Sunday, April 30, 2017

Chocolate-Themed Restaurant & Shop 'The Conche' to Open at The Village at Leesburg, May 2nd

The Conche Dining Room

From our friends at The Conche...

Boutique Restaurant to Offer Creative Sweet & Savory Dishes, Decadent Desserts, Walk-Up Window, Chocolate Shop, Interactive Chocolate Lab, Chocolate-infused Handcrafted Cocktails, Cooking Classes for Kids and Adults & More

Celebrity Chef Santosh Tiptur - a world-renowned pastry chef known for his whimsical sweet and savory culinary creations from award-winning DC-based restaurant and sweet shop Co Co. Sala, including his over-the-top sugar and chocolate sculptures, and numerous appearances on high-profile culinary competition programs on The Food Network (i.e Kid in a Candy Store, Halloween Wars, Sugar Dome, Chefs vs City) - has announced that he will be opening his first solo restaurant venture - The Conche (1605 Village Market Blvd., Suite 108, Leesburg, VA 20175; www.The-Conche.com; 703-779-1800; IG @TheConche_VA) - a new chocolate-centric restaurant and boutique - to the public at The Village at Leesburg on Tuesday, May 2nd beginning with dinner service. Tiptur and team also have plans to announce details on launching happy hour, lunch, brunch, and interactive cooking classes in the near future.

Featuring 2,880 square feet, and seating for up to 76 - with seats for 12 at the bar, and 64 seats throughout the main dining room - The Conche is slated to serve as an interactive chocolate-themed boutique restaurant and shop inviting guests of all ages to engage all of their senses. Tiptur tapped Virginia-based architecture, design, and project management firm Arminco Inc. to handle the aesthetics of the restaurant. Colors and textures in the dining room instantly connect with The Conche’s chocolate-inspired vision boasting textured milk chocolate-colored walls and accents, cozy whipped cream-colored tufted leather banquettes, modern lighting fixtures, and vintage-inspired confection-centric metal posters.


“The Conche is a boutique restaurant designed with one thing in mind: chocolate”, said Zehra Arif, Interior Designer at Arminco Inc. “The name and even the architectural features were inspired by the piece of machinery essential to the traditional chocolate-making process. Our team of designers - including myself, Allison Rasmus, and Alfred Manalang - collaborated to achieve a look that would evoke a rich, luxurious, and intimate feel to compliment the restaurant's theme. The design concept was based on creating a unique dining experience for guests in which they can not only indulge but also experience the chocolate making method in action.”

Executive Chef and Owner Santosh Tiptur

The dining room features a state of the art 300 square foot ‘Chocolate Lab’ located in the center of the room where diners will be able to observe from all angles - through large clear glass windows and on multiple flat screen TV’s dispersed throughout the dining room - as Chef Tiptur and his talented team create an impressive assortment of handcrafted confections and chocolates from scratch and with artisan precision live. The restaurant also features a working conche machine of which Tiptur had custom made for The Conche in Switzerland of which is on display in the front of the dining room greeting guests as they arrive.

Years in the making, it was in 2015 while traveling and researching for the restaurant that Executive Chef and Owner Santosh Tiptur came across a working conche machine while visiting a notable chocolate factory in Switzerland. After learning about the history of the conche machine and how deeply it impacted the ability to produce consistent and quality chocolate, Tiptur instantly felt the connection to its story and purpose and decided to proceed with naming his first chocolate-themed restaurant The Conche after the very invention that literally helped revolutionize the chocolate industry. It was also during this trip to Switzerland that Tiptur was able to fully understand the painstaking process of making chocolate, the importance of sourcing the perfect cocoa beans, and nurturing relationships with the farmers.

“My love affair with sweets began when I first experienced chocolate in my life”, said Santosh Tiptur, Executive Chef and Owner of The Conche. “I remember placing a chocolate candy from Cadbury’s called Cadbury Éclairs into my mouth when I was growing up in India back in the seventies - at a time when there weren’t many different chocolate candies available. As a kid, I had always wondered how delicious candies like this were made, and I dreamed that one day I would be able to learn how to make them myself. And since I began my career in the culinary arts, I have also always dreamed of opening up my own place someday. I came close several times to opening my own pastry shop or restaurant, but for some reason life always seemed to push me in another direction, and here I am with over two decades of experience having worked for some of the most luxurious brands and establishments with so much of exposure and experience. I have had the honor of traveling all over the world working with so many talented chefs and top hospitality leaders, and it’s exciting and almost surreal that it’s finally my time to shine as both the executive chef and owner. I am also so very humbled and honored to be able to share The Conche with everyone in the great state of Virginia, in Loudoun County, and beyond, and especially as a proud resident of Loudoun County myself for almost a decade. I want this to be a place where everyone can gather and enjoy a meal, beautiful chocolates, cooking classes, cocktails and everything in between. We want to welcome all ages, families, friends, couples, guests looking to celebrate all sorts of occasions and milestones, date nights, etc. I’m also thrilled to see more original concepts and artisans stepping up to open their own unique businesses throughout Loudoun County. It’s such an exciting time for small businesses!”

In opening The Conche, Tiptur’s goal is to encourage guests to experience fine chocolates as well as help them understand the sophisticated flavor profiles and the characters including the use of chocolate in a wide variety of savory dishes, desserts, and craft cocktail creations available on the menus. To further elevate the experience, The Conche will be using the multiple flat-screened TV’s throughout the dining room to share footage of the actual plantations that Chef and the restaurant are actually sourcing their high quality cacao beans and ingredients from. When Tiptur designed the menu, his focus was on being able to help the guests understand how delicious dishes are simply by reading the menu, and once their dishes are served, for them to realize how sweet and savory combinations incorporating chocolate truly create the perfect combination. The menu consists of many familiar dishes recreated with a pastry chefs perspective of plating while incorporating various textures and temperatures along with artistic plate presentations.

An interactive experience for all ages, The Conche will showcase an assortment of creative chocolate-infused sweet and savory dishes, desserts, and a signature beverage menu featuring decadent drinks such as Tiptur’s famous frozen hot chocolate, and a variety of chocolate-infused handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant will also offer a playful kids menu including dishes such as Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders, Garlic Butter Fries with Zesty Tomato Dip, Crispy Bacon Mac & Cheese, Aged Cheddar, Fontina & Provolone, and Grilled Cheese, Artisan French Style Country Bread, Sharp Cheddar, Broccoli White Cheddar Soup, to highlight a few.

Sweet and savory dishes from The Conche’s dinner menu include Poke Ahi Tuna, Tapioca Tater Tots with Chocolate Dates and a Tamarind Glaze, Cocoa Nib Crusted Diver Sea Scallops, Cocoa Rubbed NY Strip Steak, Spiced Lamb Flat Bread, to highlight a few. And with desserts always serving as focal point when it comes to master Chef Tiptur - guests will be able to indulge in extravagant signature desserts like the Conche Entremet - a celebration cake consisting of a sour cream dark chocolate cake, Maracaibo chocolate cream, bourbon vanilla bean ice cream, various toppings for textures, warm chocolate fritters, and a large dome of chocolate will be on top and then will be poured with hot chocolate sauce, and caramel sauce.

In addition, Chef Tiptur and team will also be announcing details on launching a variety of interactive chocolate-making classes for both kids and adults, and the restaurant is also excited to welcome those looking to celebrate a wide variety of occasions and milestones including birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate team building events, and The Conche will also be offering one-of-a-kind wine, beer, champagne, and chocolate tasting events open to the public.

The Conche will be open for dinner service 4 PM to 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday, and 4 PM to 10 PM Friday and Saturday. The Conche will also be launching happy hour, lunch, and weekend brunch in the near future. The Conche’s Chocolate Boutique will be open Monday through Sunday from 12 PM to close. Reservations are available and recommended and private events can be booked by calling (703) 779-1800 or (703) 462-3325, or emailing Contact@The-Conche.com.

SPECIAL OPENING DAY OFFER...
To celebrate opening day on Tuesday, May 2nd, The Conche will be offering the first 100 guests a special card, good for one free specialty chocolate drink per month for an entire year!

ABOUT VILLAGE AT LEESBURG:
Village at Leesburg is located along Route 7 at the Crosstrail Boulevard/River Creek Parkway exit in Leesburg, Va.  It includes a roster of more than 75 national, regional and boutique retail shops and restaurants such as Wegmans Food Market, Cobb Village 12 Cinemas, LA Fitness, Atomic Trampoline, Ulta, Orvis, Charming Charlie, Firebirds, Bowlero and Woodhouse Day Spa.  For more information, visit VillageAtLeesburg.com. Rappaport (www.rappaportco.com) provides property management, marketing, asset management and oversees leasing strategy for Village at Leesburg. Melissa Welch of KLNB Retail (www.klnbretail.com) provides retail leasing services for Village at Leesburg.

ABOUT ARMINCO INC.:
Arminco Inc. is a multi-dimensional, all-in-one firm offering architecture, design, and project management. Specializing in commercial spaces, Arminco also provides comprehensive constructions services for clients local to the DC-Maryland-Virginia area. With a variety of in-house staff, including engineers, architects and designers, they provide clients directly with everything from MEP drawings and schematics to detailed floor plans and realistic 3D computer renderings. Arminco focuses on providing clients with extraordinary results, achieved through organized timelines, consistent open communication and creative, efficient budget control. For additional information please visit www.ArmincoInc.com or on social media @armincoinc.

ABOUT RAPPAPORT:
For more than 30 years Rappaport has provided retail leasing, tenant representation, property management, asset management, construction management, development, marketing, consulting and receivership services for retail space in shopping centers and mixed-use properties throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Rappaport’s portfolio includes retail space in urban and suburban locations owned by Rappaport, affiliates and many local and institutional clients. For more information, visit Rappaportco.com.


THE CONCHE MENU
Spring 2017

APPETIZERS


CRISPY CALAMARI
Chocolate Stout Beer Batter, Pickled Fresno Peppers, Green Peppercorn Aioli, Tomato and basil dip $12

AHI TUNA POKE
Avocado Mousse, Ginger Soy Puffed Wild Rice, 64% Chocolate Crisp $14

ROASTED HEIRLOOM BEETS
Herb Goat Cheese baguette, Crispy Quinoa Chocolate Passion Fruit Vinaigrette $9

CHARRED ROMAINE CAESAR SALAD
Tomato Confit, Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders Pumpkin Seed Chocolate Chards $12

CATALAN STYLE GARLIC SHRIMP
Lemon, Shaved Garlic, Pimenton Pepper, Shaved Manchego and Cocoa Crust $16

TAPIOCA TATER TOTS
Chocolate Date Tamarind Glaze, Cucumber, Mango, Mint Lime Yogurt Topped with Crispy Sev $9

FRIES
Aromatic Herbed Parmesan $7
Calabrian Chilly, Roasted Garlic Malt Vinegar Chocolate/ Zesty Tomato Dip

BEEF SLIDER DUO
Sirloin Burger, Braised Short Ribs, Fried Cheese Fritter, Creamed Cheddar Spinach, Chocolate Barbecue Sauce $12


ENTREES


SEARED SCALLOPS
Cocoa Nib Crusted Diver Sea Scallops, Tempura Fried Brussel sprouts, Charred Grapes, Black Bean Puree Pomegranate Reduction $16

SPICED LAMB FLATBREAD
Chermoula Spiced Lamb, Shaved Fennel, Almond Praline Labneh, Rosemary Flatbread $18

AVOCADO FLAT BREAD
Blueberry Arugula Pesto, Diced Avocado, Strawberry Lime Feta Cream with Toasted Sunflower Seeds $12

CALIFLOWER MAC & CHEESE
Corn Crusted Cauliflower, Orecchiette Pasta, Aged Hooks Cheddar, Sage and Brown Butter $9

HERB ROASTED CHICKEN
Half Chicken, Blistered Carrots, Garlic Confit Preserved lemon, Herb Infused Chicken Jus $18

COCOA RUBBED NY STRIP STEAK
Chocolate Burgundy Reduction, Sautéed Broccoli, Goat Cheese Jalapeno Potato Puree $28

RISOTTO
Green peas and Asparagus, Chocolate Covered Pancetta Chips
Carnaroli Rice, Aged Parmesan, $16

CITRUS CRUSTED BLACK COD
Smoked Tomato Puttanesca, Creamy Roasted Garlic Polenta, Lemon Burre Blanc $22


SWEET FINALE


House Made Gelato $6
Coconut Pecan, Mint Chocolate Gelato, Chocolate Hazelnut

SORBETS $6
Black Berry, Strawberry Lime, Alfonzo Mango


DESSERTS


THE CONCHE ENTREMET
Sour Cream Dark Chocolate Cake, Maracaibo Chocolate Cream, Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream $24 Meant for 4-6 People

APPLE PIE CHOUX ALA MODE
Cinnamon Ice Cream, Green Apple Cremeux, Caramel Apple Compote $10

OPALYS
White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse, Almond Joconde Cake, Rose Crème Brûlée, Raspberry Fluid Gel, Mandarin Sorbet $10

MANJARI
Madagascar Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Crème Brûlée, Toasted Marshmallow, Rosemary Salted Caramel Ice Cream $10

JIVARA
Milk Chocolate and Coffee Cremeux, Pepper Caramel Popcorn, Chocolate Brownie, Coffee Meringue, Kahlua Ice Cream $10


KIDS MENU


Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders, Garlic Butter Fries with Zesty Tomato Dip $9

Bocconcini Mozzarella Fritters with Creamy Marinara Sauce $9

Crispy Bacon Mac & Cheese, Aged Cheddar, Fontina & Provolone $9

Grilled Cheese, Artisan French Style Country Bread, Sharp Cheddar, Broccoli White Cheddar Soup $14


SWEET TEMPTATION


Hot or Frozen Cocoa
Muddled Strawberry and White Chocolate $5

Cookies and Cream Milk Chocolate $5

S’mores Dark Chocolate $5

Peanut Butter Banana Whoopie Pie Sundae $8

Monkey Bread Caramel Pecan Sundae $8


BEVERAGE LIST


Cocktails

AMULET $11
Chocolate Vodka, Creme De Cacao, Strawberry Syrup, Strawberry Lemon Foam

THE CONCHE OLD FASHION $11
Bourbon, Simple Syrup, Orange Bitters, Aztec Chocolate Bitters

A NIGHT IN OAXACA $10
Tequila, Mezcal, Spiced Pineapple Syrup, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, Chocolate Mole Bitters

ESCAPADE $11
Dark Rum, Coconut Rum, Creme De Cacao, Banana Syrup, Pineapple Juice

GREEN ROOM $11
Basil and Cucumber infused Gin, Simple Syrup, Lime Juice

IMPULSE $10
Tequila, Jalapeno Pineapple Syrup, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice

BREEZE $11
Vodka, Aperol, Orange Shrub, Simple Syrup, Lemon Juice, topped with Prosecco

UPLIFT $11
Mint infused Bourbon, Blueberry Syrup, Lemon Juice


SPIRITS


Vodka
Grey Goose $11

Ketel One $10

Chopin $10

Tito’s $9

Pearl $8

Gin
Hendrick’s $12

Bombay Sapphire $10

Aviation $9

New Amsterdam $8

Tequila
El Mayor Blanco $9

El Major Reposado $10

El Major Anejo $14

Clase Azul Reposado $30

Del Maguey Vida Mezcal $13

Monte Alban Mezcal $8

Juarez Silver $8

Rum
Appleton Estate $8

Gosling’s Black Seal $8

Captain Morgan $8

Ron Zacapa Centario $15

Leblon Cachaca $9

Bourbon
Blanton’s $19

Basil Hayden’s $13

Woodford Reserve $11

Bulleit $10

Marekrs Mark $10

Jack Daniel’s $9

Rebel Yell $8

Rye
Whistle Pig $23

Michter’s $13

Templeton $13

Old Overholt $9

Scotch
J.W. Black $12

Glenfiddich 12yr $15

Glenlivet 12yr $15

Macallen 12yr $21

Oban 14yr $27

Laphroig 10yr $17

Lagavulin 16yr $34

Whiskey
Seagram’s $8

Jameson $10

Crown Royal $11

Hibiki Harmony $22

Brandy
Hennessy VS $12

Courvoisier VSOP $14

Remy Martin VSOP $16

Grand Marnier $12

Pisco Porton Mosto Verde $12

Aperitif & Digestif
Aperol $9

Campari $9

Fernet Branca $10

Montenegro $11

Averna $12

Chartreuse Green $21

Chartreuse Yellow $21

Absenthe Absinth $15

Romana Sambuca $10

Cordial
Bailey’s $8

Benedictine $12

Frangelico $10

Kahlua $9

Pimm’s No.1 $8

St. Germain $12


WINE LIST


Red Wine
Motto Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 $8 glass/ $32 bottle

Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 $75 bottle

Drumheller Merlot, Coulmbia Valley 2014 $9 glass/ $36 bottle

10 Span Pinot Noir, Central Coast 2015 $10 glass/ $40 bottle

Diora Pinot Noir, Monterey 2015 $75 bottle

Barossa Valley Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2013 $11 glass/ $44 bottle

White Wine & Rose
Chloe Pinot Grigio, Valdadige 2015 $10 glass/ $40 bottle

Michael David Sauvignon Blanc, Lodi 2015 $10 glass/ $40 bottle

Beckon Chardonnay, Central Coast 2015 $10 glass/ $40 bottle

Cuvaison Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2013 $65 bottle

J. Lohr Riesling, Monterey 2015 $8 glass/ $32 bottle

Bieler Pere & Fils Rose, Provence 2016 $9 glass/ $36 bottle

Champagne & Sparkling
 Maschio Brut Prosecco, Veneto N.V. $9 glass/ $36 bottle

Marquis De La Tour Brut Rose, Loire Valley N.V.  $8/ $32 glass

Rosa Regale Brachetto, Banfi N.V. $12 glass/ $48 bottle

Nicholas Feuillate Brut Reserve, Champagne N.V. $18 glass/ $72 bottle 

Moet Et Chandon Brut Imperial N.V. $140 bottle

Dessert Wines & Ports
 7 Moons Sweet Red, California $8 glass/ $32 bottle

Pacific Rim Framboise, Washington $ 13 glass/ $52 bottle

Terra D’Oro Zinfandel Port $ 12 glass/ $48 bottle

Taylor Fladgate 10yr Tawny Port $13 glass/ $52 bottle

Ramos Pintos Ruby Port $9 glass/ $36 bottle

Cider
Angry Orchard, The Old Fashioned $5

Beer
Old Bust Head, Chukker Pilsner $6

3Stars, Peppercorn Saison $6

Heritage Brewing, American Expedition Wheat Ale $6

Lagunitas, Imperial Pale Ale $6

Atlas Brew Works, Rowdy Rye Ale $6

DC Brau, Penn Quarter Porter $6

Non-Alcoholic Beverage List
Coffee - French Press

La Colombe Nizza Blend $6

La Colombe Monte Carlo Blend $6

La Colombe Monaco Blend $6

La Colombe Colombian San Roque Blend $6

La Colombe Ethiopian YirgZ Blend $6

Espresso
Espresso Single Shot $2.50

Espresso Double Shot $4

Latte $4.50

Cappuccino $4.50

Americano $3

Tea - French Press
Tea Source Earl Grey, Black Tea $5

Tea Source Chocolate Cream, Black Tea $5

Tea Source White Puer, Puer Tea $5

Tea Source Oolong, Oolong Tea $5

Tea Source Blooming Green Tea, Green Tea $5

Tea Source White Peony, White Tea $5

Tea Source Hibiscus, Herbal Tea $5

Hot & Frozen Coco
Dark $6

Milk $6

White $6

Salted Caramel $6