Did the last post about chocolate whet your appetite? Well there is a solution close at hand. The 9th Annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival will take place today, Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 from 12:00 noon to 5:30 PM on both days. The Chocolate Festival hosts more than 20 booths each day that feature delicacies from Ghirardelli Square restaurants and cafes, as well as other eateries and bakeries throughout the Bay Area.
Tiramisu, truffles, fudge cake, and chocolate-covered strawberries are just a few of the delicious desserts to be had at Ghirardelli Square's 9th Annual Chocolate Festival. The popular event will feature scrumptious chocolate treats from Ghirardelli Square establishments, as well as prominent restaurants, bakeries and chocolatiers from around the Bay Area. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is the anchor festival participant with four booths featuring truffle-making and chocolate-decorating demonstrations as well as mini-sundaes and chocolate squares.
A highlight of Saturday's Festival is the popular "hands-free" Earthquake Sundae-Eating Contest. The winner takes home his or her weight in Ghirardelli chocolate. Kids have their own version of the Sundae-Eating Contest on (of course) Sunday. The winner of the Kids Sundae Eating Contest receives a whole basket full of chocolate. There are other free children's activities throughout the weekend such as cookie decorating, face painting and balloon sculptures.
In addition to fun for the kids, there will be chef demonstrations for everyone who appreciates the art of cooking with chocolate. On Saturday, Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake will conduct a chocolate dessert demonstration from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and the California Culinary Academy chefs will create a chocolate sculpture from 2:30 - 5:30pm.
There is no admission charge to attend the event - all activities are free except for what I consider the main event, the chocolate tasting. Tickets are $8 for 5 luscious tastes; $14 for 10; or $20 for 15. All proceeds are donated to Project Open Hand, which provides home-delivered meals, groceries and nutritional counseling to people with HIV and AIDS, as well as the homebound critically ill and seniors.
Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street
(between Polk and Larkin)
San Francisco, CA
12 noon - 5:30 pm
