Who Doesn't Like Chocolate - Tasting on Thur - May 5

I am now a member of the Board of Slow Food Chicago, and I wanted to let you all know about an interesting event. It's a tasting of Ecuadorian Chocolate to benefit the Kallari Foundation. The event is being held this Thursday, May 5 at the Fine Arts Building, Curtiss Hall, 410 S. Michigan Ave. from 6-8 p.m ($10 for Slow Food members, $15 for non-members). Purchase tickets here.

See below for more information.

Kallari is the world’s only chocolate that is 100% owned by the indigenous cocoa growers and processed at a factory only a few hours from the farms. The Amazon-based chocolatiers will teach attendees about regional chocolate flavor profiles and illustrate the process of chocolate-making from cocoa seedlings to chocolate bars. The eye-opening, sensory-stimulating lecture will help guests distinguish chocolate characteristics, discern roasting techniques and recognize regional origins, all while sampling gourmet chocolates from around the world.


Slow Food Chicago and the Kallari Foundation are set to present an enlightening Ecuadorian chocolate experience on May 5. Kallari is the world's only chocolate that is 100% owned by the indigenous cocoa growers and processed at a factory only a few hours from the farms. The Amazon-based chocolatiers will teach attendees about regional chocolate flavor profiles and illustrate the process of chocolate-making from cocoa seedlings to chocolate bars. The eye-opening, sensory-stimulating lecture will help guests distinguish chocolate characteristics, discern roasting techniques and recognize regional origins, all while sampling gourmet chocolates from around the world. The event takes place at the Fine Arts Building in Curtiss Hall (410 S. Michigan Ave.) from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Kallari Association is a cooperative of 850 families farming in the Rainforest of Ecuador. Their chocolate is organic and fair traded. The cacao beans for Kallari Chocolate are a blend of several varietals, with the main flavor attributed to the Cacao Nacional de Arriba bean. In 2004, these rare beans were singled out by the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity as a Presidia heirloom varietal.

Presenter Roxana Salvador is a delegate from the Kallari Association of cocoa producers in the Ecuadorian Amazon. She is a cocoa grower and will present the Kichwa traditional farming techniques. Salvador will continue with all the labor-intensive steps required to cultivate, harvest and prepare gourmet cacao for dark chocolate.

Also presenting is tropical biologist, Judy Logback, who will continue with the various processes of chocolate production from roasting through tempering. Her description includes the regional flavor profiles of cocoa varietals and several tricks that chocolatiers use during the manufacturing stages. Several chocolates will be sampled at the presentation, with wine pairings provided by Candid Wines.

Cost to attend is $10 for Slow Food members; $15 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit here

Proceeds benefit the Kallari Foundation

Any reports on this event? Kallari makes fantastic chocolate bars.