On Saturday, August 17, two iconic fixtures of Dallas converge for one spectacular dinner. The Dallas Chocolate Festival and The Fairmont Hotel Dallas present a special 10th Anniversary Dinner to commemorate DallasChocolate.org’s premier event 10 years ago. The celebratory dinner will be held in the newly renovated Venetian Ballroom at The Fairmont. The Fairmont itself recently celebrated a milestone fiftieth anniversary.
The Dallas Chocolate Festival’s 10th Anniversary Dinner will feature a five-course dinner created by Fairmont Dallas Executive Chef Jared Harms and Pastry Chef Cristal Gonzalez, with each dish incorporating fine artisanal chocolate. Cocktails from Balcones Distilling, wines from California-based O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, and ports from Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca will also be enjoyed.
Incorporating the Festival’s 2019 theme, “The Story of Chocolate,” DallasChocolate.org has invited five stars of the American chocolate movement – Art Pollard of Amano Artisan Chocolate, Greg D’Alesandre of Dandelion Chocolate, Jael Rattigan of French Broad Chocolate, and Shannon Neffendorf and Jessica Young of Five Mile Chocolate – to attend and share their stories of chocolate. The exquisite $150 dinner, limited to 100 people, will be presented at long tables, elegantly decorated, to accent the opulence and grandeur of the historic Venetian Room.
Dallas Chocolate Festival’s 10th Anniversary Dinner Menu
First Course
Jeff’s Summer Salad | Local Summer Greens and Herbs | Pickled Gooseberry | English Peas | White Chocolate & Elderflower Vinaigrette
Second Course
Slow Roasted Cartermere Chicken | Grilled Corn | Black Bean Mousse | 5 Mile Chocolate & Foie Gras Mole
Third Course
Cocoa Crusted Axis Venison | Dandelion Greens | Fennel Cream | Black Currant and Esmeralda’s Dark Chocolate Jus
Fourth Course - Cheese Course
Local Chèvre & Dark Chocolate Ganache | Apricot
Fifth Course – Desserts
70% Amano Chocolate Bourbon Brulee Tart | Chocolate Shortbread Crust | Cocoa Nib Tulie
65% Dandelion Dark Chocolate Ganache Bar | Passion Fruit Curd | Hibiscus Meringue
50% Guittard Flourless Chocolate Cake | Cherry Compote | Pistachio Mousse | Dark Chocolate Mirror Glaze
44% French Broad Malted Milk Mousse Dome | Banana Jam | Banana Cake
5 Mile Chocolate Shortbread Sandwich | 5 Mile Ganache | Salted Caramel
The Dallas Chocolate Festival began ten years ago when founder Sander Wolf hosted a dinner that featured two bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Since then, the event has grown each year and changed to encompass more people, chocolate makers, and experiences. Partnering with Emily Mantooth in 2014, the Festival has continued to grow and innovate, ensuring the best experience possible for exhibitors, attendees, sponsors, and everyone in between. Today, the Dallas Chocolate Festival is globally renowned and attended by thousands of chocolate lovers over the course of several days.
The Festival’s partnership with the Fairmont Hotel Dallas also celebrates the hotel’s 50th anniversary. For a half-century, The Fairmont Hotel Dallas has been the backdrop of countless memories from its grand opening where a parade of elephants led the presentation of the dessert course to its list of prominent hotel guests. The legendary Venetian Room, the “gem” of the hotel, was once Dallas’ best known cabaret club hosting beloved celebrities from around the world including Marlene Dietrich, Sonny and Cher, Ella Fitzgerald, Ike & Tina Turner, and Jerry Lewis, just to name a few.
For dinner or Festival guests who would like to extend the special experiences to a weekend getaway, the hotel is offering the Fairmont Gold experience room package, in honor of the its 50th anniversary. The Fairmont Gold experience allows access to the exclusive Gold Lounge on the 18th floor and special privileges such as a healthy continental breakfast, honor bar, complimentary cocktail canapés, and much more. To learn more visit www.fairmont.com.
The Dallas Chocolate Festival’s 10th Anniversary Dinner will be held on Saturday, August 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Venetian Ballroom at The Fairmont Hotel (1717 N Akard St, Dallas, TX 75201). Tickets are $150 per person (21+ only). Tax and gratuity included. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-anniversary-dinner-dallas-chocolate-festival-tickets-64893539323?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete.