The Third Annual Chocolate Show
Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City
A chocolate lover's dream, The Third Annual Chocolate Show hosted in New York City was a pre-holiday event that gave us reason to be joyful. Visitors were able to discover all that there is to know and taste about chocolate by strolling through the over 50 booths of international chocolate producers.
The Chocolate Fashion show was a sparkling showcase of models parading down the catwalk in delicate and unique fashion. Designers such as Nicole Miller, Cerruti and Diana Kane were there to present their fashions which were later put on display. Other visual chocolate creations were a Japanese rock garden with its soft cocoa aromatic lure rising up from the thousands of chocolate flakes that formed the garden surface. A Statue of Liberty sculpture was in the process of being chiseled and a nearly perfect representation of Notre Dame were also highlights. In addition there was the opportunity to create your own chocolate mold from one of the 500 antique and modern iron molds from Yvan Berthelot, who has been in the business with his family for several generations.
As fun as fashion and sculpture are, the chocolate show's biggest attractions were the tastes and samples passed out by the exhibitors. Visitors quickly became experts as they were able to taste and distinguish between the dark and semi-sweet chocolates of Belgium and French Truffles to the more local varieties of Pittsburgh and organic chocolate from New York State. The pairing combinations were inspirational. Port and chocolate seemed to be a marriage made in confectioner's heaven as well as some of the chocolate cocktails served in the evening.
The next Chocolate Show takes place in Tokyo, Japan on the weekend of February 2, 2001.
Words and images by Jenine Lurie
