Professor Chocolate

When I think of chocolate in Europe, I think of France, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland.  When I think of chocolate in the United States, two cities on opposite sides of the country beckon me… New York City and San Francisco.  Two chocolate meccas on two different coasts, in two very different cities.  Professor Chocolate has made traveling to New York City to find the best chocolate the most easiest task on your “to do” list.  You will find all of the answers in their book The Ultimate Guide to Finding Chocolate in NYC (New York City) which is available on Amazon.com.  By the way, Professor Chocolate is made up of a team of two men who worship chocolate as much as yours truly.  Their names?  Rob Monahan and Neill Alleva.  You may remember seeing the video I posted not to long ago with Ron and his adorable little boy Sam perusing some of NYC’s local chocolate shops.  I have included that video in case you missed it the first time.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding Chocolate in NYC

Back to the book…The Ultimate Guide to Finding Chocolate in NYC.  I actually found a lot of new chocolate shops in this book that were new to me.  You have to remember that first of all, not everyone has a website and second, shops may be more known for something other than chocolate even though their chocolate is stellar.  Gasp.  I know.  But it’s true.

Rhonda Kave (center) started a chocolate biz after pursuits that included raising kids Corwin and Allison. (Photo Courtesy The New York Post)

The guide is a superb gift for all of us chocovores!  We start out with directions from the Chocolate Professors.  You know how I love directions.  Sometimes it’s nice to get lost in the moment and wander around finding things.  Other times it’s nice to have someone show you right where everything is located.  The guide is divided between the distinctive neighborhoods that makes NYC.  In this case, eleven neighborhoods.  The guide includes something significant about each neighborhood, you get a listing of how long the chocolate tour will take both in mileage, in time spent and how many chocolate stops that you will be making.  Each section after that has a more detailed map of the area around the chocolate shop and some other local spots to check out.  For those of us that like immediate gratification, Professor Chocolate will tell you what their favorites are so you can just go buy and then enjoy savoring your chocolates while you read in your hotel room.  My book is already highlighted and dog eared ready for the trip…

FIKA Pearl Street

In each section, the chocolatier and chocolate used are specified as well as icons for more help, again for those with immediate gratification in mind.  Even more important, Professor Chocolate highlights chocolate shop hours and how to get there via subway. Once you have enjoyed your chocolates, you may record your truffles and bonbons, bars and barks, and drinks or anything else chocolate that the shop might offer on a star rating system.  Homework!

New shops I found… Evelyn’s, FIKA (I’m moving in there), Bond Street Chocolates, Roni-Sue’s, Stogo (ice cream and chocolate!), Black Hound, Three Tarts, Nunu, Brooklyn Flea and Blue Apron Foods.  (FYI – Professor Chocolate just held a book signing at Three Tarts.) I guess I need to get out more.  I plan on a personal chocolate tour of NYC once winter breaks.  I’m taking my camera along so that you may enjoy it almost as much as I will.  Almost, because I’ll be tasting too!

So don’t miss this book!  It’s complete, user friendly, fun and chock full of chocolate goodness!  As the Professors Chocolate say… “Let the journey be the reward.” You may follow Professor Chocolate on Facebook, Twitter or on their website Professor Chocolate.  Click here to buy The Ultimate Guide to Finding Chocolate in New York City on Amazon.com.

Annmarie Kostyk

Join food blogger Hillary Davis on a fantastic trip to the largest chocolate show in the world – Salon du Chocolate which is held in Paris every year.  Hillary sure look like she enjoyed the Salon du Chocolat!  Follow Hillary’s blog Marche Dimanche!  You may also  follow Hillary on Facebook and Twitter.

Professor Chocolate and son (he is so cute!) walk one of the their guided tours from the lower Manhattan book. This tour takes place in the Flatiron section of New York City. The only location that is excluded is Chocolat Moderne…which can be visited on one of our New York City tours. It is one of the most secretive chocolate factories in the city! Read more about Professor Chocolate on his website at Professor Chocolate! On Twitter and on Facebook too!

Go pen Salon du Chocolat on your calender for next year or maybe you would prefer to attend one of the other events throughout the world.  For your New York City tour, the Chocolate Professor gives tours all year!

Annmarie Kostyk

The Swiss are known for their chocolate.  Most every chocolate lover around the world knows the names of Cailler, Toblerone and Lindt.  I thought I would bring you some of the chocolate shops on my list of places to visit in the near future so that you can enjoy and plan too!  Today we are venturing to Bern, Switzerland.

Our first stop is the city of Bern.  Bern is the capital of Switzerland producing chocolate makers both world known and the intimate.  How do I know this?  I read a lot and watch a lot of travel shows!  The top three chocolate makers on my list in Bern are Confiserie Tschirren, Confiserie Beeler and Eichenberger.

Confiserie Tschirren's Truffle Apricot

Confiserie Tschirren is a quaint little chocolate shop located on Kramgasse.  The building Confiserie Tschirren is  of a simple design.  The outside is brown and wooden.  The inside is a different story.  Chocolates and

Confiserie Tschirren's Truffle Prune

confections fill the walls of the little shop from top to bottom.  A child in an adult body, such as myself, would not know what to do in here.  Where to start?  Even more precious?  The owners are third generation chocolate makers named Hans and Gisella.  I am anxious to try the Truffle Apricot and the Truffle Prune!  To get a translated website in English, type in Confiserie Tschirren in the search box.

I hope you didn’t fill up on chocolate and Confiserie Tschirren.  I should have told you to sample a few and get a box to take home.  Now you know!  Our next stop is Confiserie Beeler.  Confiserie Beeler is a fairly new chocolate shop at 30 years of age.  You’re only as young as you feel!  They also make both chocolates and confections in small batches.  Confiserie Beeler is a bit sleeker in design since she is the new kid on the block.  Think bright, light and high-tech.  I’m going to go for the  Nougat Montelimar.  I adore nougat – yes, I know it’s not chocolate, but I have had chocolate covered nougat before and it is fabulous.  In chocolate, my selections are the big box of Petits Fours, the Grand Cru Maracaibo 65% Dark Chocolate Bar and the Hedgehogs (I think that’s what they are…wasn’t patient enough for Google to do its work!) just because they are so cute!  Add a Panettone for my mom and a St. Honore Tart for my dad and I’m done.  Again, this site is in German, but Google will translate it for you!  You have to love Google!

Eichenberger Truffle Box

Last on on trip, my arms are getting a bit tired from carrying all of these shopping bags… We are heading over to Eichenberger.  Eichenberger is a choclate maker that has been around for 140 years.  It started out as one of the first tea rooms in Bern.  The shop was started by Eduard Friedrich Durheim who passed the business on and so on for the next

Eichenberger's Les Creations

few generations until the chocolate shop was sold to Daniel Eichenberger in 1959.  Eichenberger is known primarily for their pastries, most notably his Haselnusslebkuchen, but that hasn’t stopped us before.  We’ll try everything!  Remember what I said, always try everything twice – just to make sure.  Chocolate is chocolate, after all.  Eichenberger has a nice selection of chocolates and confections as well.  I’m going for variety here.  One 2 Kilo Haselnusslebkuchen, a box of assorted chocolate truffles and a box of assorted chocolate pralines (in the United States known simply as chocolates or bonbons).

Eichenberger's 2 Kilo Haselnusslebkuchen

Next post…we’re heading over to Geneva.  In the meantime, enjoy your chocolates!

It’s that time of year again!  The United Kingdom’s Chocolate Week 2010 is just around the corner.  Here’s lots of information for you if you won’t be able to attend or how to plan if you are able to go.  The UK’s biggest chocolate celebration is now only 2 weeks away! hey everyone…it’s London’s Chocolate Week!  Click here to learn more!

There’s lots of events listed on the new and improved website and there’s plenty more to come as the week approaches, talks, tastings, demonstrations, sampling, chocolate desserts, cocktails, sculptures, recipes and a chocolate quiz.

Chocolate Trade Conference Speakers

Academy of Chocolate

If you own a chocolate business, are interested in starting one, or simply want to find out more about the chocolate industry, then attend the Academy of Chocolate trade conference taking place just ahead of Chocolate Week.

The one day event on 8th October has an impressive line-up of speakers, including Craig Sams of Green & Blacks, Chantal Coady of Rococo Chocolates, Angus Thirlwell of Hotel Chocolat, Anne Weyns of Artisan du Chocolat, Sophi Tranchell of Divine Chocolate, William Curley, Paul A Young and Keith Hurdman of Thorntons.

Seminars include talks on sustainability, cacao genetics, chocolate tastings, creating flavor combinations, the future of the chocolate industry, fair trade and much more.  For more info and to book, visit www.academyofchocolate.org.uk

William Curley at Claridge’s

William Curley is hosting afternoon tea at Claridge’s in Mayfair, the home to London’s iconic afternoon tea. William Curley will be setting up shop at Claridge’s creating his signature chocolate mousses and pastries which will become part of the hotel’s famous Afternoon Tea menu. On Friday 15th October and Sunday 17th October, William and his team will be hosting two Chocolate Master Classes, one dedicated to the art of Truffle making and the other to Sea Salt Caramels.

William Curley

Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate's New 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar

Divine Chocolate has supported Chocolate Week since the beginning and have been a proud sponsor of the week since it was created. Divine Chocolate is launching their new 85% dark chocolate bar during the week and have teamed up with top chefs who have created deeply, darkly Divine Chocolate recipes with their new 85% dark chocolate bar.

Tom Aikens has created a Divine Chocolate Fudge Cake, Gregg Wallace offers up a chocolate pots recipe, Harriet Eastwood has made Beetroot Brownies and Lily Vanilli has cooked up some Devil’s Delight Divine Cupcakes.

Divine Chocolate has also joined forces with Richard Bertinet of Bertinet’s Kitchen in Bath who will be offering Masterclasses throughout the week. There are so many activities, there’s not enough space here to mention them all so check out Divine’s website.

Divine Chocolate

New Participants for 2010

The Chocolate Tree Chocolate Bars

Chocolate Week is becoming a truly national event with chocolate shops around the country taking part. We’re delighted that Betty’s of Harrogate are involved. For over 90 years Betty’s have been hand-crafting their chocolates and will be running meet the chocolatier events in their branches throughout the week. They’re also offering a special competition to win a VIP chocolate experience.

Iain Burnett The Highland Chocolatier

The Queens Head in Worcestershire will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for rolling the world’s largest truffle on Sunday 10th October, Pembertons Chocolate Farm in Wales will be offering tastings and demonstrations throughout the week and in Scotland, The Chocolate Tree in Edinburgh and Ian Burnett, The Highland Chocolatier in Perthshire will be holding events.

And a recipe from Divine Chocolate…

Hot Chocolate Coffee Souffle

Serves 4

Ingredients:
3 bars of 45g Divine 70% Dark Chocolate
125ml strong black Fairtrade coffee
3 large free range eggs seperated plus 2 eggs whites
2 tablespoons of brandy
3 tablespoons Fairtrade caster sugar
Fairtrade icing sugar for dusting
1.25ml souffle dish or 4 x 300ml souffle dishes or oven-proof large coffee cups, a baking tray

Directions:
Brush the inside of the soufflé dish or dishes with melted butter, and sprinkle with caster sugar. Set on a baking tray. Break up the chocolate and put into a heavy-based pan with the coffee. Set over a low heat and stir with a wooden spoon, until melted. Take the pan off the heat and beat the three egg yolks into the hot mixture so they cook and thicken it. Stir in the brandy. The soufflé can be covered and kept at a cool room temperature for up to an hour at this point. Half an hour before serving, heat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7.

Put the five egg whites into the food mixer and whip until stiff. Add the caster sugar and beat 20 seconds longer or until the mixture looks glossy. Gently heat the chocolate mixture until just hot to the touch then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in about a quarter of the whites just to loosen the mixture then add this mixture to the whites and carefully fold them together.

Spoon into the prepared dish (or dishes) and bake at once in the heated oven allowing 12–15 minutes for the large soufflé or 7–9 minutes for the smaller ones – the mixture should still be wobbly in the centre. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve immediately.

Divine Chocolate's Hot Chocolate Souffle

Today we welcome Jeff Deasy of American Feast as Guest Blogger! He’s going to tell you about Theo Chocolate.

Theo Chocolate Bon Bons and Bars

Founder and CEO of Seattle’s Theo Chocolate, Joseph Whinney, witnessed the effects of unfair, unsustainable cocoa trading as a conservation volunteer in Central America. That experience led him to pioneer the manufacture and supply of organic chocolate products as the first individual to import organic cocoa beans into North America in 1994. Over a decade later, Theo is proud to be the first to roast organic cocoa beans and the first roaster of Fair Trade certified cocoa beans in the United States.

Theo Chocolate Factory

Food and Wine Magazine honored Theo with an Eco-Epicurean Award for making the world “a better — and more delicious — place.” Theo also won “Outstanding Chocolate” at the NASFT Fancy Food Show in New York City.

Eco-entrepreneurs deserve kudos for the risks they take to start up companies that strive for sustainability. Joe Whinney of Theo Chocolate is among the most deserving, so it’s quite fitting that the popular environmental news site Grist named him one of its top 15 green business founders.

Theo Chocolate Factory

All of Theo’s ingredients are carefully selected to ensure they meet the company’s high standards for social and environmental responsibility. As true chocolate makers, they carefully steward cacao (cocoa beans) through the process of roasting, blending and conching in order to coax out the distinctive flavor imparted by each unique growing region. Theo’s production is guided by their passion for chocolate and their ultimate goal is to lead the industry with the excellence and integrity of their offerings.

The company is located in a beautiful, historic building in Seattle, Washington. They welcome visitors for tours of the chocolate factory at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, seven days a week, with additional tours at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The cost is just $6.00 per person. You can reserve a place on the tour by calling 206-632-5100. Tours last about 1 hour and include a thorough explanation of artisanal chocolate making and delicious samples! Theo’s factory is in the Fremont district of north Seattle at the intersection of Phinney Avenue North and 35th Avenue North.

To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook

To follow American Feast’s Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter



The 2010 World Pastry Forum has begun! The event runs from June 30 – July 4, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona.  The World Pastry Team Championship happens on July 5-6!  This event is for students and professional from all over the world.  There are demonstration classes and hands on classes all day everyday.  Lots of eating pastries, breads and chocolates, of course, but this is a way for those in the pastry world to network and hone their craft.  I have provide some gorgeous photos and a video from the first day with more to come in the world of pastry, bread and chocolate.

World Pastry Forum Desserts

Here’s a run down of the classes at the World Pastry Forum:

DEMO CLASS TRACK

HANDS-ON TRACK

Chef Wressell's Bon Bon Class

World Pastry Forum Plated Dessert

World Pastry Forum Chocolates

World Pastry Forum Samples!

Debauve and Gallais

With summer just around the corner and people making their summer vacations plans, there’s always a lucky group who get to travel to the city of lights – Paris.  Paris is home to both fashion and food.  It is really known for it’s chocolate shops too!  At last count, the city of Paris was noted as having

Jacques Genin Eating One of His Chocolate Eclairs

more than 100 chocolate shops to visit. I know that seems like a lot, but you have to keep in mind a number of things.  First off, a lot of those chocolate shops have been around forever and only Parisians know about them.  They have no website and often no clear markings.  They don’t advertise.  You may get super lost finding them.  Second, all of the chocolate shops in Paris cannot make and sell good chocolate.  I know that’s hard to grasp, but it’s true.  The chocolate shops vary in location, length of time in business, quality of chocolate and name recognition, just to cover the basics.  The ones that I’m going to share with you are hands down the best the city has to offer.

John-Paul Hevin

The best known chocolate shops feature work done by artisan craftsman using the best, high-quality and natural ingredients on the market.  They know what type of chocolate they produce is a reflection on them.  They would rather be the best and be a bit more expensive than sell lower quality chocolate.  It’s not all quality either.  These Parisian chocolatiers also make sure their work reflects years of apprenticeship and study too.  The chocolates are works of art to be beheld and enjoyed.  The

Patrice Chapon Pure Origin Chocolate

best chocolate shops will look expensive and opulent from both inside and out.  You may feel like you walked into a couture shop of a famous designer.  Well, you have.  There’s lots to buy in these chocolate shops including bon bons, confections, chocolate bars and some also offer pastries and beverages.  When you enter the shop, make sure you great the salespeople.  It’s the French way and they appreciate it.  The French also only help you if you ask for it, but once you ask them to explain the chocolates  to you they are more than happy to oblige and you may find yourself lost in conversation!  Many of these

Patrick Roger-The Chocolatier

shops now offer lunch as well.  If you have limited time, you’ll find that both the 6th and 7th arrondissements have lots of chocolate shops.  You’ll be happy there.  Enjoy and don’t forget to bring some home.

Some of the best chocolate shops in Paris that you must go visit include:
Jean-Paul Hevin, 231 rue Saint-Honore, 1st arrondissement
Pierre Marcolini, 89 rue de Seine, 6th arrondissement
Jean-Charles Rochoux, 16 rue d’Assas, 6th arrondissement
Patrick Roger, 108 boulevard Saint-Germaine, 6th arrondissement
Patrice Chapon, 69 rue du Bac, 7th arrondissement
Michel Chaudun, 149 rue de l’Universite, 7th arrondissement
Debauve & Gallais, 30 rue des Saint-Peres, 7th arrondissement
La Maison du Chocolat, 225 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, 8th arrondissement
Jacques Genin, 18 rue Saint-Charles, 15th arrondissement

Artisan du Chocolat Orchid & Orange Blossom Bar

This is an exciting weekend in London, England!  Friday, May 7 through Sunday May 9 marks the Real Food Festival which is combination of a farm market, food producers, food event, concert, educational venture and shopping and tasting experience all wrapped into one event.  The best part?  It’s promoting local artisans, sustainable ways of life and the freshest food you’ve ever had.  The really amazing part?  There was a need for an entire area to be devoted to chocolate!  It’s called Chocolate Unwrapped!

Auberge du Chocolate

Guess what?  The chocolatiers are from all over the world!  Even Shawn Askinosie from the United States who buys his chocolate right from the cacao growers  will be there bringing Londoners his fantastic bean to bar chocolate bars!  Of course, you can buy those online too!  You don’t have to go to London!  Some of the other fantastic chocolatiers who will be participating include Artisan du Chocolat, William Curley, Paul Wayne Gregory, Thorntons, Ooh La La, Co Couture, Lauden, Original Beans, Auberge du Chocolat, The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, Duffy Sheardown and Chocoholly.   Wow!  What a group.  It’s like the Woodstock of chocolate!  You can learn about chocolate too!  There will be lectures given by William Curley, Gerard Coleman from Artisan du Chocolat, Paul A Young, Sara Jayne Stanes and Keith Hurdman who is head chocolatier at Thorntons.

ChocoHolly

Some things you won’t want to miss (and why would you leave?)…Artisan British chocolate producer Duffy Sheardown launches his chocolate at Real Food Festival Chocolate Unwrapped. Duffy joins Willie Harcourt-Cooze as one of only two chocolate producers in the UK.  You will be some of the first people in the WORLD to try his wonderful chocolate for the very first time.  Paul Wayne Gregory launches his sea salted caramel lollipops at the show. They’ve already

Co Couture Truffles

won acclaim from The Observer’s Jay Rayner.  Sea salt and caramel together?  Come and try them for yourself!  You really can’t go wrong with sweet, salted and buttery in one taste. Seek out rare truffles.  What?  Truffles.  No, those aren’t in the Chocolate Unwrapped area!  What?  Rare chocolate truffles.  Oh yes they are!  Available only at The Real Food Festival try Original Beans and Sun Trigg of Lauden Chocolates, the UK’s leading female chocolatier, who have collaborated to develop the first series of

Lauden Chocolates

truffles using Original Bean’s Piura 75% couverture made from an exceptional white criollo bean discovered in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. I didn’t even know there was such a thing.  I’ve got to get out more! I have to say that I am EXTREMELY jealous of who gets to try these little priceless jewels.  Since 2008, Original Beans has brought this cocoa variety back from the brink of extinction.  Hard work and dedication from them brings us a mind blowing experience.  Worth the flight across the pond, I’m sure!

Original Beans Chocolate Bars

William Curley Chocolate Pastry

The Real Food Festival have generously offered chocolate week newsletter subscribers a discounted advance ticket offer: £7.50 for standard tickets (normal price £9.50) or £13 for VIP tickets. I’m passing this infomation on to you since I cannot attend.  Visit www.realfoodfestival.co.uk, click on the ‘Buy Tickets’ button and enter the code CHOCUN to book your discounted tickets.  If you can go, please go and then tell me all about it.  Take photos if you can!  I’ll post them.  I promise!

Six times a year, throughout the world, something interesting happens.  It’s called Chocolate Show and it happens in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow, Cairo and Shanghai.  What exactly happens?  Something that the mind cannot even fathom.  It’s the melding of chocolate and fashion.  Where a designer is matched up with a pastry chef or chocolatier to create couture fashion made only out of chocolate.  The make up of choice?  Chocolate.  The “tanner” of choice?  Chocolate.  Can you eat the exquisite couture designs when this chocolate fashion show is over?  That, I’m not so sure about…
Let me now tell you a bit more about the shows.  Founded in 1997,  Sylvie Douce and François Jeantet, two French entrepreneurs with a great passion for chocolate,  decided to make something special happen in the world of chocolate.   They conceived the brilliant and delicious idea of staging a chocolate show for the public and the Salon du Chocolat was born in Paris.  Based on the enthusiastic responses of Americans visiting the Paris Chocolate Show, Sylvie and François chose New York, the food capital of the United States as the site for their next Chocolate Show. In 1998, the first Chocolate Show was held on Thanksgiving weekend at the Puck Building in New York City. The second Chocolate Show moved to the Metropolitan Pavilion in 1999 to accommodate more visitors and exhibitors.  It was quickly embraced by New Yorkers as one of its favorite shows, and has become the largest and one of the most popular events devoted to chocolate in United States.   In its first year, the Salon welcomed 40,000 people.  Each year since, the show has increased in popularity, reaching 100,000 last October over four days.  The Chocolate Show also made its debut in Japan in 2000 with others cities to follow including Beijing, Moscow, Shanghai and Cairo.

The first show of the year already happened in Cairo, Egypt where I have to wonder, why Cairo?  It’s pretty warm in Cairo.  How does the chocolate stay happy and intact?  As you know, chocolate doesn’t care for either heat or humidity.  You can plan an adventure later on this year, because there are still five upcoming shows, namely Paris, FRANCE: October 28 – November 1, 2010; New York, USA: November 11-14, 2010; Madrid, SPAIN: November 26-28, 2010; Shanghai, CHINA: January 21-23, 2011 and JAPAN: January- 25 February 14, 2011.  There has to be one you could squeeze in, right?  I, myself, haven’t yet been to one.  I plan on going this year to either the New York or Paris shows.  Both would be fun!  Why one of those?  Fashions meccas of the world people.  And Paris, do you know there are over 100 chocolate shops in Paris alone?  Hello?

What should you expect when you attend a Chocolate Show?  Well…a show!  Expect a long weekend of events for one all inclusive fee.  There is, of course, the chocolate fashion show that is a must attend.  The fashion show is, however, considered an event in itself and you have to pay for that separately.  When you attend the Chocolate Show, expect such things as tasting anything chocolate that you can imagine, an entire area completely devoted to chocolate beauty products that you actually get to try, lots of cooking demos and a kids area to learn more than you could ever teach them on your own about chocolate.  So it’s not only delicious, but it’s educational too.  The smell?  I can’t even imgaine how heavenly it smells.  So far for the New York Chocolate Show, there are 65 chocolate vendors registered to provide you with chocolate sensations with I’m sure more to register.

Just because you have to check out what the fashion show looks like.  I posted one below.  Which Chocolate Show will you attend this year?  You really can make it into an entire vacation!  Hope you enjoy them!  Have your dark chocolate bar ready?  Okay, now click to play both of my favorites!  Seriously, the “clothes” are all chocolate!

Looking for something to do over Mother’s Day weekend or even Memorial Day weekend?  Go to a chocolate festival!  There’s even some in between!  Check out these great chocolate festivals that keep getting bigger and bigger.  They must be on to something!  I wonder what?

Colorado Chocolate Festival, May 7 – 8, 2010

Denver Merchandise Mart, Preview Gala, Friday May 7th, 6-10 pm: $12 Regular Show, Saturday May 8th, 10 am – 6 pm: $7, Kids age 5 – 12: $3 (under age 5: FREE!)

“Like chocolate? Then you’ll love the Colorado Chocolate Festival, which turns Mother’s Day weekend into one long, miasmic cacao high, as hopped-up chocoholics snake from booth to booth tasting chocolate of every ilk, from dark and pure to sweet and milky, gooey to waxy smooth, with wine, with nuts, infused with tea, slathered on cakes, baked into brownies and artfully rolled into rich, melty truffles. Last year, there were chocolate contests, baking demonstrations and a Miss Chocolate crowning, and Willy Wonka strolled the room; there was even a Mother’s Day gift market of non-chocolate items.”30,000 Sq Ft of Chocolate Heaven!

Chocolate Fest Queen

Paradise Chocolate Fest, May 1st – May 8th 2010

Chocolate Fest Organizers Prepare to Indulge in Celebrating Another Year of Sweet Success!

Saturday, May 1, 2010 – Chocolate Thunder Motorcycle Poker Run

Motorcycle Poker Run & Barbecue, Cash Prizes, Musical Entertainment, Chocolate Treats … Thursday, May 6, 2010 – Chocolate Fest Queen Coronation & Chocolate Dinner Celebration: Coronation of Fest Queen and her Court, Musical Entertainment, Chocolate Decadence Dinner … Friday, May 7, 2010 – Evening of Chocolate & Wine, a Taste of the Sweet Life: Guittard Chocolate & Wine Pairings, Specialty Beer Tasting, Wine Auction, Savory Appetizers and Artisan Food Samplings, Chocolate Fountain & Decadent Desserts, Chocolate Paradise Martinis, Jazz Musical Entertainment … Saturday, May 8 – 5th Annual Paradise Chocolate Fest: Chocolate Candy Land, Lollipop’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Chocolate Alley, Chocolate Cuisine Challenge, Chocolate Pancake Breakfast, Chocolate Fest Queen and her Court, Chocolate Cookbook & Live Demonstrations, Chocolate Chase Fun Run/Walk, Chocolate Pie & Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contests, Cookie Stacking Contest, Chocolate Themed Hat Contest, Children’s Games & Huge Inflatables, Art in the Park, Craft & Commercial Vendors, Costumed Characters, Musical Entertainment, Delicious Food & Beverages …a Chocolate Extravaganza in Paradise! Fest General Admission – $4.00•Family of Five – $10.00 (additional children $2.00)•Children 4 & Under – Free

Chocolate and Wine Festival, Montrose, PA

Chocolate and Wine Festival, May 15, 2020, 3-7pm

The Chocolate & Wine Festival May 15th, 2010 from 3 to 7 PM, Chestnut Street, Montrose PA, Susquehanna County  starts the summer with the only wine & chocolate festival of northeast Pennsylvania! The historic town of Montrose is host to the only wine & chocolate festival in the county. A number of NEPA wineries & vineyards  will be there, giving visitors a rare opportunity to taste and purchase Pennsylvania wines and gourmet chocolates at their best. Lots of great music, arts and crafts, wine & chocolate recipe demonstrations, home wine making demonstrations and food & chocolate candy samplings that make a perfect backdrop for wine, wine, wine! $15 at the door and $12 advance purchase.

Chocolate Fest 2010, Burlington, WI, May 28-31, 2010

Chocolate Fest Chocolate Tent 2009

There’s so much going on at this festival it would take a whole website!  Check out the “chocolate tent” schedule alone!  Plus there are bands, a kid area and a carnival!  It’s not all that far from here.  Looks like there was some funky stuff going down in the chocolate tent last year.  Head and tummy rubbing, chocolate rabbits, some chocolate tasting and who knows what else!  No need to buy tickets in advance as you only save some change.  I think I need to go!

Make sure you check one of these chocolate festivals out!  Remember that there are less chocolate festivals over the summer because chocolate doesn’t like the heat and the humidity!