Tags
cacao plants, caramel, Chloe Doutre-Roussel, chocolate, Confectionery, farms, Food, fudge, happiness, Hawaii, high on sugar, internship, joy, lifeblood, Maui, Seattle, United States, Washington Convention Center
Heaven. I’m in heaven. Yes, yes, YES!!! Just my luck, the Northwest Chocolate Festival fell during my week in Seattle at the Washington Convention Center. I purchased my ticket immediately and prepared to spend an entire day high on chocolate. Seriously, at one point around 1p, I had to sit down and rest since all I had put in my system after an early breakfast a 730a, was chocolate! Oh, but the high was totally worth it. I ate so many truffles, white/milk/dark choco samples and indulged in fudge, caramels and syrups my body couldn’t help but float on cloud nine. I did have a bit of savory, that included chocolate–a tamale, and it was probably the best I’ve ever had! Not sure if it was because of all the pre sweet consumption, but man was it good.
Somewhere in the middle of all my indulgence, I managed to run smack into Melanie Boudar of Sweet Paradise Chocolatier in Maui, HI. The very same woman with whom I’ll be interning for two weeks this October. We chatted briefly as she was getting all her social media workings in order, but it made me even more excited for this opportunity.
I also chatted with two other local Hawaiian bean to bar makers Lonohana Hawaiian Estate Chocolate and Madre Chocolate. Each had amazing chocolates and Hawaii is the only state that has the climate for growing cacao plants. I’m so glad that cacao farms are beginning to thrive right here in America!
These are just some of the treats I got to taste:
Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates
The Chocolate Conspiracy
Blissful Wunders Cofectionary Chocolats’
Escazu Artisan Chocolate Co.
French Broad Chocolates
Fran’s Chocolates
I also got to see one of darlings of the chocolate world speak on the business marketing side of chocolate. The one and only, Chloe Doutre-Roussel. It was so lovely to see her clever enthusiasm and passion, even through her impending migraine. She remained focused and poised throughout and I admire her even more for it. The lecture was incredibly informative and I left feeling like I had just gained a bit of insider knowledge, for which I hope to put to good use later in my own shop!
Overall, the day was long, but full of my favorite thing on Earth: Chocolate.