Are you going to the Craft Chocolate Experience in San Francisco in a few weeks? It looks like it’s going to be truly special! Too many chocolate festivals focus on big brands and low-quality candy, but this one, spearheaded by Dandelion Chocolate, is all bean to bar, all the time. I can’t make it, unfortunately, but if I were going, here’s what I’d do.
I’d make a beeline for tried-and-true booths like Fruition, Marou, Castronovo, Chocolate Naive, Dandelion, Soma, Fresco, and Letterpress. I’d also hit up new favorites White Label, Ginger Elizabeth, Goodnow, Creo, Christopher Elbow, and Baiani. And I’ve been dying to try Monsoon, Soklet, Casa Lasevicius, Madhu (from my hometown of Austin, what-what!), and Siamaya. Meanwhile, I’d get my butt in a chair for these sessions:
Saturday, March 7
Pioneers of Craft Chocolate (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)
Where else can you hear legends like Chloe Doutre-Roussel, John Nanci, and John Scharffenberger speak in one place? I can guarantee that Dandelion co-owner Greg D’Alesandre’s voice will carry all the way to the back of the room, mic or not.
Together on a Cocoa Safari (1-2 PM)
Sourcing is such an important part of craft chocolate, and Simran Bindra of Kokoa Kamili and Wynne Mcauley of Meridian Cacao are two people doing it sooo right.
Pastry Demonstration With Miro Uskokovic (2:15-3 PM)
I’m still drooling over that time Gramercy Tavern’s Miro Uskokovic brought dozens and dozens of his enormous chocolate chip cookies (from his recipe in my book) to a reading on my book tour. Eat everything for me!
Sunday, March 8
Cacao Cooperative: Increasing Transparency through Collaboration (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)
The Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute is doing important work around transparent trade, and who better to tell us all about it than the force behind the FCCI, Carla Martin.
Empowering Women in Cacao Farming Communities (1-2 PM)
The history of chocolate and women, and the way gender roles play out in the present, are two of my favorite topics. I’d be front and center for this talk by Good King Snacking Cacao’s Kim Wilson, who works directly with women at origin.
Tea-and-Chocolate Pairing (2:15-3:15 PM)
Yes, you have to buy a separate ticket for this event, but it’s so well worth it! Tea and chocolate is one of my all-time favorite pairings, and Green Bean to Bar Chocolate’s Kyoko Hori Tieu is literally certified as a green tea advisor.
And if you’re in New York with me instead of at the festival, I’d love to host a private chocolate tasting for you. Hit me up below or at megan@chocolatenoise.com!