Monday, April 25, 2011

Kirsten And The Chocolate Factory



I think that writing about your job on the interwebs in generally frowned upon, but its okay if I only write great and not confidential things right? Some of you know that on Thursday I took a temp job at Portland company Moonstruck Chocolate as the receptionist at there cooperate office and factory in North Portland. I have always loved Moonstruck and especially love their new package designs.

I learned so much in just one day there. The day before I got an email telling me that the day I was temping there was going to be a meeting there with the entire board of directors, including the people who own the company--no pressure or anything! But everyone was so nice, and the owners gave me a great history of the building. It is this tiny industrial building right next to the train tracks under the St. Johns bridge. If you have ever been to Cathedral park it's right there! The building has lots of great windows because it was once owned by Pendleton and they needed the light to work on the fabric and before that, back in the 30s it was a cherry factory and that's why it is next to the train tracks. The trains would bring the cherries and they would bring them straight off the trains.
Knowing the location makes me love this packaging even more--especially when I learned that there is a Sasquatch hidden in each of the designs. Can you find it? I actually haven't been able to find it on this one yet!



I was surprised how small and truly handmade all there chocolate it. It was a factory, but nothing like the bread factory! The windows where I was working looked down on the worker so I could see them even wrapping chocolates in foil by hand!


I also learned all about chocolate tasting, it is serious stuff. You have to use all five senses.


1. First you are supposed to smell the chocolate immediately after unwrapping it--that is when the smell is most potent.


2. Look at the chocolate--it should be shiny and smooth.


3. Snap off a piece of chocolate. If it breaks off really clean it is high quality chocolate with a higher amount of cacao in it.


4. Place the piece of chocolate on the middle of your tongue and let it sit there while you taste some of the different notes.


5. Finally move the piece of chocolate around your mouth so you taste it through all of the taste receptors on the front, back, and sides of your tongue.


I will have to try it with my Easter Toblerone later I guess, and the only really sad part of the job was that by the end of the day I couldn't smell the chocolatey aroma that permeated the office!

6 comments:

candace said...

I've totally seen this brand of chocolates and I'm super jealous that you are working there! You must have seen how fun it was to work in "the candy industry" from me ;). Miss you Kirsten!

A Mitton said...

Okay, new job for you:

Become a designer for Moonstruck Chocolate. How amazing would it be to be on that team?? Their packaging is awesome.

KirstieBirstie said...

Candy! I only worked there for one day, but the full-tim receptionist is getting married in a month or so and they asked if I would want to come back and fill in then! I definitely thought of you and the candy counter though, miss you too!

Hahaha Allie, actually the design was designed by this typographer named Kate Foresster who is from the UK and apparently kind of a big deal. But do are you part of the yahoo Ypub group? I keep getting there emails and right now people have been talking about how to get into book designing and I find myself thinking that would be so cool. Miss you!

A Mitton said...

I am not part of the Ypub group. Why not?? Tell me how to join.

And I am so attracted to typography, you have no idea. I wish you could learn more about production.

Kirs said...

It is yahoo group, so you can look it up on there under Ypub, or send a blank email to this email and it will subscribe you!

ypub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Mel sent out a list of schools with grad programs in publishing where you can study design as well and I am definitely thinking about looking into some of them!

AND did I tell you that I am going to take a letterpress class?? I am so excited. You should try to do it next time you come home!

A Mitton said...

Sweet, thanks. And I'm SO JEALOUS of the letterpress class. I've been looking a little for typography stuff around here, I want to learn more. And do fine printing. And make paper. Oh man. Can we start business together??