Organisers of this year’s annual ChocFest have gone out of their way to make sure that everyone can enjoy Melton Mowbray’s popular chocolate extravaganza.
With increasing awareness of the need to have allergen free alternatives, organisers have encouraged exhibitors specialising in gluten free, dairy free and vegan products to attend. So not only will visitors be able to buy gluten and dairy free chocolate, but also cakes, brownies and other goodies.
ChocFest will be held at the Melton Mowbray Livestock Market from 18-19 November 2017.
Almost all of the chocolate workshops are sold out for the event with a few spaces left on just four out of the 12 workshops. The tastings programme will include not only chocolatiers, promoting their products, but also a session on how well wine and chocolate go together – something which we know already but it wouldn’t do any harm to try again.
Talks in the Chocolate Theatre include ‘Chocolate – Its Origins and Associations with Love!’, ‘From Bean to Bar’ and two demonstrations, one on ‘Make your own Christmas Chocolates’ and another on ‘Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles’.
Over 30 of the UK’s leading chocolatiers will be at the event, complemented by around 100 stands selling all things chocolate including chocolate cakes, brownies, liqueurs, marshmallows, biscuits, macarons, donuts, crepes, ice cream, puddings, hot chocolate, and even chocolate wine, beer and pizzas. There will also be other seasonal food and drink stands.
Organiser, Matthew O’Callaghan said: “We’re delighted with the buzz that the event has created on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Advance ticket sales have been doing really well so we expect record numbers this weekend, especially as the weather forecast is set to be sunny.
“I’m personally looking forward to the Poffertjes which are little Dutch waffles drizzled with chocolate and perhaps later the Spanish Churros – dipped in chocolate, of course. I’m hoping it’ll be a bit cold so it’ll be an excuse to try a cup of thick Italian hot chocolate topped with cream. I can’t wait until the weekend!”
ChocFest will run from 10am to 4pm on 18–19 November. Tickets are priced at £5 (£4 in advance). Children under 16 enter free. Advance tickets are on sale from the Visit Leicester centre in Leicester and Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton Mowbray, or online from www.ukchocfest.co.uk
