If you had the chance to have the chocolate of the world at your fingertips, would you take it?
Unless you’re allergic to cocoa, or have a puzzling distaste for chocolate that I wouldn’t understand, you’re in luck. The second annual DC Chocolate Festival is back. I’m talking tastings, workshops, a silent auction and once again, tastings.
This year the event will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Woodley Park. Over 40 different chocolate makers from vendors local and abroad are expected to be there to give you access to their brown bars of goodness, so you want to make sure you’re able to get your hands on it.
Speakers from local businesses including Potomac Chocolate and Chocolate Undone will be leading some of the different classes available throughout the day, including “Bean to Bar Chocolate Making” and “The Science of Chocolate.” The former includes a demonstration of the chocolate making process, while the latter gives guests a mouthwatering walkthrough of the various flavors of chocolate while distributing various samples to try.
Other classes include learning how to incorporate chocolate in all kinds of new dishes (ever heard of chipotle chocolate tomato cream sauce?), and question and answer sessions with chocolate connoisseurs such as Lowe Libby, who has reviewed nearly 1000 chocolate bars to date.
The event will also include a silent auction which will give you the opportunity to take these delicious treats home with you. Some items on sale will include chocolate gift baskets, gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses and signed books on chocolate to make sure you keep your newfound chocolate knowledge within arms reach. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the D.C. Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training Program, which has helped change the lives of many unemployed men and women by allowing them to explore their passion in the kitchen.
Adult tickets are $35 and are available online.
The event was quick to sell out last year, so be sure to snag your tickets as soon as possible so you too can enjoy unlimited chocolatey goodness.
