THE VANCOUVER HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR ITS 8TH SEASON

With 35 contributing “chocstars” and over 75 flavours to choose from!

January 20 – February 14, 2018

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival returns this month bigger and better than ever. Yet even after 8 seasons it remains a truly local celebration, as no commercial chocolate manufacturers or national coffee chains dominate the program. For its fans from around the world or anyone who just loves chocolate, the Festival shines as a showcase for our city’s most talented artisan food producers, chefs and locally based, independent businesses.

So…. WHAT’S NEW FOR 2018?

Good question, because this year we have new vendors and never-even-imagined-before hot chocolate flavours, as well as new strategic partnerships with exciting affiliated programs, and additional features to the website. Beyond that we will be supporting three local community charities and awarding over $900 in chocolate as contest prizes. You’ll find everything listed below or on our website at: hotchocolatefest.com

NEW VENDORS for 2018

Read their story in Vendor Profiles: http://hotchocolatefest.com/participants/

CARTEMS DONUTS

LA GLACE

MON PARIS PATISSERIE

TRAFIQ CAFÉ & BAKERY

BAGGIO GELATERIA & PIZZERIA

– In the former Bella Gelateria location in Yaletown.

BELLA GELATERIA

-Under new management by the original partners.

JAMES’ GELATO AT MAHONEY & SONS

– A pop-up from James Coleridge, formerly of Bella Gelateria.

FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Vendors:

49^th Parallel Roasters

Baggio Gelateria & Pizzeria

Bel Café

Bella Gelateria

Butter Baked Goods

Cartems Donuts

Chez Christophe

Chocolate Arts

Doughgirls Comfort Kitchen & Bakeshop

Earnest Ice Cream

East Van Roasters

Eternal Abundance Organic Market & Café

Gem Chocolates

Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery

Italian Cultural Centre (cooking classes)

James’ Gelato at Mahony & Sons (with 2 supplier partners)

KoKo Monk Chocolates

La Glace

Lucky’s Doughnuts

Mink Chocolates

Mon Paris Patisserie

Soirette Pastry Boutique

Swiss Bakery

Temper Chocolate and Pastry

Terra Breads

Thierry Chocolaterie, Patisserie & Café

Thomas Haas Chocolates

Trafiq Café and Bakery

Vegan Supply (with 5 supplier partners)

The Vancouver Winter Farmers Markets

The Bean Buggy

Maples Sugar Shack

Nuez Organic Nut Milk

Sarcastic Bean

Take a Fancy Bean to Bar Chocolate

Local Suppliers:

Amai Vegan Treats

Castle Kitchen

Erin Ireland’s “To Die For Foods”

Glow Chocolates

Kapow Now!

Nutmeg Mylk

Sweet Thea

Zimt Chocolates

NEW PARTNERS

This year the Hot Chocolate Festival has teamed up with other hi-profile food associations in the City to offer festival fans more options. Find out more in the CHOCOLATE CABINET section of the Festival Website. http://hotchocolatefest.com/sponsorpartner/

See their schedules in the EVENTS section: http://hotchocolatefest.com/events-2/

THE VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKETS

The Market folks will offer hot chocolates and sweet edibles at both their winter market locations. Look for Festival posters marking the booths of participating vendors at both the Nat Bailey Stadium and Hastings Park Farmers Markets.

THE ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE

Our Italian friends at the Centre have designed a cooking class demonstrating the method of making rich and dark drinking chocolate – Italian style, as well as the cookies that are traditionally served with them.

VEGAN SUPPLY

This Chinatown grocer has come to the aid of hot chocolate fans looking for vegan, dairy-free or just healthier hot chocolate mixes that they can use at home. Some of their favourite suppliers will be offering demos and tastings on location throughout the Festival period. See the schedule in the ‘Events’ section of the Festival website.

http://hotchocolatefest.com/events-2/

AND HOW ABOUT THOSE 75 CRAZY FLAVOURS!

Anyone looking for the unusual will not be disappointed. This year MINK CHOCOLATES is making one of their drinks with Donkey’s Milk, while SOIRETTE will top one of theirs with real Liquid Gold. Even more unique, GEM CHOCOLATES will offer a taste of “the World’s Rarest Chocolate” – made with chocolate from a cocoa plantation so lost and forgotten in the Peruvian jungles, it took a modern day Indiana Jones to rediscover it.

However the theme word for Festival 2018 would have to be #PBY – as in “Plant-Based Yummy”. Many vendors have strived to make their drinks healthier this year with no-sugar and non-dairy alternatives, and they’ve used a virtual grocery cart of produce as ingredients. Check the “Flavours” list on the website (http://hotchocolatefest.com/flavourlist/) to find such unexpected components as apple cider, avocado, beets, red beans, mushrooms and tomato.

MORE INFO

As in previous years, full information about the following can be found on the

HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL WEBSITE: http://hotchocolatefest.com/

CHARITY RECIPIENTS: 3 charity partners http://hotchocolatefest.com/about/

PARTICIPANTS: http://hotchocolatefest.com/participants/

FLAVOURS: http://hotchocolatefest.com/flavourlist/

DOWNLOADABLE WALKING MAPS: (see under “Flavours and Locations Bar)

PHOTO CONTEST: (Over $900 in prizes!) http://hotchocolatefest.com/contest/

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: http://hotchocolatefest.com/events-2/

AFFILIATED PROGRAMS: http://hotchocolatefest.com/sponsorpartner/

SOCIAL MEDIA

HASHTAG: #hotchocolatefest