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Chocolate Festivals So, what is this substance? A brief history. The cocoa bean is one of the world’s culinary treasures because chocolate developed from it. The bean comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. In Greek, ‘theobroma’ means ‘drink of the gods’, showing that even early people attached importance to this tree discovered in Central America, in the land of the Olmec and Maya people. It was first cultivated by the Olmecs 3,000 years ago, not by the Aztecs as was commonly believed. It has a long and complex history as it evolved through the hands of explorers, businessmen, cooks and manufacturers, and became part of our commercial, spiritual and social lives. The Aztecs believed that cacao was the source of spiritual wisdom, tremendous energy and enhanced sexual powers, and they also used cacao beans as currency. Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes in the early 1500s were the first Europeans to encounter chocolate from the Aztecs and recognize its potential, carrying beans back to Spain, from where they moved to Netherlands, Italy, and France. Chocolate only became popular later in Switzerland, Germany and Austria in the late 1600s (all countries now famous as chocolate makers) as it was initially regarded as a medicine. Later it went to England, and then moved back to the USA. Wander up and down the cooking aisles at your bookstore and notice how many books are on chocolate, or desserts that feature chocolate. For example, “The Chocolate Cookbook” by Christine France, Lorenz Books 2002; and “I Want Chocolate. Recipes and Stories” by Trish Deseine, Laurel Glen 2002. Take a look at our Fiesta listing of Chocolate Festivals too, and it’s soon obvious that the popularity and importance of this “drink of the gods” has not changed. An interesting website is on Lindt Chocolates: www.lindtusa.com/chocomania.cfm We hope you can enjoy some of the festivals below, and Fiesta hopes to add to the list in the coming months. (The list is ordered by date). Chocolate is often associated with Valentine’s Day, so many of the festivals are in February.
GHIRARDELLI SQUARE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL (annual)
Noon-5pm in Ghirardelli Square, one of San Francisco’s treasured landmarks. It was home to the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate factory and now houses many boutique shops. Booths by area restaurants, sumptuous chocolate treats, a chocolate cooking competition, demonstrations by chocolatiers and pastry chefs, an “Earthquake” icecream sundae-eating contest. You can feel good about indulging here, as all proceeds go to Project Open Hand (an organization that provides home-delivered meals and groceries to HIV/AIDS patients, ill people, and seniors).
CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL at
Stockholm’s Nordiska Museum
(National Museum of Cultural 7 October, 2005, 10am-4pm This festival is billed as the “lip-smacking, Atkins-unfriendly” chocolate festival. The museum hosts markets, tastings, demos, and seminars. Sweden’s
best confectioners will perform, and the best win prizes.
WEST COAST CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL October 15-22, 2005, southwest British Columbia, Canada. Billed as a festival “for the senses and the soul”. Many events celebrate chocolate, “an indulgent little escape we all need once in a while”.
22-25 October, 2005, 10am-9pm at the Porte de Versailles fairground. 100 international chocolatiers will demonstrate and give out samples. Watch the election of Miss Chocolate 2005, and take in a fashion show.
CHOCOLATE LOVERS’ FESTIVAL (annual) February 4-5, 2006, Fairfax, Virginia, USA This festival began in 1992 to bring visitors to Old Town Fairfax. Enjoy the Taste of Chocolate with many vendors, and the Chocolate Challenge, an arts extravaganza where the medium is chocolate. There are also craft shows and open house in the historic buildings. Some of the events have a small fee, others are free.
CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL (annual)
Held at Copper Village, 401 East Commercial. Local merchants give away free chocolates. If they
do not, they are fined and the money is given to charity. There’s
also an Antique Quilt Exhibit and Bake Sale.
FINE ART AND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL February 10-11, 2006 (15th annual), Scottsdale, Arizona Held at the Scottsdale Pavilions. 10am-5pm Entrance $2, parking free. Around two dozen chocolate companies will set up
booths for sampling and for sale, to try and capture the spirit of
Valentine’s Day. Enjoy juried fine arts and crafts in this lovely
park setting. Around 150 varied artists will show their works, ranging
from sculptures, to oil painting, jewelry, and glassware. Live music
throughout the day too. NORMAN CHOCOLATE FEST (annual, in February) Norman, Oklahoma, USA, at the Norman High School. This festival is listed in the top 10 of Food festivals
in the USA, so it must be good! A live
and silent auction, live bands, chocolate demos, and a special area
for kids. LONG GROVE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL (annual, at end of April) Long Grove, Illinois, USA (near Chicago). Top Chicago chefs demonstrate how to make chocolate sculptures. Win prizes in cooking classes, take pastry classes, activities for kids, a fashion show. All proceeds go to the Foundation for Developmentally Disabled Children.
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JustSayGO Travel Show
Chocolate, the food of the gods. Chocolate
as an indulgence or a reward. Chocolate as therapy for a stressful
day, an argument, an attack of the blues. For many, chocolate has become
a necessity in life, as evidenced by the word “chocoholic”. For them it is wonderful,
whether it comes in the form of a bar, a drink, a cake, a mousse, or
a fondue. It can be hot, warm, cold, or frozen. It can be served with
both sweet and savory food.
SALON DU CHOCOLAT FESTIVAL
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