I’m in training. This is serious business, reputations may rise or fall according to my diligence. After much begging, wheedling and testimonials of my sterling on-the-job experience, I have, once again, made the cut as a Judge for the Chocolate On the Beach Festival! Another life goal has been achieved. There are still a few other items on my Bucket List, but I’ll waddle away next weekend in complete contentment, probably won’t be able to face chocolate for quite a while.
Whoever came up with the idea for this festival should be heartily congratulated. It’s over the top fabulous and fun, close to home, and downright cheap to attend.
The weekend of indulgence begins with free chocolate theme movies at the Pacific Beach Resort and Pacific Beach restaurants celebrating in their own unique style: Chocolate Cocktail Throwdowns and the Truffle Shuffle! Saturday and Sunday are non-stop chocolate activities in two locations; the Pacific Beach Elementary School and the North Beach Community Center. Admission is only $5 for adults, and children get in free. The website for Chocolate on the Beach is terrific, giving you a schedule of events and the forms for entering your very own chocolate creation in the Chocolate Recipe Contest. There are four categories; Professional, General, Kids, and Children. You have until Friday afternoon to submit your application, so get on it! I’m wondering who I have to bribe to be chosen to judge in the Professional category. The White Chocolate Mashed Potatoes from Ocean Crest Resort were scooped up before I had a chance to jab my fork through the crowd of other judges. I need to be more aggressive this year.
Sunday afternoon at 2pm things get a bit wild and crazy with the Chocolate Eating Contest. It is free to enter, but I suggest that you keep your hair away from your face — this is a hands behind your back, no utensils, frenzy of eating. There are more activities, contests, demonstrations, classes, guest chef speakers and all around good fun than one person can possibly take in, better make your list before going!
The Season of Lent begins this week, with Mardi Gras Madness on Tuesday. You can see where I’m going with this — giving up chocolate for Lent might not be your best bet this year. There are other indulgences that can be foresaken so that you can attend the Chocolate On the Beach Festival with a clear conscience. Things like liver and Brussel sprouts. Geez. I’d even give up ice cream, to make it more of a challenge. But not the chocolate.
The Bilssful Wunders Truffles were such a huge hit over Valentine’s Day that we immediately ordered more. Life is sweet at the market. Deidra’s Deli is being transformed this weekend when the market vendors descend like locusts upon the Deli with gallons of paint and flying brushes. We’re bringing plenty of drop cloths, because I am the world’s messiest painter. It’s a mystery to me — I try so hard to be a tidy painter. I’m very tidy in most other areas of my life, why can’t I paint a room without wearing the paint for weeks after? Wearing a painters hat doesn’t keep my scalp from getting painted. Whatever clothes I wear must be peeled off and disposed of after the painting is done. I have to buy extra paint just to make up for the quantity that ends up on my body. And don’t EVEN expect me to trim out a doorframe! Somehow wet paint gets slopped on the floor, my feet unerringly find the wet spot, and a woozy trail of footprints can be followed. Oil-base paint? Never! It is both an embarrassment and a puzzlement to me. I guess it’s like being tone deaf or color blind — maybe Deidra will prefer to put me on some other task.
Barbara Bennett Parsons is manager of the Hoquiam Farmers Market and a fair judge of fine chocolate — let the good times roll!
