in which we attended the Grand Opening of the new Eclipse in South Park!
More detailed posts to follow...
A quick recap on Eclipse - Chcoolatier Will Gustwiller's original North Park shop (located on El Cajon near Alabama), was right next door to Pizzeria Luigi and a few steps down from the Live Wire bar. It opened to rave reviews in 2007 and after five years, recently closed down shop and opened up their newly expanded shop in South Park on the corner of Fern and Ivy Streets. Eclipse is one of my favorite local companies and I usually buy their uniquely flavored chocolate bars as gifts for friends who live out of town or out of state.
Fast forward to today...
We got there around 11:30 and it was already packed inside and out. The new Eclipse is the southwest corner of Fern Street, diagonally across from Station Tavern and just south of Sombrero Mexican food.
Today's schedule of events:
We filled out raffle tickets in the hopes of winning one of their prizes, including the last "Platinum Ticket" in which the winner gets a 20 year supply of chocolate (one bar a day!)!
There was a lot of hustle and bustle in there but it wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be, which was good. The crowd would wax and wane so it wasn't like a full on Comic Con scene or anything.
Where the previous space for Eclipse was cozy (i.e. tiny) and intimate, their new location has more breathing room! This is what 4,000 square feet feels like! There are tables for two along the windows, a long bar area (parallel to the line you see above), and a private dining/reception room in the back. Near their retail area, you can also watch chocolatiers at work through the circular windows. Today, guests had the opportunity to participate in the "Build-a-Bar" workshop...
Sunday Brunch begins tomorrow. There was no food service today but they were passing out samples of their paninis, soups, and breads. Folks could also buy candy bars, cup cakes, cookies, rococos and brownies. As for beverages, coffees and teas were available but their promised craft beers were MIA, but will be served, hopefully soon, in the next few weeks. In early March, brunch will be served daily.
Our drinks...
Every thirty minutes, they would call out names for the raffle. The announcer was cleverly dressed up as "Mike Teavee" (the tv-crazed boy from the original 1971 movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"). In fact, there was a costume contest for people dressed up as characters from that movie. We spotted a woman dressed as Veruca Salt!
Dammit, he didn't call my name!
We did the "Build-a-Bar" workshop as well. OMG, look at those toppings!
How many times are we going to ever get a chance to make our own gourmet candy bar?
Since we had to wait about half an hour for the candy bars to set and be wrapped, TC and I went out for mariscos at a nearby food truck. Bert joined us later after he retrieved our "home-made" bars.
When we got back after our lunch, a pleasant surprise awaited us on the poster listing names of raffle winners!
Woo hoo! Bert was one of them!
Eclipse Chocolate (seems like they added an "e" at the end)
2145 Fern St.
San Diego, CA 92102
eclipsechocolat.com
Here's a new writeup on the owner and the new space:
"Eclipse Falling on Fern Street" - SD Reader, January 30, 2013
Interview with Will Gustwiller - San Diego Magazine, February 2013
This will give us another excuse to go back and "redeem" his prize! We will probably go in March once they iron out any kinks. The vibe was definitely spirited and happy today. Lots of different people stopped by. I chatted with one of the Platinum Ticket winners, who also ended up winning another prize from the raffle. We also chatted with a few of the servers (one of whom really liked my Tokidoki bags! He practically squeed with joy) and owner Will 's husband, RayThomas. Everyone here was super nice and super cool.
Can't wait to come back later this month!
5 comments:
Yum~ I still haven't dropped by this place yet, but it's been on my to-do list forever! Must try soon :)
Looks like you had so much fun from the opening! I wanted to go but was too busy. Though I think the crowds would have kept me away regardless. So cool that Bert won something too!
hi jinxi and kirbie - yes, it was so much fun! it will be cool once they start brunch service everyday (sometime in march). i was so happy that we (i mean, bert, ha ha) won something! :)
I'm so sad, they used to be located a block away from me on El Cajon and now they're all the way in South Park! No more wandering down at night to get one of their delicious sipping chocolates...
hi adam - thanx for visiting! well, there's still luigi's for late nite pizza, right!
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