9 lucky people win 2 tickets each to join Richard Wolak at an exclusive Chocolate Making Class hosted by Xoxolat!

Food of the Gods? or Confection? Health Food? or Candy? Did you know that cacao beans only grow within 20° of the equator? Or, like fine wine, different beans from different plantations have different flavour profiles?

Chocolate 101 participants will learn the many facets of chocolate, from the bean to the bar, and taste samples of different beans, origins, manufacturers, and percentages of cocoa.

Also, as we believe that chocolate goes with everything, you will taste some of the our bestselling blended bars, such as our Maple caramelized Bacon with Espresso, Lavender, Sea Salt & Triple Peppercorns, Sour Cherry with Chili, and more.

Nine winners will be randomly selected from all submissions, contest closes at 5pm on July 29th. This class will take place in late August and we will notify you of the date in advance!

The 9 Winners are:

1. David_h
2. Alicia @bakeaholic
3. DennisL
4. Lor
5. Shiela Setlobudi
6. Helen
7. @Natalievana
8. Laureen
9. Adam Baker

The Contest

To enter you must do the following:

1)    Enter the Ultimate Sweet Ending Experience by submitting a comment below in 25 words or more – What is your Favourite Chocolate dessert and why?

2)    Retweet the following in twitter:

Enter to Win Contests Galore TODAY at the VANCOUVER FOODSTER #VF2YR PARTY ONLINE http://bit.ly/pLKRJz  Prizes from 63 restaurants Please RT

3)    Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vancouverfoodster

Contest ends Friday July 29 at 5pm. Note: You can not enter this contest if you have entered any of our other #VF2YR Contests posted on July 28, so ask one of your friends to enter and if they win to take you with them as their guest! Contest is open to Canadian residents and the winner will be drawn at random. Good luck to everyone that enters!

Fine Print: You must enter your full name and include your Twitter address if you have one, and register with your email address when entering the contest. * By entering your email address you will automatically become a subscriber to Vancouver Foodster to receive possible contests, specials or newsletter.

Winners drawn by Random.org

Vancouver Foodster was founded by Richard Wolak who over the past 2 years has reviewed over 330 restaurants, cafes and food carts; and written 375 stories that includes interviews with bartenders, brewmasters, chefs, mixologists, restaurateurs, wine makers; and attended over 163 parties and events that includes restaurant openings and anniversaries, competitions, festivals, and tastings.

In addition to Vancouver Foodster you can find Richard Wolak and his other projects at  Taste and Sip Magazine, Swag People and Chat Media

And personally on Google+ and Twitter @richardwolak

Vancouver Foodster is @vanfoodster on twitter and on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/vancouverfoodster or by email editor@vancouverfoodster.com

Here are the people behind each of the flavours being created for our event on November 23^rd.

Meet James Coleridge who is the Maestro of Bella Gelateria who is creating these Exclusive Premium Flavours -Under the expert tutelage of Italian Champions and Maestros, James apprenticed and honed his skills in the art of gelato in Italy. James received formal training at the Italian Culinary Institute and advanced masters training at Carpigiani’s Gelato University. His passion and commitment to hand crafting the best gelato soon caught the attention of Time Magazine Online. Subsequently, James was selected by a major Italian newspaper for a feature article – a North American gelatière in Italy! In 2012, James will represent Canada at the World Cup of Gelato in Rimini, Italy.

Flavours

1) Vista d’oro Walnut Wine Sorbetto

Patrick & Lee Murphy are the founders and producers of Vista D’oro Winery. They are dedicated to producing delicious hand-crafted wines.  The traditional techniques and old world values that are used in our artisanal preserves are reflected in our winemaking methods.  Made in small batches on their farm to be shared with family and friends, new and old.

2007 D’oro

Our flagship fortified walnut wine is a blend of North Okanagan Marechal Foch, Central Okanagan Merlot & Cabernet Franc, Fraser Valley Green Walnuts and Okanagan Brandy. 13 months in French and American oak.

2) XFour/Xoxolat Choco-Tini Gelato

Marcus Von Albrecht is the Principal behind XFour Handcrafted Vodka which is B.C’s first handcrafted premium corn and rye based vodka. Handcrafted and distilled four times by master distiller Frank Deiter who has accumulated over 70 awards for his line of spirits; Xfour is completely additive free and fed with British Columbia’s own pristine glacier water retrieved from a 356 ft deep well. A crystal clear complextion, with hints of fruit and anise. This crisp, pure vodka will surely give people something to talk about!

The vodka has already come together with Xoxolat chocolate as a Chocotini service at various events around the city, now we are taking it one step further and making it into a Gelato.

Hodie Rondeau is the principal of XOXOLAT ~ sho-sho-la ~ which an edible gallery of all things chocolate displaying only the finest of the world’s chocolates, specializing in Single Origin and Estate chocolates, and, treats pairing fun & unusual flavours with chocolate. Finding its inspiration from the classic European chocolaterie, XOXOLAT is a chocolate boutique that carries its own brand and includes the wondrous creations of award winning chocolatiers.

3) La Taqueria Mole Gelato

Marcelo Rmz. Romero is the Principal of La Taqueria taco shop located downtown Vancouver. Everything is homemade there including their fillings and sauces, they make one of the best Mole in the city and now we are taking it one step further and making there Mole into a Mole Gelato for the first time.

Purchase Tickets here

A food networking event connecting Vancouver’s vibrant food community

Exclusive premium flavours created for our Vancouver Foodster event and not available to anyone who has not purchased a ticket for our event. Our dessert night will feature the finest local crafter of gelato, winemaker, chocolatier, distiller and chef.

Guests will also have a chance to talk with these master crafters and learn more about the products they grow, harvest, produce and create.

Drop by after work or after dinner as you wish and meet and mingle! Bring your friends and office mates!

Must be 19 years of age or older to attend. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds. Must bring your printed ticket with you for admission. Information on this site is accurate at the time of posting, some changes may occur.

Advance tickets sales end on November 18th!

A food networking event connecting

Vancouver’s vibrant food community

Exclusive premium flavours created for our Vancouver Foodster event and not available to anyone who has not purchased a ticket for our event. Our dessert night will feature the finest local crafter of gelato, winemaker, chocolatier, spirit maker and restauranteur.

Guests will also have a chance to talk with these master crafters and learn more about the products they grow, harvest, produce and create.

Draw prizes throughout the night, your printed admission ticket will be entered to win great prizes!

Drop by after work or after dinner as you wish and meet and mingle! Bring your friends and office mates!

Meet James Coleridge -Under the expert tutelage of Italian Champions and Maestros, James apprenticed and honed his skills in the art of gelato in Italy. James received formal training at the Italian Culinary Institute and advanced masters training at Carpigiani’s Gelato University. His passion and commitment to hand crafting the best gelato soon caught the attention of Time Magazine Online. Subsequently, James was selected by a major Italian newspaper for a feature article – a North American gelatière in Italy! In 2012, James will represent Canada at the World Cup of Gelato in Rimini, Italy.

Cost:

$9.50 includes HST (1 flavour)

$10.50 includes HST (2 flavours)

$11.50 includes HST (3 flavours)

Tickets available in advance only. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Featuring: Bella Gelateria, Xoxolat, XFour Vodka, Vista D’oro Winery, La Taqueria

Flavours

1)      Vista d’oro Walnut Wine Sorbetto

2)      XFour/Xoxolat Choco-Tini Gelato

3)      La Taqueria Mole Gelato

Must be 19 years of age or older to attend. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds. Must bring your printed ticket with you for admission. Information on this site is accurate at the time of posting, some changes may occur.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door.

Yesterday I attended the launch of a new BC based artisan vodka in a penthouse on the 32nd floor of a building downtown Vancouver with a spectacular view of the city skyline. Xfour, is a sipping vodka, made from rye and corn. I had a preview tasting of this vodka in a Strawberry Cosmo served to me at C Restaurant last week and I enjoyed the smooth taste without the bite at the end.

Xfour Vodka

Xfour is distilled four times and the glacier water is retrieved from a 356 foot well. It was great to see Xoxolat pairing their chocolate with the Xfour vodka in a delicious Chocolate Martini that I had the pleasure of sipping.

Here are a couple of recipes for your own enjoyment.

Xoxolat Xpresso martini
2 parts Xfour
1 part chocolate syrup( for best results, use Xoxolat drinking chocolate)
1 part espresso coffee
Shake, pour, garnish with chocolate espresso bean

Xoxolat Chocoalte martini
2 parts Xfour
1 part chocolate syrup( for best results, use Xoxolat drinking chocolate)
Shake, pour, garnish with a raspberry

By: Richard Wolak

Recipes courtesy of Xfour.

Hodie Rondeau (left) & Pamela Clarke (right) of Xoxolat

I attended the opening night of this chocolate festival’s events which was the ‘Salon du Chocolat’. The event featured a sampling of chocolate, wines, beers, scotches, liqueurs, and teas.

Rubens Chocolates

Some of the notable vendors included:

Xoxolat  www.xoxolat.com

Rubens Chocolates  www.rubenschocolate.ca

Saturna Vineyards  www.saturnavineyards.com

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts www.picachef.com showcasing cooking with chocolate along with providing dessert samples to the guests.

By: Richard Wolak