WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Chocolate Mint Day
Feb 19
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles."
~ Anonymous
Double, double, truffle, truffle! If one chocolate truffle is fine, two are doubly delicious! And why not make one of those a mint chocolate! Chocolate truffles were invented in France in the late 19th century, and named for their resemblance to the dark and rumpled prized mushrooms which often grow at the roots of oaks and hazel trees! Created from balls of chocolate ganache and often flavored with liqueurs, fruits, nuts, or spices, a classic truffles is then dusted with cocoa to make a perfect bite. Today's truffles vary with region and country for signature tastes. Besides the classic and elegant French truffle, Swiss truffles often use milk chocolate, while Italian truffles often emphasize hazelnut paste or crushed hazelnuts. Belgian Truffles are known for their smooth and velvety ganaches, while American Truffles are styled with peanut butter, caramel, fruit flavors, and are coated in a thicker layer of chocolate with special toppings. But the pairing of bittersweet of chocolate with cooling mint is a chocolatier's favourite! Though it is not known whether this smooth strathspey was inspired by the making or eating of mint truffles (perhaps both), the reels and promenades should lead you right to the refreshment table, where a delicious truffle may await! 🍫 🌱
Mint Truffles
The chocolate mint left on a hotel bed pillow is a familiar site.
According to food and Hollywood folklore, this tradition began sometime in the 1950s as a result of a (probably apochryphal) story related to movie star Cary Grant. Actor Cary Grant was staying at the luxurious Mayfair Hotel in downtown St. Louis. He was a frequent guest and often booked the penthouse suite. As the story goes, he invited a special guest to meet him at the suite. When she arrived, she found that that he had laid a trail of chocolates beginning in the sitting room, into the bedroom, across the bed, and onto the pillow.
The Mayfair’s manager heard about the chocolate gambit and liked the idea so much that he made a chocolate on the pillow one of the hotel’s many standard amenities.
Whatever the true origin of this custom, hundreds of hotels adopted the gesture, and many travelers look forward to a chocolate mint on their hotel room pillow!
Click the picture below for a recipe to make your own special chocolate mint truffles.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
