We’re not going to lie – the world is cold right now: literally (check out those gorgeous icicles all over Rochester) and figuratively. I’m sure you don’t need us to outline what is making everything feel so heavy right now. 

Over the weekend, I watched the snow fall, and smiled on as my innocent, beautiful children stared in awe as it piled higher and higher to reach the deepest depths I’ve seen in years. There’s a juxtaposition inherent in our everyday lives right now, and as a business, we are doing what we do best: resisting through joy in chocolate. 

So here are a few ways that we can provide decadence for your taste buds, as together we make the world a better place.

– Grab a truffle for you and one extra. Bring that extra truffle over to a neighbor and have an in-person conversation with them. Our community is everything! As you enjoy the truffles with your neighbor, be assured that the truffles are made with ingredients crafted by our neighbors. Whether the ingredient is coffee from Joe Bean Roasters, heavy cream from Pittsford Dairy Farms, salt, cayenne or cinnamon from Spice Project Online, or honey from our local beekeeper.

– Stop in to Laughing Gull Chocolates, so we can prepare a mug full of your favorite flavor of drinking chocolate (mine is spiced; we also have peppermint and our classic Gull – plus, ask about our seasonal flavor)! Sip as you call or write a note to your legislators. 

– Pick up our seasonal Box of Five. This quarter, we are donating proceeds from our seasonal chocolate box to Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York. Not only do they help make our world better, supporting reproductive justice, but they taste absolutely delicious. A jaguar chocolate, peppermint bite, a spiced orange honey square, sugar plum truffle, and one of pine…hmmm. It’s the perfect heartwarming box for this winter!

– I can almost smell the brownies now – our high-fat cocoa powder from a co-op in Tanzania make the ultimate brownies. We sell baking ingredients like this cocoa powder – pick up a bag, do some baking. No matter what is going on the world baking always helps me feel just a tad better. Share your chocolatey baked goods with friends, family or neighbors. 

– Looking for more community-building? I know we are. It’s one of the things that gets us through every day. Consider a chocolate tasting with our craft chocolate bars. Every single one is transparently sourced, and sustainably grown. Even better, made with the highest quality cacao, the chocolate is smooth (unless it’s not!), nuanced, complex and absolutely mouthwatering. Each bite is distinct, and together you will notice the myriad of flavors in just one bite.

– One large bag of drinking chocolate makes almost 15 cups of chocolate! Stop in to pick up a bag, and then get outside and enjoy the snow with friends or strangers: make a snow angel, go skiing, take a walk and marvel in the wintry beauty, go ice skating – and then come inside, pour your choice of milk into a big pot, add the drinking chocolate, and whisk away. Prepare mugs and invite others to join you for chocola’j: creating community through chocolate.

After all, that’s what it is all about: community, and togetherness. What better way to create joy than through chocolate. It’s easy to forget joy when there’s so much noise. We have to stay aware; we have to keep apprised of the news, but we also have to take care of ourselves. We find the balance in chocolate. 

Where do you find joy – and what kind of chocolate is it?!?