The seventh annual Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Chocolate Festival is this weekend, Friday, January 25, to Sunday, January 27, 2013.
The format is the same as last year. Everyone will either share chocolate or prepare dishes using chocolate.
For the second year, Mars Inc. is participating as a major sponsor. Guests will again learn how chocolate was originally processed, and taste early hot chocolate. I personally like the Mars hot chocolate.
The program again is divided into food demonstrations, lectures, and chocolate tastings. Included is a lecture at 1 p.m. Sunday by Rodney Snyder, Mars’ chocolate history research director – an excellent speaker – on Chocolate in American History. When you arrive, check the program brochure or ask a staff member for the location of the lecture.
Cooking demonstrations will be offered in two places – one for adults sponsored by Whole Foods Market (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), and another in the children’s area on Saturday and Sunday.
Other things to do
• Choco-Walk, a delicious journey exploring the history and lure of cacao.
• Bean to Bar, an interactive exhibit from Mars, Inc., that includes hands-on demonstrations, informative stories, and samples of hot chocolate made from a 19th Century recipe.
• A plant sale featuring chocolate trees and chocolate orchids.
• Chocolate Spa, offering a variety of spa treatments using chocolate.
• Beer tasting. Gold Coast Brewing will bring Brooklyn Brown Ale, Abita Turbodog and Purple Haze, and Schnebly Gator Tail Ale. Whole Foods Market has Fort Collins Chocolate Stout. Gold Coast Brewing also will offer information on how to pair its beers with chocolate.
• Yoga classes for adults and children by Rina Yoga. Check the program for times and location.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables FL 33156, phone 305-667-1651.
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