Valerie Beck
Chicago Chocolate Tours founder Valerie Beck, aka The Chocolate Girl, was in New York City over Halloween, when the New York Chocolate Show came to town and turned The Big Apple into the Big Truffle. (Yes, she made that one up herself; she's got a million of 'em - smile!)
Hello! I had a wonderful whirlwind trip to New York; here's the sweet scoop:
The Chocolate Show was filled with chocolatiers from across the country and around the world, there to show, sample, and sell their creations. From the deliciously classic and elegant chocolates at Aroa, to the pure and exquisitely flavorful single-origin bars from Peace Corps veterans at Madecasse, to the creative Aztec-spiced chocolate peanut brittle from Jer's, the unique and lactose-free camel's milk chocolate from German-Dubai venture Al Nassma, and the wonderfully whimsical chocolate covered cornflakes at Jacques Torres, the show had something for everyone, and lots for this Chocolate Girl!
The show also featured fascinating chocolate demonstrations, book signings with famous chocolatiers ("our rock stars are not like your rock stars"), a display of historical chocolate artifacts such as molds for making shaped chocolates, and a high-spirited chocolate buzz among the guests and participants, as I'm sure you can imagine - perhaps you can feel the buzz yourself from these photos!
And yes, it's true, I couldn't fit everything into my cute little pink and black carry-on to get all of my chocolate treasure home to Chicago, so I shipped my large signed books by Jacques Torres and Max Brenner from a local FedEx (the woman at the counter was a chocolate lover too so I shared a bit of loot with her), placed everything else in a Bergdorf's shopping bag (that's another story, from another day during my NY trip!), and managed to have absolutely nothing confiscated at the airport this time - quite a successful series of travel maneuvers, wouldn't you agree!
A highlight of the Chocolate Show was having a moment to chat with pastry and chocolate legend Jacques Torres, winner of France's highest pastry honor, former pastry chef of Le Cirque, and owner of his own chocolate manufactory and shops in New York. Chef Jacques made a chocolate Halloween castle before our eyes, never missing a beat as he shared his chocolate knowledge and passion; laughingly took a cellphone call from an artist who had commissioned him to make giant chocolate bunnies for a food art installation / dinner; and demonstrated his lighthearted and chocolate-fueled sense of humor (What's the difference between chocolate and a man? Chocolate gives you pleasure every time!).
One of the most unique booths at the Show was Cotton Tree Lodge's clever multi-part mini demonstration of how chocolate goes from bean to bar. My job as a 30-second volunteer was to mill the cocoa beans. (Will work for chocolate!)
Chef Tim Brown of Aroa Fine Chocolate kept us engaged as he showed us how to make velvety chocolate caramel tarts, and rich yet refreshing hot chocolate from an orange and nutmeg spiked homemade chocolate mix.
The demonstrations were great fun and full of useful tips, and it was lovely to sample the fresh creations on the spot. I'm excited and honored to welcome Aroa to Boston Chocolate Walking Tours!
A few other Show notes: The chocolate sculptures from Fika were incredibly intricate; sampling chocolate flower petals from French chocolatier Boissier - not yet available in the US - was a delightful treat; and the well chosen dessert wines were a perfect finish to a well done chocolate show. As Chef Jacques reminded us: Eat dessert first!
Join me at next year's NY Chocolate Show - or the October show in Paris - as part of the Chicago Chocolate Tours Travel Club. You deserve a chocolate vacation!
Your friend in chocolate,
-Valerie
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