As you probably read in my previous column (at least I hope you did!) last week was New York’s Chocolate Show - the largest show of its kind in the United States. When that many chocolatiers come together in one location good things are sure to follow!
As your National Chocolate Examiner - who happens to live in New York - it would be inconceivable for me to miss the New York Chocolate Show. So just for you - my loyal readers - I headed down to New York’s Metropolitan Pavilion on Sunday with friends, Michele, Kelly, Andrea & Mike to enjoy the show. Truly sacrificial on my part.
This was the first chocolate show experience for my friends and I was delighted to introduce them to some of my favorite chocolatiers and to the entire chocolate show experience. Andrea came prepared with a little wooden box in which she deposited the excessive amount of chocolate samples she gathered. Kelly headed straight for Roni-Sue’s “Pig Candy” declaring the chocolate covered bacon to be the world’s best response to PMS. Michele assisted me with sampling the rich layers of chocolate ganache and meringue that have been deliciously combined to create a flourless chocolate cake by Choco Bolo. She also made a note of menu options and locations of each café in New York City to plan our next chocolate field trip - she is very helpful that way. Mike checked out the architecture of the replica of New York street scenes made entirely from white chocolate - a project completed by students at the International Culinary Institute. Everyone marveled at the fashions created from chocolate that ranged from elaborate evening gowns to interesting lingerie options. We were all thrilled to discover Chocolate Lava from Davis Chocolates - and also to learn of the health benefits from the flavonoids and antioxidants it contains. We shopped for gifts and sampled chocolates from each chocolatier. And we all lined up to sample the dessert wines and cocoa rum beverages - in the name of research, of course.
I asked my friends to give me their impressions of their first New York Chocolate Show experience:
Michele -
Left with quite the sugar high - but isn’t that the point? All the booths did a wonderful job displaying their products. I wanted to buy chocolate from each and every one and eat all the products. Although I am usually not a fan of chocolate and peanut butter combined, I really enjoyed the products from Jer’s Chocolates. The chocolate and peanut butter combination in his candies was delicious and well balanced. The traditional French truffles from No Chewing Allowed were also very good - creamy and not too sweet and they really did melt in your mouth! Finally, I can’t wait to try the restaurant - Choco Bolo. The cake was amazing. Note to self, brink milk next time to drink with the all the chocolate.
Kelly -
All I can say is that it was like being a kid in a candy store with money in my pockets!!! Well except for the wine and rum part that is. The chocolate was melt-in-your-mouth, mmmmmmm delicious. I never realized there were so many ways to serve up chocolate . . . you can even wear it. I wouldn't suggest a dress made out of chocolate because I personally wouldn't make it out of the house without a wardrobe malfunction. It was loads of fun albeit overwhelming but in a very good way.
Andrea:
There were so many beautiful things to taste, see and smell. I'm still recovering from my chocolate coma.
Of course she is…you should have seen all the chocolate samples she collected in her little wooden box! Keep an eye on the New York Chocolate Show website for next year’s show dates and join us for a delicious chocolate experience!
Comments