Cerreta Chocolate Factory

As one of the weekly ThunderKids activities we had the opportunity to tour the Cerreta Chocolate Factory in historic downtown Glendale. It was a blast. Cerreta Fine Chocolates is a family owned and operated company that was founded 40 yrs ago by Jim Cerreta Sr. Now 4 generations of Cerretas work there. Mr. Cerreta's 4 sons are each in charge of their own areas. Jim Jr. is in charge of Carmel operation, Joe overseas cream centers, Jerry is the chocolate man, and Joner runs sales and the web site. Even the wives get into the act. Joe’s wife Marisa gives daily tours to the public, and her enthusiasm is contagious! In the summer, the grand kids also work in the factory representing 4 generations of the Cerreta family. When you first walk in you are greeted by yummy smells. They let us walk through part of the factory to see how the Carmel's are made and then also a line of white chocolate covered pretzels. The kids loved watching the pretzels go under the white chocolate waterfall. Then we each got to taste one right off the line. The tour guide told us all about how the factory got started and how much of the machinery works. She showed us all sorts of different specialty items that they make... anything and everything you could possibly think of could be turned into chocolate with the right mold. She showed us a solid Chocolate Santa Claus that was 500lbs of chocolate. If you tried to eat him 3 oz. at a time it would take you over 2 1/2 years to finish. She explained how the cream centers are made and then let us taste one of those and then the kids got to do a fun project. They made eggs n' bacon out of chocolate, yellow m&m's and stick pretzels. So fun! The kids had a blast. After the tour the IWFC club paid for everyone to pick out a handful of candies. Brooke was in heaven.

We did this on Wed. morning but because the tour started at 10AM Jace wasn't able to go because he was still in school. I thought it was great so we came back as a family yesterday so Jace and Craig could see it too. This time they had white chocolate covered marshmallows dipped in crushed candy cane. YUM! They didn't get to make a project but it was still so fun. Jace loved it.

Keep this in mind. If you ever come visit us we will most definitely take you on a tour of the Cerreta Chocolate Factory. Tempting, huh! If that isn't enough how about our 75 - 80 degree weather we're having right now. I know you want to come visit.... so do it! :)  Although, if you just can't make it you can always do a virtual tour online at cerreta.com.  I think I may have just become a walking Cerreta advertisement.

Mr. Cerreta himself dipping marshmallows for us to taste.

WE LOVE CHOCOLATE!!

 The solid 500lb. Chocolate Santa.  The kids thought he was pretty cool.  They thought the tour guide should take a bite of him just to make sure he was real chocolate.  When she said "no" they all volunteered.



With ThunderKids on Wed.  The kids liked being up close.



Brooke's eggs n' bacon creation.  Isn't it cute! 

The kids making their chocolate creations.  April with chocolate covered Bryce. :)

Picking out chocolates on the IWFC club's tab.  YUM!!

Tiffany Larson with her kids.  She's in charge of ThunderKids and she's doing a great job.  This was such a fun activity.  Brooke picked out a pink chocolate.