Gathering the last of my reserves I power through. Thinking to myself, “I may never be able to eat chocolate again.” It’s all so amazing, and there is so much of it, that the sugar buzz is getting to my stomach. In the end, I am thankful for the opportunity to take part and happy to have had a hand in choosing the winners. While all tastes had positive attributes, below are the winners who stood out from the rest.
The Oregon Chocolate Festival Winners Are!
And speaking of wine, there is also an opportunity to taste some tasty Oregon wine.
Festivals are always great, but knowing the why behind the event and the interests surrounding it is always intriguing. Founded by the Karolina Wyszynska Lavagnino Sales and Marketing Director for the Neuman Hotels, the Oregon Chocolate Festival is a draw for chocolate lovers near and far.
Why & when did you start the Chocolate Festival?
My initial idea behind creating the Oregon Chocolate Festival was to create an annual event that attracts many people in a slower season. March is a time without any major holidays (Feb has Valentine’s, April usually has Easter etc) to boost traffic and hotel occupancy at Ashland Springs Hotel. What else can attract the same way young, old, women and men, from here and there! Chocolate! And so the concept was created. The first year we had only 14 vendors, and now we cap at 50. It has become a recognizable Southern Oregon destination foodie event. ~ Karolina
To the critics who say pairing wine with chocolate doesn’t work… My palate says otherwise.
~The Wine Siren
* The Oregon Chocolate Festival is partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network and will provide 10% of the festival proceeds in 2017 to the Asante’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) located at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.