Better than a White Christmas…I’m Dreaming of a Chocolate New YearBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadySome people have sugar plums dancing in their head. Not me.
CHOCOLATE SYMPOSIUM: The Kona Chocolate Festival Evening Gala is complemented by a multi-day Chocolate Symposium on March 22nd to the 24th. The Symposium includes daytime educational and informative tours and seminars for farmers and chocolate enthusiasts presented by specialists in the areas of cacao cultivating and processing, medicinal uses of chocolate, and pairing wines with chocolate. Schedule available at www.konachocolatefestival.com.
PARTICIPANTS: HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE CAN YOU EAT IN ONE NIGHT?MORE CHOCOLATE THAN EVER! More than 25,000 samples of sweet chocolate desserts and savory chocolate appetizers! Through the outstanding participation of over 35 chefs, chocolatiers and ice cream makers, who each present 1,000 pieces of their delicious creations to festival-goers – event attendees will have their choice of more chocolate than ever! All attendees are invited to enjoy until their hearts content. There will be enough chocolate treats to satisfy everyone’s appetite!
Professional and amateur chefs and candy makers are invited to prepare an appetizer, entrée or dessert – as long as it’s made with chocolate, of course! Participants each present 1,000 pieces of their delicious creations to festival-goers who then make their “people’s choice” nominations before the night is over. In addition, a sequestered panel of judges samples each entry and awards points in the categories of appearance, flavor, degree of difficulty and creativity. Scores are tallied to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Finally, near the end of the evening, the Kona Chocolate Festival committee presents awards in professional and amateur categories to both the judges’ top selections and the people’s choice winners. THE REALITY OF A CHOCOLATE FANTASY
ENTERTAINMENT – THE PERFECT MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT TO CHOCOLATE:
To provide musical variety, a longtime Big Island favorite, Vito Truglio, will play before Salsa Latinos & during their breaks. Vito Truglio’s musical style has been described as warm, sweet, haunting, intense and hopeful, with a touch of aloha. Singer, songwriter and guitar player Vito Truglio (TRUE-lee-o) is a contemporary folk rock artist whose music is rootsy, passionate and timely. He adeptly blends the sunny feel of island music with the edge and depth of a powerful modern rock act. FESTIVAL MISSION: To entertain both visitors to and residents of the Big Island; showcase the creative talents of fine Big Island chefs, chocolatiers, ice cream and candy makers; and highlight cacao farming and support the chocolate industry in Hawai'i. Doesn’t that sound worthwhile? HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL: Celebrating 5 years! The Kona Chocolate Festival began many years ago as Hidden Talents of Kona with champagne and a chocolate buffet at the Outdoor Circle. Five years ago, a founding parent at Kona Pacific Waldorf School, decided to take the event to the next level and create an event to draw the attention of both Big Island residents as well as visitors to Hawai'i. Attendance has grown steadily each year from 350 in first year to 500 in 2nd year, 850 in the 3rd year, and 1000 in the 4th year. Now celebrating its 5th year as the Kona Chocolate Festival, this popular event again is expected to attract 1000 guests, including both residents of and visitors to the Big Island. We will be honoring participants who have been with the Festival all 5 years. UNIQUE FUNDRAISER: The evening gala benefits the innovative sliding scale tuition and tuition assistance programs of Kona Pacific Waldorf School located in Kealakekua, above Kona Community Hospital. The school’s mission is to provide a rigorous academic education through the arts and integrate the Hawaiian culture and agricultural studies into the curriculum. The school seeks to embrace the values of Hawaiian culture, with particular focus on community sustainability through care and respect for the people, land and sea of Hawai'i. The 5th Annual Kona Chocolate Festival is made possibly through generous contributions from www.jessecolinyoung.com and Buddha’s Cup Estate Grown 100% Kona Coffee, and through sponsorship by Guittard Chocolate, Roots & Wings Natural Family Boutique, Pacific Radio Group and West Hawai'i Today. Madelyn Miller is a food and travel writer who is passionate about chocolate. She writes for www.chocolateatlas.com, www.travellady.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaATlas.com, www.carladynews.com |
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I am having chocolate fantasies about the Annual Kona Chocolate Festival at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort on Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. And I dream of attending the Symposium classes being offered Thursday through Saturday, March 22nd to the 24th, 2007.
CACAO INDUSTRY IN HAWAI'I: This agro-tourism event highlights the little known but important fact that chocolate (cacao) is grown and processed here. Hawai'i’s history of growing cacao dates back to the 1800’s and cacao is now an integral component of the state’s strategy to diversify its agriculture. The Big Island is the only place in the United States where chocolate is made entirely from scratch, from growing the cacao trees and their pods, through processing the cacao nibs, to creating an all-Hawaiian chocolate bar.
* Kona Natural Soap Company – soap made with cacao! 
CHOCOLATE TASTE-OFF COMPETITION and JUDGES 2006: 
SOME IDEAS OF WHAT TO EXPECT:
Since cacao originates from Latin America (dates back millions of years in the Amazon rainforests), the Kona Chocolate Festival features Big Island Latin bands each year. This year, the festival is excited to feature the debut of a new group, Salsa Latinos, Kona’s only authentic salsa band. Salsa Latinos brings to the event a variety of popular Latin dance tunes including salsa from around the world, merengue, cha cha cha, and cumbia. Band members include band leader and keyboardist, Luis Alberto Zarate; bassist, Greg Shirley; percussionist on timbales, Ruben Ruiz; percussionist on congas, Louis Pinault; and vocalist, Olga Salvatore, better known locally “O.” With various family backgrounds from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and mainland U.S., each band member has a diverse musical history giving Salsa Latinos more than 70 years combined professional experience.