Host a Chocolate Tasting Party!

Host Bee on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Tip of the Week: Host a Chocolate Tasting Party!

If you’re like me, the kids have settled into the school year, Halloween costumes have been ordered and we’ve set up some semblance of a routine! What’s next? Setting aside some time to reconnect with our female friends! And I have the perfect plan – host a chocolate tasting party!

It’s Easy!

This fun night “in” can be pulled together with minimal effort!
After you’ve invited some friends (think between 8 and 10), here’s all you need to do:

Select Your Chocolate – Select six or seven types of chocolate from different parts of the world like Ecuador, France or Belgium. Try to include white, milk, bittersweet and semi-sweet varieties.
Pair Chocolate with Wines – I was also happily surprised when I learned that like cheeses, chocolate can also be paired with wines that enhance the taste! And so if you’d like to serve wine at your party, head to The Nibble – a terrific website with a pairing chart for wines and chocolates!
Set Your Table – On the night of the party, cut the chocolate into small chunks and label each serving dish with the type and origin. Set out pitchers of water and plain water crackers to cleanse palates between samplings.
Create a Score Card – Encourage guests to smell the chocolate first, let it melt in their mouths and then try to identify the chocolate’s texture and flavor. If you have time, create a type of score card on your computer. (Some experts recommend starting with the lightest colored chocolates first working up to the darkest.)

That’s it! And if you want to make this evening even easier, Cambria Cove offers a Chocolate Tasting Invitation Kit that includes fill-in-the-blank invitations, tasting score cards and table tags for labeling the chocolate! (pictured at top)