Demonstrations & Talks 2022
Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6
Access included with the purchase of Oregon Chocolate Festival ticket.
Saturday, March 5th, 2022
12pm – Wine and Chocolate Pairing with Molly Shaughnessy – Certified Sommelier, CMS, Restaurant Manager at LARKS – The art of pairing decadence. Certified Sommelier Molly Shaughnessy leads you through tips and tricks for pairing wine one of the most nuanced and decadent foods: chocolate. Molly is Restaurant Manager and Sommelier at Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine and is no stranger to pairing wine with food. In this presentation, learn about the elements of a pairing and how it can relate to chocolate. She will lead you through three chocolates ranging from Creamy Milk Chocolate through Extra Dark.
1pm – Chocolate Fondant Demo by Pastry Chef Sarah Pineda of Alchemy Restaurant
1:30pm – Before We Enjoy Chocolate, there is a Tree. Presented by Nathan Rogers of Cacao Kingdom – Join Nathan Rogers of Cacao Kingdom for an informative and exciting presentation on the basics of cacao such as the habitat including growing and harvesting processes. Learn differences between 3 types of cacao: the Criollo, Trinitario, and Forester. Leave the best for last and watch skilled chocolatier how he opens numerous fresh cacao pods and sample fresh cacao beans! Fresh cacao pods used in this presentation origin from Ecuador. Follow the Equator and you will find cacao. Top 10 cacao producing countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Peru.
2pm – Chocolate Cocktails Demos by Mixologist Amber Shannon of LUNA Café. Learn how to make two chocolate martinis. The Chocolate Vesper is a take on the Bond Martini, using a chocolate lavender vodka liqueur to highlight the gentle lavender notes in the Gompers Gin. The Queen Anne is a spin on the chocolate cherry martini, using Cacao Nib Infused Freakshow Vodka (made in Medford). After the demo, head into LUNA Café (located at the festival venue) to try these specialty cocktails.
Saunday, March 6th, 2022
12pm – Wine and Chocolate Pairing with Molly Shaughnessy – Certified Sommelier, CMS, Restaurant Manager at LARKS – The art of pairing decadence. Certified Sommelier Molly Shaughnessy leads you through tips and tricks for pairing wine one of the most nuanced and decadent foods: chocolate. Molly is Restaurant Manager and Sommelier at Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine and is no stranger to pairing wine with food. In this presentation, learn about the elements of a pairing and how it can relate to chocolate. She will lead you through three chocolates ranging from Creamy Milk Chocolate through Extra Dark.
1pm – Chocolate Fondant Demo by Pastry Chef Sarah Pineda of Alchemy Restaurant
1:30pm – Before We Enjoy Chocolate, there is a Tree. Presented by Nathan Rogers of Cacao Kingdom – Join Nathan Rogers of Cacao Kingdom for an informative and exciting presentation on the basics of cacao such as the habitat including growing and harvesting processes. Learn differences between 3 types of cacao: the Criollo, Trinitario, and Forester. Leave the best for last and watch skilled chocolatier how he opens numerous fresh cacao pods and sample fresh cacao beans! Fresh cacao pods used in this presentation origin from Ecuador. Follow the Equator and you will find cacao. Top 10 cacao producing countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Peru.
2pm – Chocolate Cocktails Demos by Mixologist Amber Shannon of LUNA Café. Learn how to make two chocolate martinis. The Chocolate Vesper is a take on the Bond Martini, using a chocolate lavender vodka liqueur to highlight the gentle lavender notes in the Gompers Gin. The Queen Anne is a spin on the chocolate cherry martini, using Cacao Nib Infused Freakshow Vodka (made in Medford). After the demo, head into LUNA Café (located at the festival venue) to try these specialty cocktails.