BY ERIN PALISIN
Assorted Cupcakes from Sweet Revenge
What better way to top off the weekend than indulging your taste buds at a chocolate lover’s tasting event? The Chocolate Fest : A Walk-Around Tasting, at the 92Y on Lexington Ave. served as a perfect “night cap” to a beautiful Spring weekend. A variety of local chocolatiers set up shop to display their treats and share their stories with the event’s attendees. Although none disappointed, a few chocolate experts set themselves apart in my eyes.
every vendor offered a variety of tasty samples, and had a unique offering to compliment the actual product. Tumbador Chocolate offers several uniquely flavored treats including a twist on a classic American childhood “ring-ding” treat. In addition to their delicious treats, Tumbador also specializes in customizable packaging options for customers. If you are looking for a unique gift or party favor, look no further than Tumbador Chocolates.
Enjoying the event’s wine tasting and chocolate pairing feature
Sweet Revenge takes the sweet tooth addict’s experience to a new level by boasting New York City’s only cupcake, beer and wine bar. You need not feel guilty for indulging here, where fellow patrons and owner/founder Marlo Scott will also be relaxing and enjoying life’s simple pleasures (in the form of inventive cupcakes and sweets). The desert bar is also now serving brunch, which is where you might find me next weekend!
If you are looking to ease some of the guilt of your calorie conscience, visit the ladies at the online bakery, Baking for Good. 15% of each purchase of these all-natural, made-to-order treats go towards a cause of your choice!
The highlight of the event for most people seemed to be the chocolate tasting and wine pairing hosted by Gotham Wines & Liquors; where attendees could easily have ate and drank their money’s worth ($39 a ticket) at this station alone. Participants were able to sample eight featured wines and one vodka accompanied with a recommended chocolate pairing. The featured wine was the romantic Rosa Regale whose fruity, sparkling flavor serves as a versatile desert wine. Legend has it that Cleopatra herself used this wine, local to the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, to successfully seduce Mark Antony.
Aside from the obvious perk of getting to eat chocolate treats to your heart’s content, perhaps the best part of this event is the opportunity to interact with a group of unique local companies and inspiring entrepreneurs all together in the same venue. After all, who says you can’t satisfy your sweet tooth for a living? Say no to “the man”, and say yes to The Chocolate Fest!
For a detailed description of the annual event along with a listing of additional presenters, please visit http://www.92y.org/shop/event.
