Looking for a sweet diversion from midterms and all things school-related this weekend? At COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, February is the month to celebrate chocolate. COPIA has it all – from programs that focus on chocolate and wine pairings to hands-on demonstrations of how to make your own truffles. The celebration comes to a chocolatey head on Saturday, February 23, at their 6th annual Chocolate Celebration in Napa.
The day begins with master classes by chocolate legends such as Chuck Siegel (founder of Charles Chocolates) and Gary Guittard (whose family has been in the chocolate business since the late 19th century). Their 45-minute sessions will teach you all about chocolate, from how to taste and evaluate high-quality chocolates to uncovering the mysteries of the chocolate-making process. A cooking demo will also be held by Claire Clark (head pastry chef at The French Laundry) in which she will divulge the secrets to making a divine Black Forest Trifle, a scrumptious Warm Chocolate and Raspberry Tart, and a heavenly Lemon Posset. I’m sure participants will get a sample of the goods, too.
But be sure to leave room for the Death by Chocolate Walk-around Tasting. This year will feature over 50 participants, including “biggies” like Scharffen Berger, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Charles Chocolates and Schokinag. There will also be two chocolate fountains – one white, one dark – in which you can dip goodies such as apricots, marshmallows and more. Despite the throngs that flock to COPIA, there is more than enough for everyone who attends to eat more than their fair share of chocolate. My wife Lucky and I attended last year’s celebration and stuffed ourselves silly with chocolate. We ran out of room long before they even came close to running out of chocolate. And to help you wash it down, several wineries will be giving samples of their wines that compliment these heavenly morsels. For those who do not drink wine, COPIA also provides free bottled water.
The festivities start at 10 a.m. with the master classes, which run $15 a session. The Death by Chocolate Walk-around Tasting goes from 1 to 4 p.m. and costs $45.
COPIA
500 First St
Napa, CA
1-888-512-6742
Originally published: www.ucsf.edu/synapse/articles/2008/Feb/21/chocolate.html
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