Gastro Traveling

Outfit Made Entirely from Chocolate at NYC Chocolate Show (Courtesy of tonydolor on Flickr)

From a Hershey’s kiss to the finest Belgian truffle, there are few things in life as satisfying as a bite of chocolate. This year’s 12th Annual New York Chocolate Show (Oct. 30th – Nov. 1st) is jam-packed with events celebrating the most coveted of sweet treats. It will be held at Metropolitan Pavilion 125 West 18th St. on the far West Side hosting tastings, cooking demonstrations, book signings, a master chocolate competition and even a chocolate couture fashion show.  All this for the admission price of just $35!  Highlights of this cocoa infused weekend include:

• Opening-night Benefit and Fashion Show: Talented designers (including “Project Runway” alumni Jack Mackenroth, Kevin Christiana and Kit Pistol) pay homage to chocolate as they show designs centered on this year’s “All Time Superheroes” theme. Cocktails, chocolate desserts, and creative cocoa-inspired couture will abound. This event isn’t cheap at $250 but benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.
• Culinary Demonstrations: Learn what separates your underwhelming molten chocolate cake from the impeccable offerings at the city’s best patisseries, bakeries and restaurants. Dozens of cooking demonstrations take place in two state-of-the-art demo areas: the Chocolate Culinary Theater and the Viking Range Culinary Theater.
• Exhibits and Tastings (the best part)!:  Indulge your chocolate cravings from Massachusetts-made Berkshire Bark to New York’s own Payard Patisserie & Bistro.  Chocolate fiends of all stripes will be able to get their fix at the many product tastings and exhibits.
• American Chocolate Master Awards Ceremony: The country’s finest chocolatiers will compete at the French Culinary Institute on Sunday for a chance to represent the U.S. at the World Chocolate Masters competition. The winner will be revealed at the Chocolate Show at 5 p.m. These masters of all things sweet and sumptuous will square off in events like pastries, pralines and creating chocolate centerpieces.