Dinner and a Movie: Chocolat

I'm very excited to be posting about the first installment of Dinner and a Movie, a new monthly blog event co-hosted by Marc of No Recipes and yours truly. Each month, Marc and I will select a new movie to watch, which will hopefully inspire you all to cook or bake something fabulous. Watch the film, run with an idea, then share it with all of us. The trick is that not every movie chosen will be a "foodie film", so you'll really have to get creative. But, we know you can do it! We hope you'll join us each month on what is sure to be delicious journey though some of our favorite films.

The movie we have chosen for this month is Chocolat. As you may already know, Chocolat is about Vianne, a rather bohemian woman and her young daughter in 1960, who open a chocolate shop in a small, conservative French village during Lent. At first, they are met with skepticism and resistance, but soon their exuberance and incredible chocolates win their acceptance into the community - almost! It is a truly sensual film full of charm, drama, romance, passion and, of course......chocolate!

The obvious choice when deciding what to make for this event was some kind of chocolate truffle. After all, Vianne's little shop was full of them. I was banking in the fact that everyone else figured this too and decided to make something else. Then, I could make truffles and not look like a big, fat copycat. So far, it seems to have worked, because I haven't noticed any other truffle entries.....yet. It doesn't matter anyway, really, because I, for one, believe that there can never be enough chocolate truffles in this world. So there!

About halfway through the movie, Vianne meets Roux, a handsome, gypsy drifter, and of course, they fall in love. Well, actually they first fall in lust. The love part comes later. But, I digress......

Anyway, the inspiration for my recipe comes from Vianne and Roux. My Spicy Chocolate Chili Truffles are for Vianne, because she is sweet, warm and a little bit spicy. My Chocolate Espresso Truffles were inspired by Roux, who is deep, mellow and a little dark.

Spicy Chocolate Chili Truffles (Les Truffes pour Vianne)

8 oz good quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, 62% cacao or higher.
1/2 cup cream
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1 tbsp softened butter
Good quality cocoa powder for coating

Chop chocolate in a bowl.

Heat cream to simmer. Add chili flakes and steep for 15-20 minutes. Reheat cream to simmer. Add chipotle powder and stir.

Pour cream mixture over the chocolate through a strainer. Let sit a few minutes and gently stir until well combined.

Drop small bits of butter into ganache and continue stirring until smooth and homogeneous.

Let ganache sit until cooled. Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours until firm and "scoopable".

Remove, and with a teaspoon or melon baller, scoop out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly to avoid melting, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Roll truffles in cocoa powder and serve.

Chocolate-Espresso Truffles (Les Truffes pour Roux)

8 oz good quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, 62% cacao or higher. (I used a mix of each)
1/2 cup cream
2 tsps espresso powder
1 tbsp softened butter
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped for coating
Roasted espresso beans for garnish

Heat cream to simmer. Add espresso powder and stir until dissolved.

Pour cream over chocolate and let sit a few minutes. Then, gently stir until well combined.

Drop small bits of butter into ganache and continue stirring until smooth and homogeneous.

Let ganache sit until cooled. Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours until firm and "scoopable".

Remove and with a teaspoon or melon baller, scoop out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly to avoid melting, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Melt white chocolate in a small bowl. Carefully dip truffles in and set on parchment paper. Top with an espresso bean and let sit until coating hardens.

Enjoy!

(Printable Recipes)