Chocolate 101 Workshop Featuring Brendan Platts
Who We Are
Soldiers of Creation is a gender inclusive social enterprise that focuses on providing a safe space for survivors and supporters of sexual assault to connect, reclaim their voice and empower each other. We aim to introduce survivors and allies dealing with trauma caused by sexual assault to alternative methods of healing.
Workshop Details
On Saturday August 22nd (12 PM) and Tuesday August 25th (7:30 PM), Soldiers of Creation partnered up with Toronto pastry chef Brendan Platts for an online ‘Chocolate 101’ Workshop on Zoom. The workshops, which ran for approximately 2.5h-3h, were hosted by SOC team members Cynthia Yeh (Event Ops Manager) and Amy Finkelstein (Founder). Music Therapist, Priya, and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Kerri, joined as the workshops’ Active Listeners for Saturday and Tuesday, respectively. When trauma anxieties come up, having a sense of control can help survivors and allies alike feel grounded and bring them back to the present - following a recipe step by step can help with that process. We wanted attendees to realize that rather than something of anxiety, baking (or cooking) can be a therapeutic tool for healing. Also, chocolate has many health benefits!
Photos source: @brenplatts
The Easiest Brownie
Chocolate Bark Sample 1
Chocolate Bark Sample 2
Workshop Summary
The week leading up to the workshops, Brendan put together some goodies for all Toronto attendees, which included samples of the chocolate they would be making in the workshop (pictured above) as well as pre-measured ingredients. These chocolate care kits were picked up at his café, French Made.
As per usual, the workshops began with introductions from the SOC team and the Active Listeners, Priya (Saturday) and Kerri (Tuesday). Brendan started off his portion of the workshop with ‘The Easiest Brownies’ and ‘Spicy Drinking Hot Chocolate’; as they were put in the oven and stovetop to bake and simmer, respectively, he went into the main course of the workshop: chocolate tempering. Attendees found themselves stirring the chocolate to what may have seemed to be eternity for some or an arm workout for others, but eventually were able to taste the fruits of their labours with customized ‘Dark Chocolate Bark’ and ‘Milk Chocolate Crispy Squares’ filled with their favourite toppings: we saw nuts, chia seeds, tea leaves, goji berries, and more! During the chocolate tempering process, Brendan took the opportunity to speak about the properties of chocolate and what tempering does to them, as well as answered any questions attendees had and virtually assisted them with their tempering.
On Saturday afternoon, Priya led attendees in a Music Therapy fill-in-the-blank songwriting activity and wrapped up the conversation with a relaxing listening activity (Spiegel im Spiegel, by Arvo Pärt). Kerri took Tuesday evening’s attendees on two self-love visualization journeys for her opening and closing activities.
Following the workshops, attendees were sent a video recording of the chocolate portion, as well as additional recipes and tips/resources from Brendan. And of course, an SOC Digital Care Kit (see below) as a memoir of their workshop experience.
Workshop Partners
Facilitator: Brendan Platts (Pastry Chef)
Photo provided to Soldiers of Creation by Brendan Platts
About Brendan:
Brendan is just a small town boy living in a lonely COVID-19 world - born in Elmvale, ON (Population: 1200) and moved to Toronto to pursue cooking dreams. Since starting out in 2007, he has worked at a number of the best pastries shops in the city, including: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Forno Cultura, The Drake Commissary & XOCOCAVA / Cava Restaurant - as well as opening the TIFF Lightbox. He’s now putting together a dream team for the Bisha Hotel, and their little patisserie, French Made.
He enjoys sour patch kids, air high-fives and immediately removing his socks when arriving home.
Active Listener (Saturday): Priya Shah, RP, MTA, MMT
Photo provided to Soldiers of Creation by Priya Shah
About Priya:
Priya Shah is a certified music therapist and registered psychotherapist based in Toronto. She currently works with a diverse set of people in private practice, mental health, long-term care, and hospice settings, supporting clients dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, grief, existential distress, and identity development. Her approach to therapy is person-centred, anti-oppressive, resource-oriented, and strengths-based. Priya facilitates individual and group sessions online as well as in-person at the Toronto Healing Arts Centre.
Follow Priya on Instagram: @ps.musictherapy
Active Listener (Tuesday): Kerri Kimoto, RP (Q)
Photo provided to Soldiers of Creation by Kerri Kimoto
About Kerri:
I am a true believer in the human capacity to adapt, grow, and in the fact that it is possible to find genuine joy and happiness. I also know that that life is rife with adversity and that walking alone through challenge can push us to what feels like our limits. It is often in these moments that individuals choose to seek professional counselling supports and I know that this process can feel scary and overwhelming. With that, I would like to commend you on taking the first steps toward beginning your journey.
If you feel I may be a fit for you to talk with, my non-judgmental approach to practice is centered around compassion and the development of an open and trusting therapeutic relationship. I have a strong interest in helping folks find self-acceptance, inner peace, and to gently discover their own authentic interests and needs.
Our work together will be informed by what you want, who you are, and the effort you feel comfortable putting in. If it feels right for you, I believe together we can make some positive changes!
Workshop Highlights
Learning the science behind chocolate 🍫
Seeing attendees’ chocolate creations 👌
Chocolate goodies from Brendan 😱
What we learned:
Chocolate is unstable and very sensitive to the environment - a hot kitchen = having to work in a freezer
Tempering chocolate by hand takes a long time - it really made us appreciate more all the fine chocolate desserts and goodies out there!
Tempering chocolate is a lifelong process full of trial and error - one never TRULY masters the art
Digital Care Kit
After every SOC workshop, attendees are sent a Digital Care Kit filled with information and wellness resources. Each attendee received a personalized message from Cynthia or Amy, and Priya and Kerri shared some self-care tips and resources they like to use with themselves or their clients. We also provided everyone with some resources from our directory that are currently offering free resources on their Instagram pages during the pandemic: Jenni Diamond (@jd.personaltraining) and Anamaya Wellness (@anamayawellness). Businesses LISA NOTO and Tyger Tyger provided attendees with generous discounts off their products.
Here is a sample of the Digital Care Kit:
