San Francisco Chocolate Salon News!

SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON

This year's 14th Annual San Francisco CHOCOLATE SALON is officially postponed due to San Francisco's shelter in place in accordance with the State of California and the City of San Francisco's requests. 

A new date has not yet been announced, however the Fall Holiday Chocolate Salon is still planned for late November 2020, and the 2021 San Francisco Chocolate Salon for March 2021.

www.SFChocolateSalon.com

TICKET HOLDERS

The Chocolate Salon knows that ticket holders love great chocolate and confections, and that they also love helping support our struggling small businesses. This is why the Salon has is offering them three options: 1) Gift Card for future Salon Tickets 2) Gift Card to use to purchase chocolates and confections directly from some of the Salon exhibitors thru May 28th 3) Full Refunds Tickets sourced via Eventbrite, please check your email for instructions or go here. If you have tickets via other sources, please contact them for instructions.

SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON: Change of Date - May 17

SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON   NEW DATE: May 17, 2020    A key part of TasteTV's mission is to support small businesses, including chocolatiers, chocolate makers, and other artisans. It is also to support local businesses, and equally important, to support our fans, event attendees, and the community at large. This year's 14th Annual San Francisco CHOCOLATE SALON will be officially postponed and rescheduled from March 21st to a new date of May 17th.  This two-month event date change is made in accordance with the State of California and the City of San Francisco's requests. Authorized and approved safe food handling and other healthy event procedures will continue to be in place. TICKETS: All current tickets purchased for March 21st are valid for the May 17th date, and tickets are currently on sale for the new date.   The original and premier artisan chocolate show on the West Coast takes place this Spring at the 14th Annual San Francisco International CHOCOLATE SALON on May 17, 2020 in Golden Gate Park in the Hall of Flowers. Chocolate aficionados, fanatics, buyers and journalists can experience the finest in artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate in one of the world's great culinary metropolitan areas. When: May 17, 2020   10:00am - 5:30pm  Where: San Francisco County Fair Building Hall of Flowers Golden Gate Park 1199 9th Ave at Lincoln Way San Francisco, CA 94122 Adults: $20-$25 (Advance), $30 (Door)  For more information, go to www.SFChocolateSalon.com *Supporting and Advancing Small Businesses and Culinary Entrepreneurs since 2007 www.SFChocolateSalon.com

San Francisco International Chocolate Salon: March 5

10th Annual SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON

March 5, 2016
Fort Mason Center, Herbst Pavilion
1 Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123
10am-6pm
www.SFChocolateSalon.com
  
Advance Purchase Tickets are now available
($20 Advance, $30 Door)

The ORIGINAL & PREMIER Artisan Chocolate Salon event on the West Coast!
Chocolate aficionados, fanatics, buyers, and journalists can experience the finest in artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate in one of the world's great culinary metropolitan areas.

Over 30,000 square feet of Chocolate, Wine and Confections.

Curated participants include
Amano Artisan Chocolate
Fera'wyn's Artisan Chocolates
Alter Eco
Kindred Cooks
William Dean Chocolates
flying noir
Starchild Chocolate
CACOCO
Firefly Chocolate
Verde Vivo Tea
Socola Chocolatier
Jade Chocolates
Hot Chocolat
CocoTutti
DAVIDsTEA
Prager Winery & Port Works/SFWA
Be a Gourmet
Heavenly Taste Toffee
Degroot Desserts
Sweet Milalani
The TeaRoom Chocolate Company
Endorfin
Sonoma County Distilling Company
Cowboy Toffee Company
R & J Toffees
David Bacco Chocolatier
BASEL B INC
NeoCocoa
Dove Chocolate Discoveries
Farm Fresh To You
San Francisco Chronicle
Spicy Vines
Be a Gourmet
Soleil Communications/Welk Resorts
Sam's Chowdermobile
TasteTV
...and more


SALON SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS
Presentations on Chocolate and Your Modern Lifestyle, including by scheduled speakers:
Art Pollard, Amano Chocolate, ranked by the New York Times as the #1 Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Maker in the United States
Sacramento Food & Lifestyle Author Joey Garcia
Jen Cooper of Ben and Max Snacks talking about Starting Your own Food Business
Kristen Wynn, Marich Confections, on Chocolate & Wine Pairings
Michael Poole, Hot Chocolat Cacoco drinking chocolate
Frank Price & Janet Rudolph and more!

San Francisco Fall CHOCOLATE SALON: November 22

I love the Chocolate Salons organized by TasteTV, and this 5th Annual Fall Chocolate Salon is going to be sensational!

Saturday, November 22, Fort Mason Center, Conference Building A, San Francisco!

Buy tickets in advance. Limited availability at the door

I'll be there. I'm a Judge! I know, I know, it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it!

Check out some of the chocolatiers and others who will be there.

San Francisco Chocolate Salon: Award Winners

The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon this year was better than ever. I was lucky enough to be a Judge which meant I got to taste a lot of the chocolate, truffles, and specialities prior to the Salon. I know, it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it.

Lots of categories and lots of winners, so that means you can do mini-chocolate salons and tastings in your home. You can do a blind tasting with different parties focusing on different categories or several categories. Provide the first, second and third place winners. Yum. Then you can do it again. Or...Come of the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon next March...or to a Luxury Chocolate Salon near you: Seattle (July 11, 2010), Los Angeles (October 2010), Chicago or Las Vegas.

Following are the winners at this year's San Francisco International Chocolate Salon in multiple categories. For the complete list of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention, go HERE.

Just an FYI. I will be reviewing several of the Chocolate companies and chocolatiers individually over the next few weeks starting with the overall most Gold (Best) Awards: William Dean Chocolates. They're awesome!

Best Dark Chocolate: Individual Product Award: Amano Artisan Chocolate: Madagascar, 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. This was my personal favorite, and a bit harder to find in retail shops than some of the other Amano Dark Chocolate Bars (Amano Montanya 70% and Amano Ocumare 70% were tied for second place and their Jembrana 70% took third place). Actually the Madagascar 70% Dark Chocolate tied with the Guittard: Complexite Bittersweet Blended 70@ Bittersweet Chocolate. I love to use the Guittard in my flourless chocolate cake, and I've also used Amano's Montanya and Ocumare. I save the Madagascar for eating. Needless to say, Amano Artisan Chocolate won First Place in Product Line Award: Best Dark Chocolate.

Best Milk Chocolate: I'm not a big Milk Chocolate Fan, but the Guittard: Kokoleka Hawaiian 38%-Hawaian Milk Chocolate won First Place. Guittard won the Product Line Award.

Best Truffle: First Place: Coco Delice tied with William Dean Chocolate: 10 Piece Box of Chocolates with William Dean Chocolates for Product Line Award. I thought the Coco Delice truffles were fabulous. Very smooth. Vice Chocolates: 8 pc Variety Truffle/Caramel Box were quite good, and I'm a big fan of Vice, a local chocolatier.

Top Artisan Chocolatier: Amano Artisan Chocolate. No big surprise. These people know how to make chocolate.

Best Traditional Chocolates: Dolce Bella: 12 piece box of bon bons tied with Gateau et Ganache: 4 Piece Assorted Chocolate Bonbons in the individual product award with Saratoga Chocolates winning the Product Line Award. I voted for Saratoga Chocolates last year, visited their new shop in San Francisco, and thought this year's chocolates were sensational.

Best Flavored Chocolate: Jade Chocolates Genmai Bar tied with Vice Chocolates' Dark Chocolate Bar with Fig &Anise, both high on my list. Jade Chocolates won Best Product Line Award.

Best Gift Set: William Dean Chocolates

Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience: William Dean Chocolates

Most Delicious Ingredient Combinations: William Dean Chocolates: 10 piece Box of Chocolates

Best Flavored Chocolate Bar: Individual Product Award: Vice Chocolates: Dark Chocolate Bar with Fig &Anise. Product Line Award: Jade Chocolates.

Best Dark Chocolate Bar: Individual Product Award:Amano Artisan Chocolate: Madagascar 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. Product Line Award: Amano Artisan Chocolate

Best in Salon: Amano Artisan Chocolate, Vice Chocolates. William Dean Chocolates

Best Presentation & Packaging. I must say of all the topics, this one hit home to the artist in me. Some of the packaging  was just so outstanding, you didn't want to open the boxes. Many of the chocolates themselves were such fabulous works of art you didn't want to eat the, but I did.  Best Product Line Award: William Dean

Best Milk Chocolate Bar: Individual product Award: Amano Artisan Chocolate: Jembrana Milk Chocolate Bar: Product Line Award: Amano Artisan Chocolate

Most Gifted Chocolatier/Chocolate Maker: William Dean Chocolates.

Best Comfort Chocolate Product: Individual product Award: Kikas Treats: Caramelized Graham Crackers in Dark Chocolate, Product Line Award: Her Coconess tied with Kika's Treats

Best Toffee, Snack or Confection: Individual Product Award: Clarine's Florentines
Product Line Award: Clarine's Florentines (My all over favorites since they were new to me)*

Best Organic or Fair Trade Products: Individual Product Award: Alter Eco Fair Trade: Dark Quinoa Chocolate; Product Line Award: Alter Eco Fair Trade

Most Artistic Designs: Individual Product Award:William Dean Chocolates: 10 Piece Box of Chocolates, Product Line Award: William Dean Chocolates

New Product Award: Individual Product Award: Jade Chocolates: Terracotta Bar tied with Clarine's Florentines; Product Line Award: William Dean Chocolates

I blogged about chocolate caramels before, but I must say again that Her Coconess Pink Flake Salt Caramels were my personal favorites. Clarine's Florentines were the first product I received, and I loved the crispiness, sweetness, dark chocolate with just the right amount of gooeyness. Fabulous, and I've already bought more. I see these as a weekly staple.

FOR THE ENTIRE BEST OF THE SALON--SECOND, THIRD, HONORABLE MENTION, GO HERE.

San Francisco Chocolate Salon

Maybe I'm biased since I'm a judge, but the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon is a fabulous chocolate experience! This will be the 4th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon.

When: Saturday, March 20: 10 am. to 6 p.m.
Where: Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion

With 50,000 sq ft of Chocolate, Wine & Confections--that's 66% more floor space than in 2009, this premier chocolate show on the West Coast is for chocolate afficiandos, fanatics, buyers and journalists. You'll be able to experience and taste soooo much chocolate. You can wash it down with vodka and wine!

Some of the chocolatiers and confectioners:
Amano Artisan Chocolate, Sacred Chocolate, Guittard Chocolate Company, Saratoga Chocolates, The Tea Room chocolate, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, TCHO, Neo Cocoa, Kikas Treats, CJ's Bitz, Socola Chocolatier, Divine Chocolate, Drexelius Chocolates, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Chocolate, Amella Caramels, Jade Chocolates, Ococoa, Malie Kai Chocolates, Happy Chocolates, Choclatique, Coco Delice Fine Chocolates, Clarine's Florentines, Napa Valley Fudge Company, Nicobella vegan organic truffles, Robyn's Chocolates, Vice Chocolates, Dolce Bella Chocolates, William Dean Chocolates, Edible Love Chocolates, Marti Chocolatt, Coco-luxe Confections, Sterling Confections, Christopher Michael Chocolates, Posh Chocolat, Gateau et Ganache, Poco Dolce, XOX Truffles, Schoggi Swiss Chocolates, Divine Organics by Transition Nutrition, Her Coconess Confections, Snake & Butterfly, Truffles in Paradise, Cacao Atlanta, Barlovento Chocolates, AF2 Chocolatiers, Beaux Gateaux, The San Francisco Chocolate Factory, Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Quady Winery, Blue Angel Vodka,

New 2010 Chocolate Salon Additions include the Chocolate Chef Competition and the TasteTV Wine Competition. Other Salon highlights feature chocolate tasting, demonstrations, new product launches and flavor combinations, fair trade & organic offerings, chef & author talks, wine pairings, a live chocolate body frosting demonstration, ongoing interviews by TasteTV's Chocolate Television program, and book signings.

To purchase tickets in advance, go HERE. $25 in advance. $30 at the door.

San Francisco Chocolate Salon Awards

Chocolate Salon Awards

After over 4,000 attendees on Saturday savored the delectable offerings as part of the national Chocolate Stimulus Plan, The Awards for the 3rd Annual SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON have been selected by a team of expert panelists (I don't think I'm an expert, but I know what I like). All awards can be seen on the Salon website. Check out the Second Place and Honorable Mentions. And remember, this is all a matter of taste.

Best Dark Chocolate: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Best Milk Chocolate: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Best Truffle: Neo Cocoa
Top Artisan Chocolatier: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience: Dolce Bella Chocolates
Most Artistic Designs: William Dean Chocolates
Best Flavored Chocolate Bar: Marti Chocolatt
Most Delicious Ingredient Combinations: Jade Chocolates
Best Traditional Chocolate: Guittard Chocolate Company
Best Dark Chcoolate Bar: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Best Toffee in the Salon: Poco Dolce
Best in Salon: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Best Organic or Fair Trade Products: Divine Chocolate
Most Gifted Chocolatier/Chocolate Maker: Amano Artisan Chocolate
Best Comfort Chocolate Product: Kikas Treats
New Product Awards: This was a really hard category, and the Judges were split between:
XOX Truffles
Chopita
Sterling Confections
CJ's Bitz
Christopher Michael Chocolates
Choffy
Marti Chocolatt
Brix Chocolate
Neo Cocoa
Best Wine or Beverage: Van Gogh Chocolate Vodka

I can't wait for next year. In the meantime, if you find yourself in the following cities at these times, be sure to check out the International Chocolate Salon.

Upcoming Chocolate Salons:
July 12, 2009: Seattle September 2009: Chicago October 11 2009: Los Angeles

For more information, go to ChocolateSalon.tv

Read more about Amano Chocolate, my pick from the Fancy Food Show and the chocolate that scored so high in so many categories at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon.

San Francisco International Chocolate Salon

What can I say. Over 4,000 people attended the San Francisco Chocolate Salon this past Saturday. I'm so glad I got there early (note to self: remember to go early next year) before all those people arrived. There certainly was enough to satisfy even the most devoted chocoholic.

I was a Judge, so I picked up my form right away. I was surprised at all the categories. I'm a purist at heart and many of the categories had to do with what was added to the chocolate or how it was packaged, but that didn't daunt me. I was up to the challenge, and, after all, I should be expanding my horizons. Some of the categories ranged from best dark chocolate bar to best truffle to best new chocolate product, to most interesting ingredient. I'll let you know the categories and winners when I get them on Thursday.

So out I went ballot in hand. So many choices! There were Honey-vodka truffles from XOX. Beautifully shaped truffles and elegant boxes with great tasting cayene tequila truffles from Neo Cocoa, interesting flavored bars from Jade Chocolates including Dragon's Breath. Very hot and spicy! And so many more. I was taken by the Chocolate Guinness from Socola, a great accompaniment for my Chocolate Guinness cake last week. I enjoyed talking with the two sisters Wendy and Susan Leiu abut their hand-crafted truffles with local ingredients including Straus Cermery butter and cream.

Tcho was there, and they produce some of my favorites bars. Sterling Confections had the most incredible artistic 'loaves of many colors.' There were chocolates beautifully boxed in Tiffany colors. Poco Dolce had Tiles of chocolate. Interesting concept and great taste. Suggestion by the folks there was to break them up and do a tasting. Dolce Bella of Saratoga had my vote in several categories. Smooth, luxurious truffles. Divine Chocolate billed itself as Heavenly Chocolate with a Heart, and I certainly agreed.

I could go on and on, and probably will at another time when I go through all of the exhibitors at a later date. So I made my first pass, tasting small amounts, thinking of the categories. Although I thought I had taken good notes, I found I had to go around a second and even to some chocolatiers a third time, in order to reach a decision. This judging was much harder than I thought it would be.

I reached my own conclusions and handed in my ballot, but I look forward to Thursday and finding out what the consensus of all the judges was. I'll post as soon as I know. In the meantime, I have some very sweet memories of a great hall of chocolate! The International Chocolate Salon goes to other cities. Be sure and put it on your calendar if they come your way. I particularly liked that so many local chocolatiers were included at the San Francisco Salon. I loved meeting new chocolatiers and tasting new chocolate!

It was an event to die for......

San Francisco International Chocolate Salon

Just received an email with new chocolate additions to the 2009 San Francisco Chocolate Salon.

TCHO, Tifa Chocolate, Yelp!, Omnivore Books, The Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa, ARTworkSF, and PlayFirst's "Chocolatier" video games (Decadence by Design).

The Chocolate Salon is Saturday, March 21st, 2009 from 10am-6pm and is the premier artisan chocolate and confections event on the West Coast, with over 30,000 square feet of discoveries and delights at the Fort Mason Center's Herbst Pavilion in San Francisco.
Advance Tickets are $20 ($25 Door).

See the new Chocolate Television video from past Salons featuring L'Artisan du Chocolat, Quady Winery, XOX Truffles, and the San Francisco Chocolate Factory.

The Third Annual San Francisco International CHOCOLATE SALON participants include over 50 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans, such as: Amano Artisan Chocolate, Jade Chocolates, Coco-luxe Confections, Guittard Chocolate Company, Saratoga Chocolates, Marti Chocolatt, The Tea Room chocolate, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Choclatique, TCHO, The Xocolate Bar, Dolce Bella Chocolates, William Dean Chocolates, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, , Omnivore Books, Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa,Chocolate Television, The New York Times and TasteTV, and many more. All this in over 30,000 square feet of Chocolate, Wine and Confections.

For Tickets: Contact: www.SFChocolateSalon.com

Chocolate Salon Author Book Signings:
Carole Bloom, "Truffles, Candies, and Confections"
Celebrity Chefs, "Sexy Dishes: A Guide to Who's Hot in the Kitchen"
Anita Chu, "A Field Guide to Cookies"
A.K. Crump, "The Cafes of San Francisco, 3rd Edition"

*** UPCOMING LUXURY CHOCOLATE SALONS **

- Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon (July 12, 2009)
- Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon (September, 2009)
- Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon (October 2009)

For more info: www.ChocolateSalon.TV