This past weekend I attended my third Oregon Chocolate Festival at the Ashland

Nearly four feet of all-chocolate goodness

 Springs Hotel in nearby Ashland. This was the eighth annual event they’ve held, and each year it is interesting to note the newcomers (and what their particular angle is) and which companies which were new last year survived the intervening months to return. Those who do seem to have a good business plan, an attractive website and, it goes without saying, a unique and eminently tasty product. 

In addition to chocolate in all sorts of renditions (energy bars, sipping chocolate, powders, sauces, combined with cheese) and truffles combining chocolate with hot peppers, exotic fruits, even mushrooms (actually, awesomely good), vendors were present offering locally produced wines and microbrews chosen specifically for their ability to pair well with the heavenly confections.

And God bless those purveyors of raw chocolate (unprocessed, unroasted), organic chocolate and dark chocolate. They make sure to tell you what a fantastic, healthy, life-extending product they provide. For those who feel guilty about their chocolate consumption, these are the booths for them. I wouldn’t know about that guilt thing. I manage to consume all manner of chocolate and chocolate-related or -complimentary products (like a good red wine!) without a twinge.

I have noticed, however, that the more exposure I have to the really good stuff (you know, the best, freshest ingredients made lovingly in small batches which, of course, costs a lot more than the average candy bar), the less interested I am in the ordinary, grocery-store variety. The good news is that it takes less of the truly quality chocolate to satisfy my tastebuds.

In fact, I found this past Saturday that I actually can overdose on too much of a good thing. I only needed about an hour to sample wares from my favorites (Coastal Mist from Bandon, Ore., Marshmallow Heaven, Melting Pot Candy) and give a fair shot to the newbies before I waved the white flag and called it a day. Not to worry, everyone had products to sell for home consumption, so I can extend my chocolate orgy in the comfort of my own home.

And, to be sure, there’s always next year!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor