The Culinary Stage
Access included with your festival ticket.
Explore 2026 Demos, Tastings & Talks
The Chocolate Story: How to Start & Run a Successful Chocolate Shop
Melissa Berry of Missionary Chocolate
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Join Melissa Berry, one of the first vendors at the Oregon Chocolate Festival, as she shares how she grew Missionary Chocolate into one of Oregon’s most successful and beloved chocolate brands, including multiple locations and a flagship shop at the Portland Airport. In this full-circle presentation, Melissa reveals practical strategies for scaling a creative business without sacrificing quality or vision.
Packed with lessons from decades in the craft chocolate industry, this session offers actionable advice and inspiration for anyone looking to turn a passion project into a thriving creative venture.
Meet Melissa Berry:
A naturopathic physician, founded Missionary Chocolates in 2008 while in her final year of medical school. What began as a home kitchen experiment creating vegan gifts for her mother quickly grew into a thriving company. Melissa’s mission is to craft chocolate that delights while supporting her vision for an integrative healing center in Portland, blending creativity, community, and wellness.
Chocolate 101: Taste Your Way Through the Evolution of Chocolate
Zack Gallinger-Long, host of The Chocolate Pod
Saturday, March 7, 2026
In this guided tasting session, you will move through the progression of cacao and chocolate samples that show how people gradually shaped cacao into the chocolate we enjoy today.
Each taste reflects a point in time when a new way of experiencing chocolate emerged, from its earliest uses to the familiar forms we know today. As you sample, you will see how these changes connect to the modern chocolate-making process and pick up a few simple tips for tasting chocolate more thoughtfully.
This is a relaxed, hands-on experience that blends history, culture, and flavor into one. Come ready to taste chocolate in a way you never have before.
Meet Zack Gallinger-Long:
Zack Gallinger-Long is the host of The Chocolate Pod, a podcast that explores the people and stories behind the craft chocolate world. Through conversations and tastings across the industry, he helps others discover chocolate in a deeper and more memorable way.
Designing Chocolate: The Science & Art of Blending Cacao Origins
Desiree Marca of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Discover how chocolate makers turn cacao from around the world into unique, flavorful blends in this interactive session with Desiree Marca. She’ll guide a select group of attendees through a tasting of two single-origin chocolates and one blended chocolate, revealing how origin, technique, and creativity come together to shape every bite.
Meet Desiree Marca:
Desiree develops products for the Harry & David and Scharffen Berger chocolate brands and has traveled to Costa Rica to study cacao and the chocolate-making process from bean to bar. Desiree’s expertise and passion make this a rare opportunity to learn from a leader in craft chocolate.
Did you know? Scharffen Berger helped usher in a new era of flavor, transparency, and craftsmanship in the U.S. chocolate industry, including being the first to list cacao percentages on their bars.
Live Chef Demonstration
Joe Reid, Executive Chef of Hudson’s Bar & Grill
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Experience a dynamic, chef-led demonstration showcasing decadent desert flavors and culinary techniques from one of the region’s most celebrated kitchens. Demo reveal coming soon.
Meet Chef Joe Reid
Pacific Northwest native Joe Reid has been a cornerstone of the region’s culinary scene for over 20 years. A Western Culinary Institute graduate, he trained at Morton’s Steakhouse, Salishan Lodge, and Stanford’s before becoming Executive Chef at Hudson’s Bar & Grill at The Heathman Lodge. Celebrated for its farm-to-table approach and locally inspired cuisine, Hudson’s blends classic American flavors with global influences, continuing a legacy of excellence in the Vancouver, Washington culinary scene.
The Art of Pairing Wine & Chocolate
Faith Lemire-Baeten of Latitude Wine Tours
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Discover how fine chocolate and carefully selected wines elevate one another in this interactive session with Faith Lemire-Baeten, WSET III-certified wine educator. Drawing on years of local and international experience, Faith will share approachable tips on matching flavors, sweetness, intensity, and texture.
Select attendees (21+) will join a guided tasting featuring decadent chocolates and a variety of wines, including surprising flavor combinations. Tools and a take-home reference guide will ensure you can recreate these pairings long after the festival. This session is perfect for chocolate lovers and wine enthusiasts alike.
Meet Faith Lemire-Baeten:
Faith Lemire-Baeten brings local and international wine experience to every tasting, combining her WSET III certification with a passion for approachable, educational, and entertaining wine experiences. A California wine country native, Faith draws on years in wineries and tasting rooms to guide guests through flavor, pairing, and the joy of wine.
Finding Flavor: A Hands-On Chocolate Trivia Experience
Jewel Lerato of Lerato Luxe Artisan Chocolates
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Put your palate and chocolate knowledge to the test in this interactive, flavor-forward experience! Join Jewel for a multi-round chocolate trivia challenge—including Chocolate Myths, Smell & the Brain, and Cacao & Terroir—and compete to win decadent chocolate prizes.
Meet Jewel Lerato:
Jewel’s journey into chocolate began in a bean-to-bar kitchen in Carbondale, Colorado, where she learned that true craft comes from patience, precision, and letting ingredients speak. From producing truffles for a Michelin-starred restaurant to creating custom bonbons for private clients, Jewel’s philosophy is that true luxury is intentional, balanced, and quietly assured. Lerato Luxe Artisan Chocolate brings that vision to life, crafting jewel-toned chocolates meant to be savored slowly, where flavor and beauty unfold together.
Women in Chocolate: Podcast Panel Interview
Darlene Gallinger-Long, co-host of The Chocolate Pod
Sunday, March 8, 2026
In celebration of this year’s festival theme, From Bean to Boss, and International Women’s Day, this panel brings together three women from the craft chocolate industry to share their journeys, insights, and perspectives on working with cacao, serving customers, and building community.
Attendees will hear how careers in chocolate take shape, the lessons learned along the way, and the practical realities of working in a growing and evolving field. The discussion offers a chance to listen in as these professionals reflect on the decisions that shaped their paths and what they see ahead for craft chocolate.
Hosted by Darlene Gallinger-Long, known as the Chocolate Queen, this session creates space for an engaging and thoughtful dialogue filled with real stories and practical insight.
Come listen, learn, and be part of the conversation.
About Darlene Gallinger-Long
Darlene Gallinger-Long, commonly known as the Chocolate Queen, is this year’s facilitator with a passion for the world of craft chocolate. With a natural curiosity and a talent for drawing out meaningful stories in an engaging and insightful way, she helps create and inviting atmosphere where chocolate enthusiasts and experts alike can share their love of craft chocolate.