NORWALK, CT – Shop for sweets for your sweetie – or for your own sweet tooth – among sharks, seals, sea turtles and other amazing marine animals on Sun., Jan. 25 when The Chocolate Expo once again takes over The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
Some 40 local and regional vendors will set up throughout the Aquarium galleries and offer tastings and sales of their delicious and decadent chocolates, baked goods, gelato and specialty foods.
The Maritime Aquarium will be fully open on Jan. 25, two hours longer than normal (until 7 p.m.) – and at a lower admission price than normal – making the event an outstanding value.
“Here’s a recipe for a great day,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “Start with one of the best places for family fun in Connecticut, and melt in fine chocolatiers. Next, whisk in an assortment of other things chocolate, from soaps and crepes to brussels sprouts and bacon. Sprinkle in free demonstrations by celebrity chefs, and keep it all simmering for an additional two hours. Adorn with sides, relishes and sauces to taste. Finally, serve it all up for a 25 percent discount on regular Aquarium admission. As we say every year, you’d have to be dipped in nuts not to come.”
The Chocolate Expo is sponsored at The Maritime Aquarium by First County Bank.
Expo/Aquarium visitors will find not only traditional and gourmet chocolates, but also unique offerings like chocolate tarts, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate balsamic dressing, chocolate-covered bacon and even chocolate-scented bath soaps. Non-chocolate goodies will include gourmet crackers, pumpkin seeds, quiches, cannolis, vinaigrettes, pickles, cotton candy, challah breads and more.
Expo producer Marvin Baum said The Chocolate Expo is for people who are serious about chocolate and who love unique specialty foods.
“Vendors at the Expo typically offer small tasting-sized portions of their products,” Baum said. “Think of the chocolate tastings in the way you might think of a wine tasting at a winery: you get a small sample to try and you often get to talk with the person who made the product. If you like what you’ve tasted, you can purchase that product for yourself or to give as gifts.”
For ready-to-eat treats, Aurora Gourmet will have their chocolate fountains flowing, while Crazy Crepe Café will be making delicious crepes and Pika’s Farm Table will serve authentic Belgian-style waffles dipped in a choice of white, dark or milk chocolate.
There will be no IMAX® movie presentations on Jan. 25, so that demonstrations using chocolate can be presented by three celebrity chefs:
– Tony Albanese, pastry designer and former assistant to Buddy Valastro of “Cake Boss,” at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
– Barret Beyer of Fox TV’s “Hell’s Kitchen” at 12:30 & 5 p.m.
– and Larry Rosenberg, recipe-book author and owner of Bacon Bites, at 2 p.m.
Seating of 310 for the demonstrations will be on a first-come, first-seated basis. The chefs also will be available throughout the day for pictures and autographs.
Except for “Jiggle-A-Jelly” and “Meerkats,” all of The Maritime Aquarium exhibits will be open during the Expo – and will stay open two hours longer than normal: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Coming less than three weeks before Valentine’s Day, it’s a perfect opportunity to buy some sweets for your sweetie,” Loynd said. “Plus, there are no NFL playoff games on the 25th, so there’s no reason for anyone to stay home. In fact, with no football to watch, Chocolate Expo gives football fans something to do!”
Enjoy all the decadent treats while exploring The Maritime Aquarium, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate visitors about – and to create stewards for – Long Island Sound. The Aquarium accomplishes this by allowing visitors to get close to more than 250 species native to the Sound and its watershed, including sharks, seals, sea turtles, river otters, jellyfish and other animals.
Special Expo/Aquarium ticket prices on Jan. 25 are just $15 for adults and $10 for kids 3-12. Paid admission is required on Jan. 25 of Aquarium members, who save $2 per ticket. Prices include Chocolate Expo admission, all Maritime Aquarium exhibits and the cooking demonstrations.
Last year’s Chocolate Expo resulted in the busiest day in The Maritime Aquarium’s history. Loynd said the Aquarium is prepared for another big crowd on Jan. 25, but suggested that guests will enjoy easier and quicker access by coming before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Skip the line at the door, he added, by purchasing tickets in advance online at www.maritimeaquarium.org.
Find an open parking space by using a smart-phone app called Parker that displays “real-time” parking availabilities in South Norwalk.
For more information about The Chocolate Expo, go to www.thechocolateexpo.com or www.maritimeaquarium.org.
Vendors scheduled to participate in The Chocolate Expo 2015 at The Maritime Aquarium:
Fine Chocolates
Aurora Gourmet (Westchester County) – quality chocolates in chocolate fountains.
chocoMe US (Hungary/Calif.) – artisanal chocolate bars, pralines and truffles, plus a chocolate bar with edible gold.
Chocolate Rain Shop (Norwalk, CT) – handcrafted bon bons, truffles, barks, toffee and more.
Isn't It Sweet (Albany, NY) – chocolates and chocolate novelties.
Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti (Westport, CT) – fine gourmet chocolates
North Fork Chocolate Co. (Long Island, NY) – artisanal Belgian chocolates and desserts
Raw Chocolate Love – dark chocolate bars created without processed ingredients, preservatives or sugar.
Chocolate Treats – The Usual & Unusual
Bacon Bites (Roseland, NJ) – chocolate-covered bacon, bacon chocolate bars, "Pig Poop," bacon Twinkies, bacon Oreos and more.
Carousel Sweets (Connecticut) – chocolate caramel apples, chocolate-covered Oreos & more.
Moon Doggie Coffee Roasters (Maywood, NJ) – chocolate-flavored coffees, chocolate croissants, holiday cookies and hot chocolate
The Pretzel Princess (Huguenot, NY) – 15 flavors of chocolate-covered pretzels, plus chocolate-covered potato chips and gluten-free clusters.
Teacher’s Recipe Fudge (NJ) – homemade gourmet fudge in more than 25 flavors.
Whipped Up Creations (Weston, CT) – “Unbakeables” cookie-dough treats.
Other Good Stuff – Chocolate & Otherwise
An Artistic Taste (NY, NY) – specializing in chocolate-infused brussels sprouts and lobster mac & cheese.
Breezie Maples Farm (Westford, NY) – maple syrup, maple cotton candy and other maple products.
The Challah Fairy (NY, NY) – bakers of unique challahs and chocolate babkas, plus cakes, rugelach and cheesecakes.
Crazy Crepe Cafe (Selden, NY) – chocolate crepes and other delicious and savory crepes.
Custo Cookies (Ocean City, NJ) – custom-designed cookies
Dutch Desserts (Kinderhook, NY) – Dutch-style chocolate and fruit tarts and stroopwafels
Gatherer’s Gourmet Granola (Schenectady, NY) – all-natural granola in six flavors, including “Squirrel Bait” and “Bee’s Knees.”
Goodway Bakery (Troy, NY) – cakes, macaroons, brownies, rum cakes and more.
Grandpa Pete’s Gourmet Sauce (Catskill, NY) – all-natural tomato sauces.
JD Gourmet (Hightstown, NJ) – aged balsamic vinaigrettes and olive oil blends, plus a chocolate vinaigrette.
Jessie's Pastries (Long Island, NY) – Peruvian empanadas and sweets.
Kathie’s Kitchen / Super Seedz (North Haven, CT) – gourmet no-shell pumpkin seeds in nine great flavors.
Michele’s Totally Awesome Gourmet Popcorn (Epsom, NH) – artisanal flavored popcorns, frosted nuts and chocolate-dipped treats.
The Peanut Principle (Albany, NY) – gourmet nut and seed butters in over 40 flavors.
Perriwinkles at Rhinebeck (Rhinebeck, NY) – “wine chocolatier” specializing in creative wines, including several chocolate varieties.
Pickles, Olives, Etc. (Lyndhurst, NJ) – olive and pickle specialist
Pika's Farm Table (Troy, NY) – authentic Belgian-style waffles covered in chocolate. Also quiche, tarts, salsa, soup and more.
Pop’s Beef Jerky – jerky from an all-natural formula.
The RAD Soap Co. (upstate NY) – soaps, creams and other body-care products
Saratoga Crackers (Albany, NY) – all-natural crackers in a variety of flavors, including chocolate.
Savor (Watertown, CT) – sweet & savory shortbread cookies in gourmet flavors.
Screme Gelato (NY, NY) – gelato is many unique flavors.
Scuteri's Cannoli Connection (Watkins Glen, NY) – home-made cannoli and Italian cookies.
Tea Time (Hackensack, NJ) – teas and tea accessories.
Terranut Inc. (Long Island, NY) – organic kosher gluten-free superfood energy bars.
Yona's Gourmet Delights (Bensonhurst/Brooklyn, NY) – quiche, borekas and cupcakes.