Cape Town - As winter continues to batter our lives and spring seems far distant, the time is ripe for a delicious antidote to wet, windy, chilly weather.
The answer, of course, is chocolate, in a dozen luscious, mouthwatering guises, a weekend indulgence that will lift spirits as the endorphins kick in.
The Winelands Chocolate Festival is a gourmet first for the Cape, taking place indoors at Lourensford Wine Estate in the Helderberg on July 25 and 26. Set to offer a rare feast of culinary delights, the chocolate industry’s top artisan chocolatiers, pastry chefs, cake designers and confectionery artists will combine to present irresistible examples of their expertise. Chocolate is a trend that never fades from vogue; in fact, it’s an ingredient which just continues to grow in popularity across the globe.
While most of us don’t need any encouragement to head to a chocolate-filled venue, it’s comforting to know that – when consumed in moderation – our favourite treat can actually be good for us. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, protecting cells from free radicals, helping to lower blood pressure and reduce “bad” cholesterol to some extent. As chocoholics well know, dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that induce feelings of pleasure, along with serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
At Lourensford, visitors will be faced with difficult choices: bonbons and chocolate bars, or honey nougat and truffles? Perhaps start with freshly-brewed coffee and head for the Chocolate Theatre to take in a demo or two from master chocolatiers like Kees Beyers and Alan Clegg. Or make time for the fashion show at 11am, followed by a visit to the art expo titled The Chocolate Wrapper, which comes complete with unexpected musical flash mobs. Pairings of chocolate with wine or spirits is another enjoyable option or retire to the Chocolate Lounge where cocktails, wine and bubbly can accompany a tapas selection.
The Lindt Afternoon Tea is a special festival highlight, taking place on Saturday afternoon at the Aleit & IS Art Gallery. Here talented chocolatier Dimo Simatos, creator of a scrumptious array of goodies, will also create a tiramisu dessert for his audience. Tickets for this event have already all been snapped up.
Don’t leave without having your Freys photograph taken, framed in chocolate of course! Small fry will also be catered for, with a children’s fancy dress competition and other treats.
Entrance tickets are valid for the fashion shows, live music, art and sculpture expos, and interactive activities presented by the exhibitors. Demos at the Chocolate Theatre cost R50 each. Most exhibitors are chocolate artisans producing fare of exceptional quality: While they will offer a taste of their wares, they will not be offering numerous free samples to every visitor – these have to be bought.
In supporting them, we will also, indirectly, be supporting the growers and workers in the chocolate bean industry on our continent, particularly in Ghana and Ivory Coast. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, 90 percent of the world’s cocoa is grown on small family farms by about six million farmers who earn their living from growing and selling cocoa beans. The latter prefer tropical environments, with lush vegetation providing shade for the cocoa trees. They are sensitive, requiring much TLC, but can produce fruit for up to 10 years. Although the international price of cocoa beans is rising, the number of farmers is falling because they are paid so little that few young people stay in the trade. This may lead to a long-term shortfall in global supply.
The Ghana Cocoa Board website explains that cocoa is harvested by cutting the ripe pods from the trees, breaking them open and extracting the beans. The beans are fermented for six days with three turnings before drying for another week in the sun. The beans are then bagged, graded and sealed for export. The Winelands Chocolate festival will also present information on the history and production of chocolate, a fascinating process.
Tickets can be bought online through Quicket or at the door. Adults pay R120, students pay R100 and there is a family package for two adults plus two children under 12 at R85 per person (total R340). Children under 12 will go in free of charge on Sunday.
Cape Argus