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Chocolately goodness coming to area
By Tom MayerFeb 1, 2007
Morehead City to host annual Chocolate Festival Saturday and Sunday
Sun Journal Staff
Sprinkling cocoa beans over two days of Epicurean fantasies, the Crystal Coast's annual chocolate festival returns to Morehead City this weekend.
The early February event will be the fifth year all things chocolate have drenched the city for charitable purposes. The Carolina Chocolate Festival presents almost 30 exhibitors, a half-dozen specialty events and calorie-laden samples benefiting a host of local charities.
More than 8,000 visitors sweetened the pot in 2006.
“That was our best year,” said Janet Grainge, festival executive director. “We established ourselves.”
A first-time exhibitor also established itself last year.
Wilmington-based chocolatiers South 'n France Inc. sold its first hand-dipped bonbon at the 2006 event. Seven months later, those bonbons from the husband-wife team of Charlene Dupray and Pascal Siegler were voted Best New Chocolate Product at the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet show. That national show draws more than 4,000 worldwide buyers and retailers.
Despite such national exposure, the pair has held a few surprises for the local festival.
“We have a special place in our hearts for the Carolina Chocolate Festival,” Dupray said. “We sold our very first bonbon at the chocolate festival last year. That really set the tone for everything that was to come.”
That tone will continue over the weekend with samples from the pair's introduction of new and original flavors including chocolate chip cookie dough, coconut, fudge brownie and their signature flavor, Peanut Buttah. New flavors include pistachio and cookies 'n creme — tastes chosen after a sample in the Wilmington market.
“We are making those flavors available to the public for the first time at the festival,” Dupray said about the company's handmade, hand-dipped chocolate.
Also re-dipped for this fund-raiser is Saturday's Chocolate Spa Night at the Holiday Inn Express in Morehead City.
“We're doubling the number of massage therapists,” Grainge said. The event, which debuted in 2006, includes “Chocolate-Fix” mini-massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Gourmet chocolates are provided from Swiss Chalet of Havelock. Champagne complements the experience.
A popular VIP Champagne & Truffles Party, including authors, artists and chefs is also scheduled for Saturday. The event is held in the upstairs balcony rooms of the Crystal Coast Civic Center and will feature book signings, artist presentations and a cooking demonstration from a Raleigh chocolatier. Chocolates and champagne are included.
In addition to the specialty events, favorites such as the children's chocolate pudding eating contest return this year.
New is the addition of a babysitting corner for children. The service is sponsored by students from Croatan High School and is offered during regular festival hours.
Tom Mayer can be reached at 635-5662 or tmayer@freedomenc.com.
Carolina Chocolate Festival schedule of events
Friday
6:30 p.m.: Boys & Girls Club Gala Dinner at Shepard's Point, $125 couple/$75 single
Saturday
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Fifth annual Carolina Chocolate Festival at the Crystal Coast Convention Center
1 p.m.: VIP Champagne & Truffles Party, Civic Center Balcony, $35 per person and includes festival admission Saturday
4 p.m.: Chocolate Spa Night, Holiday Inn Express, Morehead City, $50 per person
7 p.m.: Mac & Tammy McCoy in concert at Joslyn Hall, Morehead City, $10 per person includes homemade desserts
Sunday
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Fifth annual Carolina Chocolate Festival at the Crystal Coast Convention Center
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: PAWS Chocolate Sunday Brunch, $25 per person
If you are going
What: 5th annual Carolina Chocolate Festival.
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Crystal Coast Civic Center, Morehead City.
Cost: $8 adults; $2 children 5 to 12; free younger than 5; samples are included in admission, but specialty events are extra.
Contact: (877) 848-4976.
Tip: Boys & Girls Club Gala Dinner at Shepard's Point is 6:30 p.m. Friday; tickets are $125 couple/ $75 person.