Death by Chocolate
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Death by Chocolate is a colloquial descriptive or marketing term for various cakes and desserts that feature chocolate,[1] especially dark chocolate or cocoa, as the primary ingredient. The phrase is trademarked in some countries, and the dessert is a signature dish of Bennigan's restaurants in the United States.
Cakes
[edit]Some chocolate cakes and Devil's food cakes are called or have the moniker "Death by Chocolate cake",[2][3][4][5] and some of these may be served with a chocolate sauce, such as lava cake.[6] Ingredients used in Death by Chocolate cakes may include basic chocolate cake mix ingredients, chocolate pudding, chocolate chips, shaved or grated chocolate, whipped cream and powdered sugar.[5]
Trademarks
[edit]United States
[edit]Contrary to previous Death by Chocolate references and claims, DbC aka Mort au Chocolat originated in 1981 at Les Anges restaurant in Santa Monica, California. It was the result of a collaboration between the restaurant's Creator/Proprietor, Jeff Fields and its Pastry Chef, Claude Koeberle, himself the son of a Maitre Ouvrier de France. [7], mentioned mort du chocolat. The dessert was also featured in the,[8] in which both the English and French names appeared. Composed of multiple chocolate layers - genoise, meringue, ganache, butter cream, and mousse - it was sauced with chocolate creme anglaise.
The original "Death by Chocolate" cake debuted at the Trellis restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1982. It was created by the chef and owner of the Trellis, Marcel Desaulniers in collaboration with pastry chef Donald Mack. Desaulniers said that he got the name from an article in Gourmet (magazine) where a cake was named "mourir de chocolat," French for dying of chocolate. The recipe for baking Desaulnier's version was estimated to take three days of cooking owing to the complexity of the cake and the need to create each layered ingredient.[9]
The trademark for "Death by Chocolate" in the United States is owned by Bennigan's IP LLC restaurants.[10] The initial trademark application was filed by Bennigans on 2 July 2008, and the trademark is due to expire on 9 April 2026.[10] Bennigan's also filed a U.S. trademark registration request for the Death by Chocolate Martini on 20 August 2002, which was registered on 5 August 2003.[11]
The version of Death by Chocolate offered at Bennigan's consists of many ingredients, including two types of ice cream combined with Twix candy bars, which is dipped in a chocolate sauce and served atop crumbed chocolate cookie crust.[12][13][14][15] The dish is accompanied with a side dish of a heated chocolate topping.[14][15]
Bennigan's also purveyed a Martini cocktail named the Death by Chocolate Martini,[16] which was a Martini prepared with the addition of chocolate liqueurs.[11]
Other regions
[edit]In the United Kingdom and European Union,[17] the registered trade mark rights belong to F.T. Wood & Sons Limited.[18][19][20]
Events
[edit]Various Death by Chocolate-themed and -named events have occurred, such as fundraisers and charity events that involve the consumption of chocolate-based desserts, dishes and beverages.[21][22][23] Dishes served at Death by Chocolate events have included savory dishes prepared with chocolate, chocolate candy, desserts, brownies, cookies, cakes, cocktails, Martinis and beer, and the events have included chocolatiers.[21][22][23][24]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Death By Chocolate: Simply the Best Chocolate Brownie Layer". Food Network. 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Success even sweeter after health scare". Stuff.co.nz. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Goble, Steve (17 December 2015). "Brewologist – New Belgium offers beer for dessert". Mansfield News Journal. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Baker's Claus in contract – some fun, festive food". Pocklington Post. 11 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b Copps Food Center (23 December 2015). "Death by Chocolate Cake". WLUK (Fox News). Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Elliott, Belinda (17 December 2015). "Magnum Manila Cafe: A House of Pure Pleasure". Recorder Journal. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Lois Dwan's review of the restaurant in the Calendar Section of The LA Times, Sunday, September 30th, 1981
- ^ Premier Issue of Chocolatier Magazine, July 1984
- ^ Rao, Tejal (7 June 2024). "His 'Death by Chocolate' Cake Will Live Forever". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ a b tmdb.eu. "Trademark DEATH BY CHOCOLATE registered by Bennigan's IP, LLC at OHIM". Trademark search engine. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Death by Chocolate Martini". trademarkia.com. 20 August 2002. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Inside Bennigan's Bankruptcy Filing". Newsweek. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Bennigan's Unveils Budget-Focused Meals". The Food Channel. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Bennigan's Menu". Saveasite.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ a b Rowe, Trent (25 May 1996). "Bennigan's Serves Good Variety". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ admin (27 December 2015). "Reports of Casual Dining's Death Are Greatly Exaggerated". Restaurant News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Intellectual Property Office. U.K. government. Archived 21 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Brands". Country Style Foods. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Death by Chocolate". Deathbychocolate.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "Case details for Trade Mark 1463363". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Largo Cultural Center hosts Death by Chocolate fundraiser". Tampa Bay Newspapers. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Death By Chocolate for charity". The INDsider. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b Wartelle, Kris (5 November 2015). "The Acadiana Symphony's Death by Chocolate killed". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Tickets Still Available for Death By Chocolate". Twin Falls Times-News. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.