This afternoon I spent some time at The Chocolate Show, an annual event that has been held in recent years at the Metropolitan Pavilion, a handsome event space on West 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan. This was my first time attending, although I had heard of it before. I had thought for a time that this was an industry trade show, but then learned from a friend at work that in fact it was open to the public and served multiple purposes. The main purpose, apparently, is to provide a venue where businesses that make high-end chocolate confections can expose their wares to the trade and the public. Most of the exhibitors, many from far away (including Europe and distant parts of the U.S.) are seeking to crack the NY market, to expose their work and find retail distributors, or to entice individual chocoholics to order from their websites after having sampled their wares.
The show is a chocoholic's delight. The range of exhibitors is large, and there are presentations in the "culinary theater" on an hourly basis during most of the time the Show is open. Admission is a bit pricey, but so many of the exhibitors (all but a handful) are cheerfully offering free samples of their products, that one easily consumes enough high-priced chocolate to cover the price of admission. As a confirmed chocoholic, I had a ball! Of course, all the exhibitors had their products for sale as well, and since many of them don't have retail distribution in NYC, this is a great opportunity to stock up on all sorts of novelties.
The show opened today (Oct. 30) and runs through November 1. Open hours on Saturday are 10 am to 8 pm, and sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Tickets are available at the door. Anybody with a love of chocolate need not hesitate. You will have a great time and make enticing discoveries.
