramel Turtle and my fave flavour Orange Celebration. Mmmmm!
The Apple Cobbler Owl is not only adorable (and so trendy right now!) but sounds amazing – dried apples, walnuts and caramel? Count me in!
MomDot’s banner is on my blog – as always.
Wow. These look absolutely divine!! I would give anything to try the PB Hedgies and Creamy Caramel Turtles, and I know my husband would love the apple cobbler owls. Oh, my mouth is watering as I’m sitting here looking at their website. I may short out my keyboard from all the drool!
Having a hubby from Guatemala, I would love to try the Mayan fire !
micaela6955 at msn dot com
I would love the creamy caramel turtles, the PB hedgies, and starry night.
I would love to try the mayan fire, orange celebration.
They look so delicious!
Of course I have your button in my sidebar!
The creamy caramel turtle or heavenly honey hazelnut sounds awesome!
I love your story, very inspiring! I can’t wait to taste your awesome looking chocolates. We will do a trade, but I know yours are much better!!
Sharon
And of course momdot is linked all over the place on my blog.
I love the website and totally love the story and inspiration for the name. I would love to try the Mayan Fire chocolates. Dulce de leche…nom nom indeed.
You are on my site, fo sure!!
I’m going to have to try the spicy chocolate one for something different! How can you go wrong with chocolate?
The MomDot link has been on my blog since your launch party!
The Mayan Fire sounds interesting, but I’d really love to try the Heavenly Honey Hazelnut… and the Creamy Caramel Turtle.
I’m going to have to make a candy run in a little bit… I’m sure it’s nothing compared to these, though!
momdot button is on my site
YUMM! I an drooling over here. Not sure if the box would make it to hot Hawaii but I want some! The sweet raspberry hearts sounds divine – are they really made with fresh raspberries? omg!
What’s the one with the red that looks like a mini bunt cake in the assortment? Looks yummy!
What an incredible story and beautiful chocolates.
I have your button on my site.
I’m going to her site now!
Yummy!!!!! I put your button on my site and I shot her an email letting her know that the Sweet Raspberry Hearts look wonderful!!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you.
Banner and link is on my blog as always.
I can never pass up a caramel, that turtle looks so good, almost too good to eat. At first I thought it was a jewelry collection.
As for suggestions, the only thing I see missing are ones with truffle centers, those are really good!
I also have the momdot link on my blogroll.
Creamy caramel turtles look great! Mmmmm.
holy moly! The raspberry hearts and orange one (sorry I was drooling and shorted the keyboard before I got the whole name) have me almost wanting to move to Albany. But that’s awful close to my MIL….chocolate….MIL…chocolate…Yeah the chocolate wins! She doesn’t talk to me anyway!
I’ve got your banner!
Starry Night sounds divine! Mmmm…
they all look so pretty…. too pretty to eat!
The apple owl cobbler, PB hedgie and creamy caramal turtles sound all really yummy!