the chocolate show 2010

This weekend hundreds of NYers lined up for hours…

and hours…

and hours…

…for a chance to indulge their sweet tooths (teeth?) at the 13th Annual Chocolate Show.

Luckily, I had outwitted the masses and signed up to work the event, giving me instant access through the back entrance to all the wonderful chocolate – for free!

In exchange for a few hours of handing out wristbands and brochures, I got to wander the Met Pavillion and taste all the chocolate on display.

And judging from all the hostile comments I got from ticket holders at the door – I’m glad I picked a bit of manual labor over the 3 hour wait in line!

Here are some photos of the sugar-cocoa-cream-truffle wonderland also known as Chocolate Heaven:

Apparently this peanut butter chocolate is “a heavenly experience for your taste buds”

I want a kiss!

Whoops, how did a photo of a postcard get into this…oh wait, it’s not a postcard…it’s chocolate!  Painted on sugar paper and molded to fine Belgian chocolate. Clever!

Who doesn’t love a chocolate fountain?

From the chocolate man himself…Jaques Torres.

If you look closely, you’ll see the rails are snickers bars and kit kat bars.

Another famous chocolatier, Francis Payard’s dizzying mesmerizing prints (OK, that’s actually my unsteady hand…sorry!)

Callebaut chocolate buttons.  SO GOOD. I bought a box of these to make chocolate chip cookies with.  Amazing chocolate.  Probably my favorite of the whole show!

Truffles, truffles, truffles….

OK, now that’s just creepy.

It’s a chocolate dress!

I think this should be no chewing “necessary”…The truffles that melt in your mouth.  Why? #1 ingredient was butter solids.  Mmm…solid butter…melty…

Crispy things covered in milk chocolate and dusted with matcha green tea.

Sadly, my picture does not do these beautiful truffles justice.  Probably the most delicate and detailed chocolates I’ve ever seen.

Chocolates en masse.

More chocolate fashion.

Beautiful!  They look like earthy gems filled with exotic ingredients like sake and passion fruit.

The most “out there” thing I saw…chocolate covered potato chips.

Not pictured is Eric (from Baked, and Top Chef Just Desserts).  I had turned away from the Francis Payard table only to come face to face with him.  I wanted to say “Eric!” but like a deer caught in headlights, I froze and then he was gone.

I’m glad I made it, but I’m even more glad I didn’t have to pay (or wait) for my sugar high.

absolutely stuffed!

Happy Monday!

I have to begin with saying that my cupcakes were a success with Aunt Vân (phew)!  I was a little nervous bringing baked goods to a former FCI student, but they turned out to be the perfect ice breaker for a weekend full of foodie goodness!

We spent most of our 2 days in Princeton, NJ eating to our heart’s content but I like to say that I was doing reasearch for my blog.  While it’s hard to choose between the refreshing trio of salads, the globe-trotting BBQ, and the breakfast of champions, I’d have to say my favorite meal was the BBQ ribs complete with 3 kinds of salad and sweet/sticky Vietnamese saffron rice…

BBQed with a garlicy-spicy-pineappley marinade

Now that's a good lookin' plate!

After polishing off that plate…and a second helping… (don’t judge!) we piled into the house and collapsed in front of the TV.  But Aunt Vân wasn’t finished with us yet! Like some kind of magical food fairy, she produced a perfectly round chocolate tart out of thin air (ok, it was the fridge).  Once I saw the this-beats-any-french-bakery-tart, my stomach miraculously made way for a piece of the chocolate-y goodness:

Chocolate three ways

Every bite was like popping a velvety smooth truffle into my mouth as it melted deliciously and unleashed a richness only heavy cream can be held responsible for.  It was heaven!

And it was a weekend to remember.  The food and the fresh Princeton air was a welcome change from the harried NYC life we all seem to live.  I can’t wait until the next trip!