RESULTS! Professional Chocolate Showpiece & Candy Valentine's Day Showcase
PASTRY CHICAGO’S CHOCOLATE SHOWCASE
A FUN EVENT FOR ALL
Whole Foods, South Loop Hosts a Successful Event for Professionals and Chocolate Enthusiasts
Chicago, Illinois (February 1, 2010) – Pastry Chicago and Whole Foods hosted the first Professional Chocolate Showpiece & Candy Valentine’s Day Showcase at the South Loop location on January 23, 2010. Professional pastry chefs and chocolatiers showcased their special Valentine’s Day chocolate products for spectators and Whole Foods patrons to stop by and sample. Some participants demonstrated their skills by bringing a chocolate showpiece, while others brought specialty candies and bonbons.
(Above) Chef Paul Trecoci of the Ritz-Carlton. He and Pastry Chef Eric Estrella created the chocolate showpiece shown above and provided molded bonbons for attendees to sample.
For the Love of Chocolate Foundation was represented at the event as well, and attendees had the opportunity to purchase tickets to the annual gala coming up on February 6, 2010. The gala will raise funds for scholarships for future students of The French Pastry School at City Colleges of Chicago. Donations to the scholarship foundation may be made through www.fortheloveofchocolatefoundation.org.
(Above) Attendees had the opportunity to purchase tickets to the upcoming gala, For the Love of Chocolate on February 6.
Participants in the showcase included some alumnae of The French Pastry School's L'Art de la Patisserie program who have gone on to open their own businesses. This included Laura Case, owner of Beijo de Chocolat; Darlena Morgan, owner of DARLENA Artisan Chocolates; and Mamata Reddy, owner of Pomegranate Sweets & Savories.
(Above) Alumna of The French Pastry School and Owner of Pomegranate Sweets & Savories, Mamata Reddy with Sharon Flores.
“This was a terrific opportunity to interact with different people in a new setting,” said Mamata Reddy. “Pastry Chicago and Whole Foods partnering to put together an event like this is a great service to the foodie community.”
Also participating in the showcase were Nicole Greene, owner of Truffle Truffle; Karen Saberniak and Elizabeth Laubenstein representing Kohler Original Recipe Chocolate Company; Peter Rios and Ben Walker of Alliance Bakery; Robyn Rice-Foster, owner of La Parisianne du Chocolat; Daniel Herskovic owner of Mayana Chocolate along with Amanda Terbush, alumna of The French Pastry School; Eric Estrella and Paul Trecoci of the Ritz-Carlton Chicago; Jonathan Rodkin of Chocolate Gourmet; Katherine Duncan of Katherine Anne Confections; and Suzanne Weaver of The Cocoa Room. All companies are located in the Chicagoland area with the exception of Kohler Original Recipe Chocolate Company, in Kohler, Wisconsin, about 150 miles north of Chicago.
(Above) Graduate of L'Art de la Patisserie, Laura Case of Beijo de Chocolat shares samples of her chocolates with patrons of Whole Foods.
The showcase was displayed throughout the store of Whole Foods where members of Pastry Chicago as well as patrons of Whole Foods could stop by, meet the chefs, see their impressive chocolate showpieces and sample their candies. Following the showcase, Whole Foods provided refreshments for a reception in their café.
“The chocolate showcase was a great opportunity,” said Franco Pacini, Director of Pastry Chicago, “for our members who have entered the amateur or student competitions to meet professionals in the industry, taste their wares and ask them questions about a business they might one day want to be a part of.”
Pastry Chicago will have additional events and competitions throughout the Chicagoland area this year. More details will soon be available at www.pastrychicago.org.
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For more information on Pastry Chicago, please visit www.pastrychicago.org, or contact
Anne Kauffmann
The French Pastry School
312.726.2419 ext.207
akauffmann@frenchpastryschool.com
Regulations & Criteria for Entry:
- Participants must be culinary or pastry professionals.
- You may present one chocolate showpiece, or chocolate candies, or both at the event.
- The dimensions of the showpiece should be no more than 3' H X 2' W X 2' L.
- The chocolate showpiece will be on display for up to 4 weeks in the South Loop Whole Foods store along with any promotional material you would like to leave.
- The showpiece should be entirely edible and represent a Valentine's Day theme. It may contain the business's logo. The showpiece will be donated to Whole Foods.
- The showpiece should display a sampling of nine (9) of the business's chocolate candies. These candies are for display only, not for consumption.
- Participants are encouraged to bring samples of chocolate candies for 100 guests of Pastry Chicago and Whole Foods patrons. This is a great way to promote your establishment by having your product sampled. No selling of product is permitted at this event.
- A table space will be provided for you, as well as tablecloths.
- Plates and napkins will be provided for you. Participants must bring display materials and serving utensils (such as tongs).
- Signs showing your business's and chef's name will be made for you.
- Participants are welcome to bring and display promotional material from their businesses.
- Participants should arrive at 10:30am and will have from 10:30 to 11:30 to set up their display.
- You must remain present throughout the event which concludes at 12:30.
- Pastry Chicago will accept the first 15 participants for this event.
- Pastry Chicago and Whole Foods are not responsible for any items left behind at the end of this event.
Pastry Chicago will host additional competitions for students and amateurs. More details will soon be available at www.pastrychicago.org.
For information on becoming a participant or should you have any questions please contact Lindsay Koriath at info@pastrychicago.org, 312.726.2419 ext.208.
