Death by Chocolate Festival at Copia

If you are lucky enough to be in the Napa Valley area this month, I highly recommend the Death by Chocolate Festival at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts. Fellow chocoholics and dessert lovers should not miss this popular annual event, as there will be guided tasting panels (by Alice Medrich and Guittard!), wine & chocolate pairings, lectures and a walk-around tasting with 30 top U.S. chocolate companies (Dagoba, Charles Chocolates, Scharffen Berger, NEWTREE, etc.)

Past events have been sold out, so plan early. For tickets and detailed event schedule:  http://www.copia.org/content/chocolate

There will be chocolate-themed events (truffle-making classes, wine/chocolate pairing classes, etc.) all month long, so don't miss them: http://www.copia.org/content/event

Saturday, 2/17 • 10:00 am - 5:00 pm  ($45 festival pass/$35 member)

Chocolate Tasting with Gary Guittard
Saturday, 2/17 • 10:30 - 11:15 am

The Guittard family has been selecting and importing cacao beans to San Francisco from around the world since the late 19th century. Join Gary Guittard, great grandson of company founder Etienne Guittard and current company president, for a guided chocolate tasting and a glimpse into the mysteries surrounding the making of this seductive sweet.

Wine and Chocolate: Foods of Venus
Saturday, 2/17 • 11:00 am, 12:00 pm & 3:30 pm
Wine and chocolate are known aphrodisiacs. A glass of Champagne or an aged Pinot Noir wine can quicken our passions, while chocolate brings its own mellow charge. Come hear about the foods and wines that turn us on!

Bittersweet with Alice Medrich (Dessert demonstration, tasting and book signing)
Saturday, 2/17 • 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

In her book, Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate (Artisan), award-winning author and chocolate expert Alice Medrich explores  “percentage” chocolates with less sugar, more cocoa bean solids and more flavor. She’ll share fresh and foolproof  recipes for new chocolate desserts and updated classics.

Death by Chocolate Walk-Around Tasting (Saturday, 2/17 • 1:00 - 3:00 pm)

What a way to go—taste your way to ecstasy in this tribute to the ultimate food addiction. Sample dozens of chocolate treats from top chocolatiers, confectioners and pastry chefs, all paired with chocolate-friendly wines and even a chocolate liqueur or two. Whether you crave creamy milk chocolate or the darkest bittersweet, you’ll find bliss in this scrumptious smorgasbord.

Chocolate with Charles
3:15 - 4:00 pm
Renowned for their high quality ingredients and sophisticated flavors and textures, the confections of Charles Chocolates have helped to redefine the world of gourmet chocolate. Founder Chuck Siegel demonstrates three luscious hot chocolates and shares tips and techniques for working with chocolate at home.

See you at Copia!

-Tami