Just what is Artisan Chocolate? At Glacier Confection we embrace Artisan Chocolate and the Artisan Chocolatier in a very simplistic, yet special way; we love and respect the Cacao and what it means to us here on this planet. Artisan Chocolate is a by-product of this very special fruit, or Theobroma cacao, the Food of the Gods. We like to think that Artisan Chocolate represents the raw, live, power of this plant and all the health and medicinal values of it being retained through very little processing. For Artisan Chocolate to remain what it has always been requires us to study and learn as much as possible about its origin, history, and transformation across cultures and continents, and how it influenced individuals be they rich or poor. The Artisan Chocolate, if produced properly will enrich and change lives.
We welcome your indulgence,
Your Artisan Chocolate Creators,
December 14, 2011
Glacier Named a "TOP TEN CHOCOLATIERS 2011" by Dessert Professional Magazine
"A sinful little thing to do with candied orange peel" By Jason Ashley Wright
TULSA, Okla. - Christmas of 1986 started out so jolly to have ended so violently. As we did every year, Dad's side of the family gathered at Mamaw Wright's for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange. Basically, we played for a little bit, ate, opened gifts and ate some more, usually while playing with whatever toys we received or -- to Papaw's occasionally vocal disapproval -- played cards. In addition to whatever Mamaw made... Read More ...
November 16, 2011
"Champagne & Chocolate Gala" KTUL TV
TULSA, Okla. - Champagne & Chocolate Gala loacted in Tulsa, OK. View Video ...
November 4, 2011
"Bill Copeland - Making chocolate a passion" By Amy Addams
TULSA, Okla. - It’s funny how indifferent we have become where food is concerned. We make a mad dash through a drive-thru window then drive down the street, cramming food from a bag into our mouths while we do any multitude of tasks while not tasting a single bite. We don’t like the food, we don’t taste the food, yet we eat it without thought or care. Read More ...
September, 2011
CANDY INDUSTRY SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2011 "Cutting-Edge Chocolatiers"
MSNBC - News Video Piece on Health Benefits of Chocolate. See More ...
August 4, 2011
"5 questions with chocolatier Bill Copeland"
TULSA World- Bill Copeland is working overtime to keep cool this summer. The heat is affecting everyone, but imagine the logistics of keeping the temperature cool and steady in a chocolate shop. The chocolates at Copeland's Glacier Confection, a gourmet, fine chocolate business in the Brady District, aren't pumped with preservatives or wax to keep them from melting. So Copeland is running his air conditioning in overdrive and blacking out his big windows with dark curtains to keep his chocolate perfect. Copeland is ready for cooler days and is thinking ahead to fall with new fruit- and nature-inspired flavors. He's happy to offer samples to those who want to know the difference between premium and Hershey's. Go have a taste. Read More ...
July 13, 2011
"Hot temperatures creating hot chocolate at local shop" Video
TULSA - A break from the sweltering temperatures was welcomed by many on Tuesday. That's especially true for employees at a Downtown Tulsa business; they are doing their best to keep the products from melting. At Glacier Confection, the environment is specially set to make fine chocolates.... Read More ...
July 6, 2011
"Explore Tulsa - Glacier Confection" Video
IMG TV News
Great Informational video to learn about one of the few places in the world to experience the rare and equsite chocolates. Glacier Confection supports Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission to empower deserving military families with educational support and opportunities.
May 10, 2011
"Exquisite chocolate source rediscovered through DNA testing" Video
Reuters News
After more than 100 years in the wilderness, one of the most highly valued varieties of cacao ever known is once again, producing exquisite chocolate prized by chefs around the world. Ecuador's Pure Nacional cacao bean was thought have become extinct after succumbing to disease in the early 20th century, but through a chance discovery in neighboring Peru and a sophisticated laboratory in the United States, the Pure Nacional is back in business. See the Video...
May 9, 2011
"Rare chocolate rediscovered" Video
CBS News
After more than a hundred years hidden in the wilderness of Peru, one of the most highly valued varieties of cacao ever known is once again, producing exquisite chocolate prized by chefs around the world. Felipe Maya reports. See the Video...
March 20, 2011
"Tulsa chocolate maker acquires a rare variety"
Oklahoma News Report
Only a handful of chocolate makers in the world have put their hands on chocolate made from rare cacao beans recently discovered in Peru.
One of those chocolate makers is Bill Copeland at Glacier Confection in downtown's Brady District.
Inside his shop, Copeland proudly and protectively holds slabs of the pure single-origin Nacional chocolate.
Copeland has already made a name for himself, making every batch of his premium chocolates by hand and selling to exclusive shops and hotels. But this is new territory even for a master chocolatier. This chocolate, Fortunato No. 4 Nacional, comes from a cacao bean that, until its recent discovery, was thought to be extinct. Now, bars made with Nacional chocolate are made in Switzerland, Germany, Canada - and Tulsa.
'Unprecedented discovery'
Dan Pearson and his stepson, Brian Horsley, were trekking through the mountains of Peru, delivering food and supplies to mining companies, when they made the discovery. In a dark and mountainous valley, they came upon some unusual trees with giant, football-sized pods hanging from the trunks. The men had found cacao pods, but not just any cacao pods. These were pods that, for years, had been untouched, free from cross-breeding or tampering. Copeland said the Nacional pods were thought to have been extinct, making the discovery unbelievable to some. Pearson sent samples of the beans to the Agricultural Research Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, where DNA tests confirmed it as fact. In a January New York Times article, Lyndel Meinhardt, a scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture, called it "an unprecedented discovery" and the bean "one of the rarest, most prized varieties of cacao."
Because of the remote location of these cacao pods, production is limited. The cacao pods are transported out of the valley by burro, backpack and motorcycle, Copeland said. Beans are then removed from the pods and sent to Switzerland, where they are pounded and ground in a process called conching. "Most chocolate is conched between eight and 16 hours. This product is conched for 60 hours," Copeland said. The more expensive the chocolate, typically the longer the conching process, which brings out the full natural flavor of the bean. Bill Copeland was fascinated by the rarity of the beans, but it was the taste that made him passionate. "Most chocolate needs vanilla or something to bring out the flavor. This one is pure," Copeland said. "It doesn't really need anything. It's just that good." Copeland describes it as buttery smooth with floral and fruit notes. A 2-ounce bar will cost around $12 compared to the same bar made from typical high-quality cacao at $7 to $8. Copeland said he will likely make larger 3.5-ounce bars, which will cost about $20. The chocolate has not yet been packaged, but that hasn't stopped Copeland from selling it. "(Tulsa customers) are some of the only people in the world who have tasted this chocolate," he said. Read more from this Tulsa World article. See the Story...
"Valentine's Day: A Day of Chocolate... I Mean, Love"
Valentine's Day: A special day of the year to tell your loved-ones how much they mean to you. Also, a wonderful excuse to devour a box of chocolates. And I found the best box in town.If you're not careful, you might miss this small artisan chocolate shop located in Downtown Tulsa's Brady District. Its storefront is hardly representative of the beauty and perfection of each confection inside. The moment I walked into this shop, a huge smile was plastered across my face. I was like, well, a woman in a chocolate shop! Except these didn't look like any chocolates I have seen before. These looked more like beautiful gemstones. ... Read More...
February 14, 2011
"The 50 Best Chocolatiers in America" - #19 Tulsa Chocolate Shop - Glacier Confection
Hey genius! It's Valentine's Day! OK, we're going to assume you knew that already, and we'll spare you the Reader's Digest-style "Chocolate's like sex—it's good on Valentine's Day...or any other day!" aphorism. What we will give you is our list (plus choco-porn!) of the 50 Best Chocolatiers in America, because your sweetheart deserves something sweet. Now, peruse at your leisure, maybe you'll find the right something something that'll help get you a little something something tonight. We'll just be over here buying up stock in the American Dental Association.
For every item sold, Glacier Confection donates a portion of the proceeds to charities that serve fallen and disabled American troops. While you're savoring these treats, you're also supporting an honorable cause. Chocolate plus patriotism? Not a bad day's work.
"Chocolate Shop, Small in Size, Big on Perfection"
It usually happens as couples are passing by on their way to dinner or as friends walk to the Brady Theater for a show. They stumble across Glacier Confection and wonder why they had never heard of this place. In Tulsa food circles, a lot of people hold claim to being the ones who "discovered" this new chocolate shop. The reaction comes in part because those who know good, quality food can't believe their luck in finding this artisan chocolate shop where just enough small-batch, handmade chocolates are made to satisfy a core group of customers in Tulsa plus select luxury hotels and other chocolate companies.
The man behind Glacier is Bill Copeland, who, while certainly interested in having a profitable business, is much more into fulfilling his passion for chocolate making. ... Read More...
February 11, 2011
"O" MY GOODNESS!
The February issue of O, The Oprah Magazine features Shawn Askinosie and Askinosie Chocolate's Tanzania project. The article focuses on our Cocoa Honors program and the trip that 13 Central High School students took with Shawn last August to visit the woman-led cocoa farmer group in Tanzania. We are humbled by this news and wanted to share it with you all. AVOID THE RUSH, ORDER NOW Considering the sales generated by the magazine article and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, we highly recommend placing your wholesale orders very soon!
Each box of HANSON Gourmet Chocolates is an assortment of 12 Gourmet flavored chocolates, all specially picked by HANSON and made by the Tulsa, OK chocolate company Glacier Confection. The gourmet chocolates come packaged in a specially made box designed with the art of a burning heart from one of the 113 paintings from the Shout it Out album. Each chocolate features the HANSON symbol in white on top with select chocolates having “paint splatter” of color echoing the paint theme of the Shout it Out album.
Chocolate flavors:
2 Ikespresso (Espresso Chocolate)
2 Rock N Roll Raserblade (Raspberry and Dark Chocolate)
2 Hantastic Lime (Key lime Pie and Dark Chocolate)
3 Tayriffic Chocolate (70% Dark Chocolate)
3 Zacalicious Caramel (Milk Chocolate and Caramel)
Folds of Honor Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation.
Lately, I’d been thinking about writing another blog entry about all the progress occurring in downtown Tulsa, which I’ve done in the past. It was one of those things I’ve been meaning to do. However, something happened that struck me so profoundly that I couldn’t wait to write this entry.
Over the weekend, I read about Lyon’s Indian Store moving to the Blue Dome District. I’d seen the sign announcing the move in the window of their new home between 1st and 2nd Street on Detroit. But reading the article, I was struck by one word that was used to describe the Blue Dome District: vibrant. Not too many years ago, that was a word not often associated with downtown Tulsa. Now it’s a word used to describe downtown in the local paper... and it sounds right.
I think this blog entry was meant to be, because walking to work this morning with the Lyon’s news already in my head, I noticed that workers were installing new street signs in the Blue Dome District (pictured above). Yep, that’s a sign. Literally.
There’s been no shortage of exciting news coming out of downtown lately, but the pace seems to be accelerating. Each headline stands on its own, but when all the individual snippets of progress are gathered together in place, one can’t help but feel proud, amazed, and optimistic. So with that, let’s review all the downtown Tulsa progress that has occurred or been announced in the past few months. Get comfortable, there’s a lot:
First, downtown Tulsa now has four districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Brady Historic District was listed in October and the Oil Capital, KATY Railroad, and North Cheyenne Historic Districts were listed just a few weeks ago. In addition to honoring their historic significance, National Register listing makes dozens of downtown Tulsa buildings eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits. These tax credits have provided tens of millions of dollars of financial assistance to Tulsa development projects such as the Mayo Hotel, Atlas Life Courtyard by Marriott, Tribune Lofts, Philtower Lofts, and many more.
Look for one more downtown Tulsa district to be listed in the National Register in 2011 — none other than the Blue Dome District. The nomination is being prepared this spring, with listing likely to occur in the fall.
So let’s stay in the Blue Dome for another paragraph or two and review all the recent happenings. Thanks to an ordinance change last year, several rooftop signs have popped up in the district. There have been several runs held downtown thanks to the opening of Fleet Feet’s Blue Dome location. Perhaps you heard they had a Holiday Parade through the Blue Dome, or maybe you rang in the New Year with fireworks at the district block party. If you attended either event, you saw all the holiday lights strung up downtown thanks to the GLOW campaign.
Two new Blue Dome businesses opened to rave reviews: The MAX Retropub and Fassler Hall. Look for more food and fun in the Blue Dome District soon — opening in the first half of 2011 are Back Alley Blues & BBQ, the Dust Bowl Lounge & Lanes, and Hi! Cupcake, which are all currently under construction. There are also rumors of two more restaurants coming in the former Olsen Coffey Architects offices at 3rd & Elgin and the former MET warehouse at 1st & Detroit. Stay tuned.
Just a few blocks down, the vacant fire station at 4th and Frankfort could soon be the new headquarters for Tulsa Opera. Further south, the old Broadway Poultry Market has been transformed into an urban event space.
Moving through the heart of downtown, the expansion of First Presbyterian Church is moving along nicely, with a three-story steel-framed structure rising up from 7th & Cincinnati. Longtime downtown fixture, The Petroleum Club, announced plans to move to the 41st floor of the First Place Tower in 2011. What is to become of their old space? Rumors are flying around about a local restaurant moving in. Time will tell!
Across the street, the Summit Club pulled a $1.2 million building permit to remodel the 40th and 41st floors of its facilities, following up on the success of their 42nd floor remodel last year. Just a few blocks up 6th Street, keep an eye out for the opening of Plush, a lounge in the former First National Autobank.
Moving over to the Denver Avenue corridor, there should be a flurry of construction throughout 2011, thanks to Brickhugger LLC. The group purchased the former City Hall building and will convert it to an Aloft Hotel, while blocks away the group will convert the vacant YMCA building to a mixed-use residential/retail space.
The BOK Center followed another successful Winterfest (drawing an estimated 120,000 visitors to downtown) with the announcement that the arena ranked 10th in the nation in ticket sales in 2010.
Cranes will soon be in the air on the block across the street from the BOK Center, as One Place LLC announced a 15-story, build-to-suit office tower would be the first project of its planned one-block mixed-use development. Just a few blocks away, Casa Laredo expanded their restaurant to add seating in the front windows, and two downtown institutions celebrate anniversaries in 2011: the Coney Island celebrates its 85th year and the Steakfinger House will turn 30.
Let’s head north across the tracks to the Brady Arts District. Soon, Tulsans will have another way to get there, as bidding and construction on the Boulder Avenue Bridge will (at long last) take place this year. Speaking of infrastructure, just last week crews were installing LED traffic lights and countdown crosswalk signals downtown, which will save money and increase pedestrian safety. And construction on the Inner Dispersal Loop should wrap up, on schedule, in early 2011.
If you think all the construction activity reported above sounds good, wait until you see the Brady Arts District in the coming months. Exciting times ahead! First, the $12 million, 75-unit companion project to the Tribune Lofts, the Metro at Brady Arts District, got underway last week. Across the street, MetroPlains LLC pulled a $9 million building permit for a four-story, 30-unit apartment building at Archer and Boston, tentatively named Brady District Flats. Also breaking ground this year on that square block is the $11 million, four-story Fairfield Inn & Suites announced by SJS Hospitality, who was recently honored by Marriott International for their Atlas Life Building conversion.
Just a block away, construction will begin this month on facilities for Philbrook Musuem and The University of Tulsa in the east half of the Matthews Warehouse. In May, construction will begin on a visual arts center for the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa on the southwest corner of the Matthews block.
It’s easy to see why the Tulsa World would declare that the "Brady District is ready to boom." Featured in that article is a popular new restaurant that opened last fall, Hey Mambo. Also opening recently is Brady Tavern, with its brand-new kitchen easily visible to pedestrians on Brady Street, and Glacier Confection, a gourmet chocolate shop. Patrons of the arts should be well fed.
Also in the Brady District, work continues on the Robinson Packer Lofts for Teach for America housing. The Detroit Lofts opened and work continues on the restaurant and bodega on the ground floor of the building. Just a block to the north, the long-awaited John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park opened to the public.
In just a couple of months, it’ll be baseball season again, and Tulsans can look forward to year two in charming ONEOK Field. Last year, the Tulsa Drillers set an attendance record with over 400,000 fans for the first time in franchise history. This year, the Drillers will play an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies — the first time the Drillers’ parent club has visited Tulsa in 8 years.
It’s taken years of hard work, patience, and investment on the part of hundreds of Tulsans to bring downtown Tulsa to this point. The dream has been to make downtown not only relevant again, but the economic and cultural center of the region. And that’s why it’s fitting that the last piece of news to report is a special event application that appeared on the City Council agenda last week — the Newsome wedding to be held at the Center of the Universe on June 2, 2011.
