Choco-holics indulge at Rehoboth Beach chocolate fest

Chocolate was flowing and mouths were watering Saturday as Rehoboth Beach hosted its 26th Annual Chocolate Festival.

About 20 local businesses gathered downtown at the Atlantic Sands Hotel to show off their skills and chocolate prowess in hopes of impressing judges and event attendees.

Rehoboth Beach Main Street, a non-profit company dedicated to improving Rehoboth Beach, took on the challenge yet again to host this event. Executive Director Krys Johnson said despite the venue change from the usual site at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, people and businesses were excited to be able to take part in this event.

“This professionals--only event highlights our businesses and downtown Rehoboth Beach,” Johnson said. “You get to taste what these businesses do very well and it highlights their unique creativity which is really a unique event for downtown.”

Many businesses were out participating in the festival, not only because they loved to participate, but also as a way trying to really promote themselves and the business they represented.

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SoDel’s catering company, Plate, was one of the businesses represented at the event showing off its bacon brownie bites. When asked what she loves about the event, SoDel employee Jen Myers said, “well it’s chocolate,” with a big smile.

“One of the perks of being a vendor at this event is that you get to go around and sample other vendor’s stuff,” Myers said. “You put the hard work in but you also get to sample it, too.”

Although the idea of chocolate might sound like just a dessert concept, some vendors took a different approach.

Hobo’s owner and Executive Chef Gretchen Hanson said she wanted to take a different approach to the event with her chocolate stout pork. Hanson said that the high quality of pork she uses and the chocolate stout reduction were key elements in her culinary concept.

“I try to make my food taste different while also having it appear visually different,” Hanson said.

The rainy weather throughout the day proved to be a challenge for a few of the vendors entering the showpiece competition.

Local restaurant Nage entered the showpiece competition with a five-tiered cake full of edible hydrangea flowers. Chef Dru Tevis said that getting the showpiece in for judging, while avoiding the elements, was tough.

“The rain and the weather wasn’t great,” Tevis said. “I was so nervous about the showpiece making it in for judging.”

Despite the weather people lined the stairway of the hotel and flooded into the conference room waiting for their turn at the delectable food waiting for them.

Wilmington resident Kim Deane said this was her second year coming to the event and she had a better strategy for the festival this year.

“Last year, we started with the desserts, but this year I’d like to star with savory then go with sweet,” Deane said. “Last year, we had 25 samples and could only eat so much desserts so we learned our lesson from that.”

Chocolate Fest winners

Brownie

First-place winner: Hobo's - Red, White and Puffy Chocolate Brownie; Second place: The Point - Royal Crownie; Third place: The Ice Cream Store - Brownie Alamode

Cake

First-place winner: The Pig + Fish - Chocolate Banana Fosters Cheesecake; Second place:  The Pickled Pig Pub - Chocolate Cherry Cordial Mousse Cake; Third place: The Point - Chocolate Espresso Torte

Candy

First-place winner: Touch of Italy - Coconut Truffle; Second place: Sweet Serenity Chocolate - Sea Salt Caramel; Third place: Jimmy's Grille Rehoboth - Chocolate Covered Salted Caramel

Cookie

First-place winner: Touch of Italy - Baci Cookie; Second place: Nage - "Milk and Cookie" Cookie; Third place: Maggie's Bakery - Chocolate Biz

Pie

First-place winner: Beachside Bar & Grill - Thai Chocolate Pie; Second place: The Point - 5th Dimension of Chocolate; Third place: Nage - Almond Joy Pie Bar

Ice Cream

First-place winner: Chocolate Caramel Crunch Ice Cream; Second place: Kilwins - Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream; Third place: The Ice Cream Store - Chocaholic Ice Cream

Other

First-place winner: The Point - Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Cake; Second place: Maggie's Bakery - Brown Butter Bourbon S'mores Cup; Third place: Plate Catering - Chilled Mexican Coffee

Showpiece (Non-Edible)

First-place winner: Sweet Serenity Chocolate; Second place: Nage; Third place: EC Sweetery