Is more chocolate! Because thanks to all of you who voted and the esteemed chocolate experts who judged the top ten entries, I’ve won Culinate‘s Death by Chocolate blogging contest, hence a weekend trip for two to Napa to attend Copia Center‘s chocolate festival and a private tour of Charles Chocolates‘ factory. What?! I’m still getting used to this hallucination. I hope I didn’t pull a Hillary on you guys by doing the blogging equivalent of crying on camera to get your votes! But it is personal. This contest is very personal to me.
I can’t thank everyone who participated in Culinate’s great contest — and especially those who voted for me — enough. What a lot of fun for no good reason other than to celebrate chocolate. Secondly, I am much obliged to a few people who know a thing or two about this type of celebration themselves, the judges: Veteran cookbook authors and dessert experts David Lebovitz and Dorie Greenspan, the Food Blogger to all food bloggers, Deb of Smitten Kitchen, founder of artisanal Charles Chocolates (which I can’t wait to try/swim in like Augustus Gloop), Chuck Siegel, and the warm staff at Culinate and Copia. Special thanks also to my friend Sean for letting me borrow his trifle bowl. It really made the shot.
I expect my next chocolate recipe will be a much more joyous one. For lack of a sweetie, I’m taking along my moms for this trip. That’s right — two nights in the valley. Hundreds of chocolates to taste. Thousands of wines in the area. Two hungry East Coast Asian women. More on that to come.
Just a little update on dark chocolate puddings: Culinate is now featuring an even easier recipe than the one I wrote in “Pain with Chocolate” — only unsweetened cocoa powder, milk, sugar, vanilla and cornstarch. Nothing painful about that.
25 Responses
Kitt
Sweet! You totally deserved to win.
My mom is jealous of your mom.
Alanna
Congratulations, what a whirlwind it’ll be!
Laura Rebecca
Congratulations — have a blast!
Joy
Congratulations! Fabulous dish! You earned it! Go forth and eat chocolate.
Mrs.W
Congratulations. You deserve it.
Laura Wehrman
Yay! That is amazing! I voted for you and am glad that it helped! I used to live in SF and spent some time in Napa. Man, is it beautiful! You guys will have a blast.
brilynn
Congrats and having an amazing trip!
amanda
Congrats! You better have an amazing time up at Napa. I like outside of the Marin County area and it’s gorgeous there. Be sure to head over to the Mumm Vineyard if you can. They have the best sparkling wine tasting. You will be drunk and happy in no time 🙂
Aoife
Congratulations! You deserve it. I hope you have a wonderful time!
Babeth
Whouhahou! Congratulations! Bravo!
Kelly
Congrats on the win!!
JEP
Way to go!! Have fun!
Thew
I think you two need a chaperone.
michael
And who better to chaperone you two ladies than a real California native like myself? By the way, you should check out this photo I found of a pimped out 2007 Previa from Japan:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t117846.html
We’ll be driving our kids around in one of these someday!
Elise
Awesome, congratulations!
kittie
Congratulations – fab prize!!
renee'
Your deserve it!
Alejandra
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to hear (read) all about it…
KitsChow
Congratulations!
janet
congrats!!! have a lovely time! that is not bad icing, yes?
Mansi
Heariest Congratulations girl! Napa should put you in a good mood, alongwith all that chocolate! but don’t forget to visit the wonderful wineries down there!
Deborah dowd
Congratulations, what a wonderful trip! I am sure we will get to hear all about it!
Yvo
I was only too glad to vote in something where my vote actually counted! I’m so happy and I guess this negates the email that was forthcoming to ask where you’d been. And, “for lack of a sweetie”??? Pshaw. Not for lack of a sweetie, just so you know. 🙂
PS I took my mom to Sonoma Valley in September as my date to a wedding. Despite having a boyfriend. Now THAT’S a fun one to explain!
PAIN WITH CHOCOLATE RECIPE : Desserts Magazine
[…] of Not Eating Out in New York, is the winner of Culinate’s Death by Chocolate. She will be attending Copia’s Center […]
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