Pike Chocofest 2010 Review
Anne Boyington Serving Trevani Truffles
On February 11, a crowd infiltrated Pike Brewing Company for the 2nd annual Chocofest – a pairing of chocolate with wine, beer, and spirits. One thing that immediately sets this event apart is the hospitality of the brewery’s owners, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel. They are such gracious hosts, introducing themselves to attendees and thanking them for coming. How many times do you attend a big event and even know who the hosts are, much less have them come up and speak to you? That’s impressive in my book.
I was looking forward to this event with much anticipation. In fact, I have such a fixation with chocolate that I have graduated with honors from Theo Chocolate Academy. No kidding, they’ve awarded me certificates that declare that I have eaten a statistically significant number of chocolate samples, and have mastered the art of chocolate eating. So you can believe me when I say that for a true chocolate lover, this event did not disappoint.
Bites and Sips
If you were one of the unfortunates who did not purchase tickets before Chocofest sold out, here are some of the highlights:
Confection Box by Carter's Chocolates
Carter’s Chocolate had a beautiful display featuring chocolates emblazoned with the Pike Brewery logo and flavored with Pike Ales. The Pike XXXXX Stout truffle is a stand out.
Leonidas white chocolate pistachio truffle presented by Bottleworks paired with Scharfenberger Brut poured by Noble Wines was the hubby’s favorite match. He was right when he said about the truffle, ‘That is not just any pistachio, that is in your face pistachio!” I bet the Brut would also be terrific with a handmade Mist truffle by Anne Boyington of Trevani Truffles. However, I gulped down that luscious, creamy, green tea infused, white chocolate confection before I could even consider it. With some truffles you have to wonder what the subtle background flavor is, but not with Trevani Truffles.
Gelatiamo’s White Chocolate Tandem Gelato with Cocoa Nibs paired with Pacific Distillery’s Pacifique Absinthe Verte Superieur was Bean’s favorite pairing of the night. The gelato is worthy of a trip downtown and even paying for parking. The hints of coriander and fruitiness from the Pike Tandem Double Ale shine through. If you want to know about the absinthe, you’ll have to ask Bean!
Absinthe Decanter
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir paired with Claudio Corallo 80% chocolate is worth a try. This is serious chocolate, so deep, toasty, and smokey you think that it could teach wine a thing or two about terroir. The delightfully crunchy texture comes from nibs in the bar. Oh, and did you know that they have a new shop in the south Lake Union area on Westlake?
One of the surprise bites of the evening came from Ritrovo Foods, the folks who purvey that elegant truffle salt that surfaced in Seattle specialty stores a few years ago. Imagine that salt embedded in Xocalati dark chocolate. At first I thought, “Well, yeah, that’s good chocolate, but where’s the…oh, wait for it….there it is!” That distinctive earthy and familiar flavor shows up on the finish, and it’s fantastic with chocolate. Who new?
Oh! Chocolate Display of Pike Stout Truffles
Do you prefer chocolate confections that highlight the chocolate with just a hint of another flavor? Try the Oh! Chocolate Pike Stout truffles.
Related posts:
- Pike Brewing Chocofest Celebrates Sensual Delights
- Pike Brewing Chocofest: Valentine Day Foreplay
- Chocolate, Red Wine and BEER!
- Pike Entire: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
- Happy 20th Anniversary Pike Brewery!
