Eat Chocolate, Help us Celebrate our 3rd Anniversary!

It's our third anniversary! Help us celebrate by joining us for one of many delicious, free events scheduled throughout July.

Event highlights include a visit from award-winning chocolatier Christopher Elbow, expert talks on cacao farming in Panama and the controversial topic of slavery in West African cacao, chocolate demonstrations by Chocolopolis’ own talented chocolatiers, and a tasting with local up-and-coming chocolate maker Rob Anderson of Fresco Chocolate.

Up to three lucky chocolate lovers will win a year of free chocolate in our annual Golden Bar Giveaway contest.

Check out the full schedule, below, for details. We hope to see you at Chocolopolis!

Schedule and Description of Anniversary Events
 
Ongoing throughout the month:
Annual Golden Bar Giveaway
At Chocolopolis every bar is a treat--and a few are bona fide treasures.  During July, find one of three hidden golden bars and win a bar of chocolate every week for a year.  The first golden bar hits the shelves on July 11. The second golden bar will be hidden on July 18 and the final golden bar will be hidden on July 25. Please check our website for additional contest details (www.chocolopolis.com).

Daily schedule of events:
Saturday, July 9
11am – 5pm:  Queen Anne Sidewalk Sale
Chocolopolis kicks off its 3rd Anniversary celebration during the Queen Anne Sidewalk Sale. As you stroll the street in search of bargains, come by to cool off with a sample of iced drinking chocolate, re-charge with a Chocolopolis truffle for a special price of only $1, and pick up a schedule of free chocolate events happening throughout the month of July.

Tuesday, July 12
12pm-7pm: Taza Tuesday
If you like texture in your chocolate, you'll love Taza Chocolate's rustic, stone-ground approach. Stop by for a taste of a variety of Taza chocolate.

Thursday, July 14
5pm – 9pm:  Happy Hour:  Accent on French Chocolate
Do chocolate lovers observe Bastille Day?  Mais oui!  Feast your eyes on a documentary about lauded French chocolate maker Michel Cluizel (in both French and English) while enjoying samples of rich, creamy chocolate from French makers including Cluizel, Pralus, and Valrhona. 

Saturday, July 16
1:30pm-4pm:  Meet the Chocolatier: Christopher Elbow
Kansas City-based chocolatier Christopher Elbow makes jewel-like truffles and caramels that are “too beautiful to eat”--but too delicious not to!  These delectable chocolates have graced our truffle counter since we opened and have garnered many enthusiastic fans. Stop by to meet the artist himself, sample his confections and see why his devotees are so loyal! Christopher will be making some special chocolates just for the occasion. 

Tuesday, July 19
7pm – 9pm:  Focus on Chocolate: “Did a Slave Make My Chocolate Bar?”
Many of us want to know more about how our food is produced, but with cacao coming from near the equator, due diligence can be tough.  Dr. Kristy Leissle will share a rare glimpse into life and work on West African cacao farms, addressing the pressing question: “Did a Slave Make My Chocolate Bar?”

Wednesday, July 20
1pm-2pm:  Demonstration:  Tempering Chocolate
Ever wonder why that beautiful bar of chocolate you left on a sunny windowsill was never the same afterwards?  Chocolopolis’ own chocolatiers will discuss and demonstrate the intricate art of tempering--melting and cooling chocolate in exactly the right way so that it stays shiny and hard.  

Thursday, July 21
5pm-9pm:  Happy Hour:  Handmade by Chocolopolis
They say good things come in small packages, and the Chocolopolis kitchen is no exception. It’s a tiny space from which issues an unbelievable amount of goodness.  Join us in celebrating that bounty at a tasting featuring our greatest hits (single origin truffles, ganache-filled figs) and some works-in-progress. 

Friday, July 22
7pm-9pm:  Coffee & Chocolate Pairing
Enjoy a match made in Seattle, as Roy Street Coffee’s Ryan Soeder guides you through the murky waters of pairing coffee with chocolate.  Discover how optimal pairings bring out hidden flavor notes in both chocolate and coffee--then stay awake all night appreciating your new insight!

Tuesday, July 26
7pm-9pm:  Focus on Chocolate:  Cacao Production in the Indigenous Ngobe Communities of Panama
More tales from the frontlines of cacao:  former Peace Corp volunteer Kate Selting spent her 2008-2010 stint in Panama, where she supported local farmers’ efforts to improve their production practices.  Get the nitty-gritty on Kate’s experiences and an update on Panamanian cacao farming.

Wednesday, July 27
1pm-2pm:  Demonstration:  Ganache
See how Chocolopolis’ chocolatiers produce the melty centers of our popular truffles.  Making creamy ganache is as simple as adding cream to melted chocolate--just as long as your temperature, timing, and proportions are exactly right. 

Thursday, July 28
5pm-9pm:  Happy Hour:  Staff Picks
If you’ve been to Chocolopolis, you know our staffers have strong opinions!  At this anniversary month Happy Hour, put those opinions to a taste test.  Enjoy samples of each staffer’s favorite bars and decide whose palate is most in line with your own.

Saturday, July 30
12pm-1pm:  Demonstration:  Smoked Chocolate Mousse
You won’t want to blink as Chocolopolis’ chocolatiers make more magic right in front of your eyes.  First they’ll smoke (!) premium chocolate to add extra depth and flavor.  Then they’ll turn that chocolate into rich, creamy mousse. 

3pm-5pm:  Meet the Chocolate Maker:  Rob Anderson, Fresco Chocolate
Learn more about Washington State's very own micro-batch artisan chocolate maker.  Rob Anderson will introduce you to his line of single-origin bars and describe his unique approach to processing.  If you’ve ever wondered how conching contributes to flavor profile, don’t miss this event.