Chocolate to reign supreme
By jannette pippinFeb 1, 2007
MOREHEAD CITY - If the reigning national champion for Best New Chocolate Product aims to stay on top, the best way to do it is try new things.
And for South n' France of Wilmington, the best place to do that is the Carolina Chocolate Festival.
After all, it worked before.
Charlene Dupray and Pascal Siegler launched their South n' France, at the 2006 festival in Morehead City and went on seven months later to take top honors at the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet show, the largest confectionary trade event in the country.
The fledgling company's hand-dipped bonbons won the competition for best new chocolate product brought to the market.
Dupray and Siegler heard about John Green's Carolina Chocolate Festival just three and half weeks before last year's event and quickly tackled the task of hand dipping their first 16,000 bonbons.
"We sold our first bonbon at the chocolate festival," Dupray said.
The couple left impressed with the response to their creations, and now they are coming back to the festival to celebrate their first year in business.
"The festival was so encouraging, welcoming and warm; we could not have asked for a better experience," Dupray said. "We're so glad to come back and share what we've started this first year."
Their treat for guests at this year's festival, which is Saturday and Sunday at the Crystal Coast Civic Center off U.S. 70, is the debut of their newest flavors: Cookies n' Creme and Pistachio. Their four original flavors include chocolate chip cookie dough, coconut, fudge brownie and their signature flavor, Peanut Buttah.
As many as 30 vendors will be on hand offering everything chocolate, from flavored teas and coffees to pastries, candies, cheesecake and chocolate peanut brittle.
The festival hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and $2 for children ages 5-12. Children younger than 5 get in free.
For those interested in an expanded experience at the festival, an additional $27 will get them into the VIP Champagne & Truffles Party from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the upstairs balcony rooms of the civic center.
The special event will feature book signings by local authors, presentations by local artists and a cooking demonstration by Raleigh chocolatier Randall Savage, who will show his expertise in making his Azurelise truffles.
The 2007 John Green Carolina Chocolate Festival kicks off Friday with the first of several additional ticketed events.
A chocolate feast is being served up Friday night at Shepard's Point restaurant in Morehead City. The gala event is being organized by and benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina.
On Saturday evening, experience Chocolate Spa Night at the Holiday Inn Express in Morehead City or enjoy bluegrass sounds eastern North Carolina style at Joslyn Hall on the Carteret Community College campus.
Only 100 advance tickets are available for Spa Night, which will include "Chocolate Fix" mini-massages, facials, manicures and hairstyling. Tickets are $50 and should be purchased in advance by calling (877) 848-4976.
The bluegrass performance by The Mac and Tammy McRoy Band of New Bern begins at 7:30 p.m. and is being hosted by the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center. Homemade chocolate desserts will accompany the traditional musical sounds. Tickets are $12 and available by calling (252) 728-1500.
The special events close Sunday morning with a Chocolate Sunday Brunch at Shepard's Point benefiting the Pet Adoption and Welfare Society of Carteret. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling (877) 848-4976.
For more information on the festival, visit its Web site at www.carolinachocolatefestival.com.
Contact staff writer Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or (252) 808-2275.