Chocolate Fest 2017-02-18 289
Local News

17th annual Chocolate Fest to feature bake-off, truffle demonstration

Melt into the 17th annual Homewood Chocolate Fest on Saturday, Feb. 16, and you’ll find plenty to lift you from the winter blahs.

The fest features artisan chocolatiers and bakeries with treats for sale, a truffle-making demonstration and activities for kids.

 

Melt into the 17th annual Homewood Chocolate Fest on Saturday, Feb. 16, and you’ll find plenty to lift you from the winter blahs.

Teagan Meeks digs into a gooey s'more at the 2017 Chocolate Fest. (Chronicle file photo)
  Teagan Meeks digs into a
  gooey s’more at the 2017
  Chocolate Fest.
(Chronicle
  file photo)
 

The fest, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut St., features artisan chocolatiers and bakeries with treats for sale, a demonstration of how to make truffles at noon and 1 p.m., an area for kids to decorate chef hats and the always-popular Chocolate Bake-Off Contest for amateur and professional bakers.

  Bakers: Click on the form 
  to get a printable version.

 

“This is the ‘sweetest’ festival Homewood offers,” said Mayor Rich Hofeld. “It’s always amazing to see the creativity and ingenuity of the area bakers for the Bake-Off contest. It has been said that chocolate has a great many health benefits. So, in the interest of good health come on out to Chocolate Fest, and indulge.”

The Chocolate Bake-Off Contest, hosted by The Community Relations Commission, is a spirited contest for bakers and confectioners to compete for recognition as “Home Sweet Homewood’s Master Pastry Chef.” 

A panel of judges selects three winners for both the amateur and professional baker category. After the winners are decided, the public is given an opportunity to sample each entry beginning at 11:30 a.m. in exchange for a small donation to benefit The Cancer Support Center. The winner is announced at 1:30 p.m. 

Any area baker can enter the contest. Applications are due Feb. 11.

Barb Haggerty, pastry chef from The Cottage on Dixie, will demonstrate how to make three types of truffles, chocolate truffles with different toppings, white chocolate truffles with dark chocolate topping and peanut butter truffles coated in chocolate. 

A youngster gets a taste of something yummy at the 2016 Homewood Chocolate Fest. (Chronicle file photo)
  A youngster gets a taste of
  something yummy at the
  2016 Homewood Chocolate
  Fest.
(Chronicle file photo)
 

Haggerty is also the owner of Confections, where she creates small-batch baked goods using fresh ingredients. She is also the landscape designer for Haggerty Landscaping, which she co-owns with her husband Tom Haggerty.

Vendors at the festival will include Elite Sweets, EmpanadUS, Fannie May, Mother Wilma’s Marshmallow Factory, Tiddleywink Toffee, Fabulously Sweet Creations, Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Pop’s Popcorn Shop and more. 

The Homewood Flossmoor High School culinary class will provide dessert samples as well. 

The Homewood Business Association is selling Chocolate Passports Around the World.  The passport includes a raffle ticket plus coupons for chocolate-themed specials at participating local businesses.

Admission to the Chocolate Fest is free. For additional information call (708) 798-3000.

 

 

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