Playing off of the triple meaning of the word “salon”, the organizers of this 2nd annual event set us up for a fashionable gathering of industry leaders, with a nod toward the arts, as well. Chocolate as art and art inspired by chocolate. It does seem to work, doesn’t it? And of course, the enlightened realize all the wonders that chocolate has to offer! The Chocolate Salon is a chance for the public to find many purveyors of fine chocolate all under one roof. For the price of a ticket, the assembled get to taste the wares of the chocolatiers present and get tons of information about how the vendors craft their goods. Along with the chocolate tastings came chef demonstrations and author presentations.
The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon 2009 saw a big jump in the number of chocolate companies represented, no doubt due to the fabulous success of last year’s event. With over 30 notable chocolate makers in attendance, Intrigue was thrilled to walk away with some very fine awards, as follows;
- 2nd Place: “Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience”
- 2nd Place: “Best Flavored Chocolate”
- Honorable Mentions: “Best Truffle” and “Most Gifted Chocolatier/Chocolate Maker”
(To see all of the judges’ picks visit (www.seattlechocolatesalon.com)
Seattle’s 2008 Chocolate Salon was extra warm with the Bell Harbor Conference Center’s air conditioning on the blink, but everyone managed to keep their cool and enjoy themselves. Last year Intrigue Chocolates came in 1st with “Best Flavored Chocolate”, 2nd with “Best Truffle”, and brought home Honorable Mentions for”Best Chocolatier” and “Best Chocolate for Wine”. With the field of competitors growing this year, the innovation bar seemed to be raised high. You may have found a few standards, but there were many flavors that were at the extreme cutting edge of creative!
Intrigue’s table had a great support team with several friends volunteering to help out. A big Thank You! to all of you who gave us lunch breaks, took pictures and did your own taste comparisons! Hope to see everyone there next year!