Lillie Belle’s “Bean-To-Bar”

“All I can ever hope for, doing what I do, is to make people happy with my creations. To brighten their day, even if it’s for only a moment, with something I made with my hands. People always ask me, “Is it fun?”. Let me assure you that making chocolates is a lot of fun.” -Jeff Shepherd, owner and chocolatier 

 

 We recently had the opportunity to talk with Jeff Shepherd, the brilliant genius behind Lillie Belle Farms. He has made it his life’s mission to search the world for the most precious, and tasty, beans the planet has to offer. These 5 bars make up our current Lillie Belle line-up.

The Perfect Illusion *Jeff  Shepherd’s favorite*

This 65% dark bar is a recent winner of the 2012 Good Food Award. Rare White Beans from the remote valleys of Peru are delicately roasted and conched for a total of 70 hours to produce this exquisite bar . As told by Jeff, the beans in this bar really set the bar.  By conching for 70 hours, as opposed the usual 12-24, any bitterness is eliminated to create a nice velvety smooth finish.

Ocumare

Made in micro-batches with hand selected organic cocoa beans from the Ocumare Valley in Venezuela, this 70% cacao bar is sorted, roasted, cracked and winnowed by hand. As Jeff says, “Our small stone mills work their little mechanical hearts out for up to 4 days to get just the right texture and mouthfeel.”

Purple Haze

Purple Haze is the first true blend that Lillie Belle has ever experimented with.  This cacao hails from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.  By barely adding any sugar, Lillie Belle is able to create a bar with dark, earthy notes followed by a mellow finish.  “This one will make you want to kiss the sky.”

The Wild Thing

Truly wild, this bar is composed of completely wild cacao beans, harvested in the jungles of Bolivia.  Roasted at very low temperatures and carefully refined for almost 3 days to achieve the right balance of taste, this criollo bar is described by Jeff himself as  “Perfection.”

The Other One

This 74% dark bar is truly for the dark chocolate fans.  These bio-organically certified beans come from a very small plantation in the Dominican Republic, and do not give off the acidity of most high cacao content bars.  “From the moment you unwrap this bar your senses will reel from the intesity and character that lies within,” thus proclaims the wrapper. Clearly an understatement.

We love Lillie Belle Farms and their lovely chocolate. For the devotees of the Smokey Blue Cheese Truffles–we have just restocked and added a duo-collection of Lillie Belle’s Marzipan Fig Tuffles (rum poached Mission figs, wrapped in marzipan, and rolled in toasted almond) ad Fressh Lemon Coconut Butter Creams. Wow.

Bye for now and see you soon in the chocolate room!

Camper History

Camper is the living history of a family business from a great family of innovators, who for more than a century and involving four generations have dedicated themselves to the footwear industry. Camper, as a unique brand, was established in 1975. In order to fully understand the very core of Camper, its values and commitment, one has to go back more than 120 years.

In 1877, Antonio Fluxà, a skilled cobbler, set sail for England to investigate new methods of industrial manufacturing. Upon his return, he gathered together the best leather craftsmen in Inca (Mallorca) and introduced them to the first machines used to manufacture shoes. An impressive symbol of enlightenment! An innovative spirit transmitted down the line to future generations, as well as a deep respect for their profession, for quality products, and above all function.

Antonio Fluxà begat Lorenzo Fluxà, who was born inside their shoe factory. Lorenzo inherited from his father both his taste and his enthusiasm for this simple object, always in pairs, that keeps us connected to the ground. He continued with his father’s tradition of indulgence when it comes to quality while using innovative industrial manufacturing.

The historical and social changes experienced in Spain in the mid 1970’s were reflected in a new attitude to life. New styles, new concepts, a new spirit of adventure flourished. The solid support of a century old tradition, allowed Lorenzo Fluxà, Antonio’s grandson, to create Camper in 1975. Camper was born to be a brand: its concept was to reflect a new lifestyle, a new way of thinking based on freedom but also encompassing comfort and creativity.

In 1981, the first Camper store debuted in Barcelona. A concept that revolutionised the world of footwear retailing, incorporating a bold graphic element and a ground-breaking functional display of sizes.

In 1992, international expansion began. Branches were opened in the major fashion capitals of Europe: London, Paris and Milan. Today Camper has maintained its primary position in Spain, having maintained a healthy growth without interruption over the course of four generations! We are proud to carry Camper at Ma Petite Shoe, bringing the best of European design to Baltimore.

This spring our Camper selection includes  minimalist skimmers, the Right Nina, and a cool sandal, the Stetson Miami,  with measuring tape detailing:

The newest edition to the Camper family at Ma Petite Shoe is the Prati heel, done up in a fine whiskey leather with  whimsical double stitching:

In the “chic sneak” category we show three more casual laceups:

The leather Imar (shown above), and two canvas styles, the Terra with an espadrille sole, and Rambla Flame, a vintage mediterranean sneaker, with a molded sole.

The Rambla Flame (shown above) has an inscription: Sea, land, sun and culture…a rural shoe born in Mallorca in the 1920′s, redesigned by Camper in 1975 to be its first shoe and today reinterpreted in a collection that celebrates a way of life.

We’ve known and loved Camper for a while and hope this little bit of their history makes you adore them too!  Come see the full collection yourself in-store or at mapetiteshoe.com.

Happy New Year from Ma Petite Shoe!

It’s now 2012, and shoes have never looked so great in the store!  We have picked a variety of styles to feature to give you a glimpse of what 2012 has to offer.

To start, we have Jeffrey Campbell’s Lulu Suede.  We featured this shoe in one of our look books we adore it so much.  A Ma Petite Shoe and Jeffrey Campbell Collaboration! A little mod love goes a long way. Wear to your color-blocked heart’s content!

Jeffrey Campbell’s Sherry in Blue Suede is a classic silhouette with modern accents in a beautiful color. The Sherry can go from modern vintage styling to contemporary styling in a snap.

Kelsey Fur from Jeffrey Campbell is adorable, fun, and can add serious edge to any outfit.  The Kelsey is also available as Kelsey Black and Kelsey Fab Floral.

What!?  Another great bootie from the wicked minds of Irregular Choice.  Combining fabric and textures, the Motherly Love in Black will give you all the maternal warmth you’ve been missing.  Also available as Motherly Love Purple.

Matiko’s Jovanna Black is a wedge to turn heads.  It’s sleekness, height, and asymmetrical cut makes us drool.  These shoes are truly high and mighty.

Gee’WaWa Cadence in Black is a leather oxford complete with a padded leather footbed.  Despite the height, a built in insert known as the “cookie” makes this shoe surprisingly comfortable.  These shoes mash old school with new school, in a very schooled way.

Jeffrey Campbell Clift Tapestry is a lot of darling in a 4″ stacked heel.  The flocking of the tapestry really adds dimension.  This is a fun style that can either blend or pop, depending on how it’s worn.

Our Jeffrey Campbell Dressen in Color-Blocked Suede is a little bit Jane Fonda and a little bit Bridgette Bardot. The color-blocking in suede makes these feel extra rich!

All of us here at Ma Petite Shoe wish you a great New Year.  May your shoes bring you luck in 2012!

Stocking Stuffers Part II

In this second installment of stocking stuffers, we bring you chocolate Santas!

Chocolate santas in all different flavors!

Cacao Lorenzo has done it again!  Ma Petite Shoe is now offering chocolate santas made from delicious white, milk and dark chocolate.  Our favorite classic chocolate bar has been transformed into hefty men for your Christmas stockings.  Interestingly enough, these wonderful treats are locally made in Timonium.  If you have yet to try Cacao Lorenzo, this is a good place to start!

Holiday Gift Guide for Him

Looking for the perfect gift for the gentlemen in your life? Or a little something special for yourself? Then read on, my dear–we have something just for him/you!

#1 : Glerups DK Unisex Felt Slippers 

Glerups Slippers

These unisex slippers have just arrived from Denmark!  Made from boiled and shaped felt, they are sure to keep you warm during the coldest winter night.  The Petrol hue makes this slipper very versatile–steal them from your boyfriend while he isn’t looking! Order them from the comfort of your home or come in to the store and have a look!

# 2 : Sock It To Me “Beer” Socks

Sock It To Me Beer socks!

What better way to keep your feet warm than with socks emblazoned with beer mugs?  These fun pints decorate one of our favorite socks this season.  Not only are Sock It To Me socks comfortable, but they are warm without overheating your feet.

# 3 : François Pralus “Papouasie” Bar

Francois Pralus Papouasie

Papouasie is one of many Pralus bars available in-store and on our website.  With luxurious dark bars make from up to 100% cacao, it is certainly hard for us to pick our favorite.  Each bar’s cacao is selected from the region its named after and then grown in Pralus’ own cacao plantation.  The unique notes in each bar make this a wonderful gift for the globe-trotting, chocolate connoisseurs in your life.  More on Pralus chocolates:

“François Pralus now has his own cacao plantation in Madagascar on the island of Nosy Be, also known as the “isle of perfumes”. From Sao Tomé by way of Brazil and Venezuela, Monsieur Pralus has personally selected cacao for the plantation from the finest origins in the world. The beans are grown, harvested and fermented with care and then roasted and transformed into a delightful chocolate in his Roanne facility.”

# 4 : Tortuga Caribbean Chocolate Rum Cake (4 oz.)

Tortuga Caribbean Rum Cake in Chocolate (4 oz. size)

Super moist cake made in the Caribbean with deliciously intoxicating rum AND chocolate makes this a must for the rum lovers in your life (who also happens to have a sweet tooth). Perhaps the ensuing longing for all things from “the Islands” will result in an impromptu cruise for two? Win-win, am I right?

# 5 : Abtey Map “Route de Liqueurs” Chocolate Assortment

Abtey Map "Route de Liqueurs" Chocolate Assortment

A beautiful assortment of chocolates filled with liqueurs from different regions in France. A well-deserved and decadent brief holiday by way of chocolates!

Yelp Hampden Holiday Hop: Shop and Help a Great Cause!

Whether you’re familiar or not with the famous crowd-sourced review site, you should stop in and follow the Yelpers around to various holiday shopping spots in Hampden (or do your own thing) to finish up your holiday shopping! And when you shop during shop crawl at Ma Petite Shoe, 10% of our proceeds will go to support the Maryland SPCA!

We are also featuring Rescue Chocolates, a sweet chocolate company dedicated to helping animal rescues! All of their net profits are donated to various organizations that help animals across the country! Learn more about them here.

On top of that, Ma Petite Shoe will be serving bubbly libations and delicious chocolate samples during the Hampden Holiday Hop! Event starts at 5pm and will be open until 9pm.

If you can’t come to the event and would love to do a super great deed for the holidays, why not consider making a donation to the Maryland SPCA? Click here to do just that.

Happy Holiday Hopping!

Alayna’s Chocolate Picks!

In this on-going series, we asked our lovely staff for their favorite treats from Ma Petite Shoe this season! Who better to guide you than the people who gets to eat the chocolate selection almost on a daily basis?

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This week, Alayna, our shoe buyer/manager extraordinaire, has kindly shared with us her current chocolate obsessions!

#1 : Salazon Chocolate Co. Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt & Organic Cracked Black Pepper.

“What goes together better than salt & pepper?  This mild dark chocolate bar is hand sprinkled with crunchy pieces of salt and spicy flecks of black pepper.  Even better, it’s local and organic. Score!”

#2 : Vosges Haut Chocolat Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt Caramel Bar

“Chicago-based chocolate powerhouse, Vosges, did it again.  This new bar is a welcome addition to the line. The sticky, salty caramel inside is delightful. You’ll enjoy making a mess with this bar.”

Theo Bars

If you have ever wanted to try a chocolate bar with unique flavors such as Fig, Fennel & Almond or Bread & Chocolate, look no further.  Theo’s Fantasy Flavors line brings us exotic combinations that we never thought possible.

Fig, Fennel & Almond

Crunchy almond pieces, chewy figs and a hint of fennel are blended into this delicious dark chocolate bar.  This bar also happens to be Vegan!

Bread & Chocolate

This Dark chocolate bar is mixed with buttered toasted baguette crumbs.  The ultimate crunch bar!

Chai Tea

This Chai Tea bar is a blend of milk chocolate and chai spices with a hint of black tea.  We like to enjoy this bar with a nice mug of earl grey.

Coffee

This Dark chocolate bar has a full-bodied flavor that we attribute to the Coffee.  The coffee found in this bar is locally-roasted organic, and fair trade certified from Caffe Vita.

Coconut Curry

 

Milk chocolate is combined with toasted coconut and wonderful savory curry spices to make such an interest confection.

 

All of these bars are available in store for $4.29.  Be sure to stop in for our chocolate happy hour this Friday, December 9th, to sample a selection of Theo!

Mayor’s Christmas Parade

The staff having fun!

This past Sunday was the ever popular Christmas Parade!  We had such a fun time that we wanted to share some photos with you.

Mrs. Claus and Marie Antoinette

Here’s a video of the amazing Jenny Campbell with her snow globe wig as Marie Antoinette:

Holiday Lookbook Shoes

In honor of December’s arrival, Ma Petite Shoe has hand selected some of our favorite shoes that would be perfect for the holidays.  Whether it is a gift to yourself or a gift for someone special, you can’t go wrong with any of these selections!

Jeffrey Campbell Beryl in Grey

This Jeffrey Campbell shoe in grey is the perfect thing to wear for any winter occasion.  If you normally gravitate towards rhinestones, give these studs a try.  We did, and we love how they sparkle! Dress any outfit up for New Years in this pump.

Irregular Choice Royal Marriage in Blue

The combination of blue and gold hues in this royal wedding inspired shoe would make a nice edition to your holiday wardrobe.  The combination of leather and suede certainly makes this shoe unique.  We also enjoy the fact that this heel is the perfect color scheme for Hanukkah!

Seychelles All Dressed up in Teal

Seychelles All Dressed Up in Pewter

We love this t-strap that Seychelles created in two beautiful color schemes.  This shoe is not just available in two different colors, it is available in either suede or leather.  The pewter version will be very versatile for winter weather while the teal suede heel will make any outfit special.  Dressing this shoe up or down is easy!

Poetic Licence Lady Victoria in Bone

Poetic Licence Lady Victoria in Black

Poetic Licence has created the perfect holiday boot!  We love how the tapestry, velvet laces and shiny leather come together to make such a festive shoe.  This boot would pair nicely with  solid color tights and a velvet dress on Christmas day.