For those who made a New Year’s resolution to cut out sweets, it might be time to make an exception.
Whole Food’s Market at Legacy Place held its Chocolate Fest last Friday, a special pre-Valentine’s Day sampling event meant to showcase all of the ways to enjoy the sweet treat.
From beer and wine pairings, to chocolate covered corn nuts to cocoa dusted scallops, the samples were perfect for chocoholics, as well as those who enjoy more savory dishes.
“It’s a way for us to showcase all the fabulous chocolate we sell here,” said Lauren Klatsky, marketing team leader for Whole Foods at Legacy Place. “It’s an amazing event.”
Over a dozen chocolate experts were on hand to coax shoppers into trying their products including Chocolove, Divine Chocolate, GaGa’s Sherbetter and Taza Chocolate.
Christine Fiske of Milton stopped by the Cocoa Haze table with her 2 and 4-year-old daughters. Cocoa Haze is similar to Nutella, but with a Whole Foods twist.
“We actively searched for a natural version of Nutella that also used fair trade chocolate,” said Klatsky.
Fiske said she heard about the event on Twitter.
“I had to go grocery shopping anyway so this was a good chance to combine the two,” she said. “I feel like we’re having a chocolate dinner.”
In addition to indulgences from far afield like Quicos de Chocolate - chocolate covered corn nuts from Spain, there were also some vendors a bit closer to home.
Warwick-based Rhode Island Rocks are milk chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels and raisins. The brother and sister team of Lucia and Tom Asprinio began shipping last April and their treat has been selling well at Whole Foods.
“People have started asking for it, which is nice,” said Lucia Asprinio. “This is such a beautiful store and we’re happy to be selling here.”
To wash down those peanut, pretzel and raisin clusters, was dark drinking chocolate from Newton-based Cocoa Metro. A step above regular store hot cocoa or chocolate milk, this Belgian chocolate beverage was richer and more chocolatey.
“We use the same amount of sugar, but five times the amount of cocoa,” said Cocoa Metro owner Mike Dunford. “People call it chocolate milk for adults.”
Not wanting to leave out die-hard health nuts, healthy eating team member Sharla Halperin shared chocolate pudding in the raw.
A totally vegan dish, its only ingredients are two ripe avocados, raw cacao powder, agave nectar and water.
