Chocolate fountain facts for kids
A chocolate fountain is a fun machine that serves melted chocolate for dipping. It looks like a tall, stepped cone, usually 2 to 4 feet high. At the top, there's a "crown," and at the bottom, there's a heated bowl.
The bowl keeps the chocolate warm and runny. A special screw inside the fountain lifts the melted chocolate to the very top. From there, it flows down over the tiers, making a beautiful chocolate "waterfall." You can dip yummy foods like strawberries or marshmallows into the flowing chocolate.
Contents
History of Chocolate Fountains
Chocolate fountains were invented by Ben Brisman. A Canadian company called Design & Realisation helped make them popular in 1991. They became well-known after being shown at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago in the early 1990s.
Jay Harlan, a business person, worked with Design & Realisation. He helped bring chocolate fountains to hotels and resorts in the U.S. His company, Buffet Enhancements International, started selling these fountains in the U.S. in 2001. Later, Buffet Enhancements made their own improved versions of the fountain.
Different Kinds of Chocolate Fountains
Chocolate fountains come in two main types: commercial and personal (for home use).
Commercial Fountains
Commercial chocolate fountains are usually big, from about 20 to 50 inches tall. They are made for professional places like catering events. These fountains are often built from strong, food-grade stainless steel. They can hold a lot of chocolate, sometimes as much as 35 pounds.
Some newer commercial fountains have a "cup" design instead of tiers. This design can use less chocolate and save money.
Home Fountains
Home chocolate fountains are smaller, usually up to about 19 inches tall. They are mostly made of plastic, though some have stainless steel parts. Many home fountains can be washed in a dishwasher. They typically hold 6 pounds of chocolate or less.
The Best Chocolate for Fountains
Melted chocolate can be tricky. Special couverture chocolate, which has a lot of cocoa butter, is often used. This helps the chocolate flow smoothly. If the chocolate doesn't have enough cocoa butter, you might need to add a little vegetable oil to make it thinner.
However, it's best to use chocolate made specifically for fountains. This avoids needing to add oil, which can change the taste and texture of the chocolate. Most chocolate fountains can't melt solid chocolate. So, you usually need to melt the chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler first. Then, you pour it into the fountain.
Other Options
A cheaper choice is chocolate-flavored syrup, also called "chocolate coating." It's already liquid and costs less than couverture chocolate. Some people prefer gourmet Belgian chocolate, even if it costs more.
Another option is dark chocolate, like 70% cocoa chocolate. It has less sugar and isn't as sticky. You can add a little hot water to make it thinner if needed.
How Chocolate Fountains Became More Popular
At first, only businesses bought chocolate fountains because they were expensive and needed a lot of care. But people who saw them at events wanted their own. In late 2004, a company called the Hellmann Group started selling the Nostalgia Chocolate Fountain for home use.
This made chocolate fountains very popular with everyday customers. As a result, more people asked for chocolate fountains at parties and events. New flavors like mint, orange, and cappuccino were made to add to the chocolate. Caterers even started adding food coloring to white chocolate for special holidays.
People also began using chocolate fountains for other types of fondue. They created recipes for things like caramel, cheese, maple syrup, ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce that would flow well. Because of this, chocolate fountains sometimes became known as "fondue fountains."
Today, commercial chocolate fountains are common at fancy parties, weddings, and catered events. Smaller home chocolate fountains are often seen at birthday parties and friendly get-togethers.
Some new fountain models can even offer more than one flavor of chocolate at a time.
The Jean-Philippe Patisserie at the Bellagio Casino in Paradise, Nevada, has the world's tallest chocolate fountain.
Images for kids
-
A commercial chocolate fountain in a shop in Brussels, Belgium
-
Chocolate fountain in the Imhoff chocolate museum in Cologne, Germany
-
Woman using a home chocolate fountain
See also
In Spanish: Fuente de chocolate para niños
