by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: Chocolates of the World Gala
When: Friday, February 8, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Sawgrass Marriott Resort, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
For foodies on the First Coast, there are just a few events every year that we mark boldly on our calendar. The sweetest event of all pays homage to a common love and lust—chocolate!
The Chocolates of the World Gala and Dessert Competition is set for Friday, February 8, 2008 at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach. It’s year seven for the prestigious and delicious event.
Funds raised at the event will benefit the promotion of international understanding through programs organized by the International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville (IVCJ). This non-profit has brought more than 1,300 visitors to Jacksonville from over 80 countries, all in the name of connecting Jacksonville to a multi-cultural, international community. I’m happy they’ve brought together a world of chocolate for us to taste!
Six chefs or chocolatiers will be competing. These chefs come from the immediate area, or as far as Sea Island Georgia. The six competitors are: Jaycel Adkins and Judy Tan from Etiquette of Chocolate, Hector Gonzalez from TPC Sawgrass Club, Jim Mullaney from The Cloister (a five-star property on Sea Island, Georgia,) Arthur White from the Holiday Inn Airport, James Muller from Maggiano’s Little Italy and Elizabeth Hancock of Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa. When these guys compete your taste buds win, especially since you get to judge who walks home with an award.
New to the competition are Jaycel Adkins and Judy Tan from Etiquette of Chocolate. They just opened up a gourmet chocolate shop in Orange Park. The dynamic dessert duo has an incredible culinary background which led them to the deep and sultry embrace of chocolate. While working as a pastry cook at Le Cirque in New York, Judy Tan developed an interest in chocolate. Later, she became an assistant chocolatier at Christopher Norman Chocolates. Jaycel also began with pastries, studying under Ewald Notter at the Notter School of Pastry Arts. He opened his own cake shop (Love and Laughter) before finally succumbing completely to the lure of chocolate.
Chocolate is the central focus of the event, but there are always other events going on, such as guest special guest Ethan Becker, one of the authors of the newest edition of Joy of Cooking, who will be there to sign copies of his book. You might not know that he is actually the grandson of the original author, Irma S. Rombauer.
Silent auctions are very popular at upscale charity events like these. You get the thrill of bidding, with none of the tension and expense of a live auctioneer. This event has a silent auction, but they also have an online auction prior to the event. They’ve got jewelry, resort vacations, books and chocolate up on the site right now. Go to IVCJax.CMarket.com to check it out.
Individual tickets of The Chocolates of the World Gala and Dessert Competition cost $75. Corporate tables of 10 with sign, $1000. Tickets are available through ivcjax.com or by calling (904) 346-3942.
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