And that's all she wrote...

It is now September 16th, 1:27 p.m., almost 24 hours since this year's Chocolate Fest event concluded. I'm going to be honest: I am slightly in shock! It seems like just yesterday we were getting started with everything. The first phone calls to vendors were going out (the first of probably 1.8 billion), the first designs for the fliers were being designed, and I was figuring out how the heck one writes one of these new fancy blogmajigers! I feel like I've learned more about chocolate than anyone could possibly want to know this summer, but I've also about the sweet chocolately center that people have inside of them! That's right...this is going to be one of those sugary sweet sappy blogs. So get ready.

Over the past several months I've seen all of the hard work, determination, and passion that the people here at Young Audiences* have put into Chocolate Fest! The staff here is made up of wonderful folks who are trying to make a difference in the world and you should probably give them a huge donation. Haha, I'm just joking! Unless you really want to give them a huge donation, because that would be wonderful. I want to sincerely thank them for letting me be a part of this! Through all of the meetings, emails, research, more meetings, more emails, phone calls, and Post-its, I've learned a lot and had a great experience! And I hope of all of you, dear blog readers, have gained something as well! Whether it be discovering a great new recipe...bourbon brownies were a favorite here in the office....or realizing that it's okay to eat chocolate every single day, or hopefully learning something about Young Audiences, I hope that we've been able to share something special with all of you!

So, thank you everyone for tagging along on this blogging journey!

And sincere thank yous to everyone who attended yesterday's Chocolate fest! It was a blast! I personally walked away with four cupcakes, plus some mousse!

We will hopefully see all of you at Chocolate Fest 2012!

See, that wasn't too overly sappy! Although, I think I need a cupcake now...

-Intern Hanna

Interview with Confectioneiress!

On the eve of Chocolate Fest, we would like to bring you one more quick interview with one the vendors you will see tomorrow at the Arts Garden! Confectioneiress Cupcakes and Sweets recently opened its doors in Zionsville. It's a fun little shop with a fun and funky atmosphere and even more fun and funky cupcakes!

Confectioneiress owner Mica says that she loves creating unique flavors (over 200 flavors in the shop!) and that's what she's bringing to Chocolate Fest. Intrepid Intern Hanna braved the trek to Zionsville for a taste of these highly sought after delicacies. There, Mica led her through a taste test of the two of the three (the third wasn't done baking yet) cupcakes she will be offering at chocolate fest. Here's what she has to say:

"The first cupcake was a Mexican Hot Chocolate cupcake. At first, it looks just like a tasty, normal chocolate cupcake. But on closer inspection it's certainly anything but normal! Made with rich chocolate, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and other spices, this little cupcake has a warm, spicy flavor that would be perfect on a fall day or on a cold snowy evening.

I was really excited about the second cupcake Mica gave me: chocolate with candied bacon! Mica told me that bacon cupcakes are very trendy right now and I couldn't wait to try it out and see what all the fuss was about. It's defiantly a treat for the more adventurous cupcake lover or a g bacon lover. Candied bacon sits atop a mound of rich chocolate frosting. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it. I'm not used to my cupcakes being crunchy, but after a few bites, it grew on me. The sweetness and the saltiness are a very pleasing combination. Visitors at chocolate fest will just have to make their own opinions!

The last cupcake at Chocolate Fest, which I sadly did not get to try, will be a salted chocolate caramel with pink peppercorn. I am a great cupcake lover and I can't wait to add this one to my list of cupcake conquests! I would also like to add that I couldn't leave the shop without buying anything, so I purchased a chocolate chip cookie dough cupcake. They won't be at Chocolate Fest, but I strongly recommend you go get some at the shop! It was a little bit of cupcake heaven!

Fun Fact: Mica's favorite cupcake flavor is coffee and cream. She's a big coffee lover."

So there you have it! Cupcakes galore! Come check Confectioneiress, Mica, and all our other wonderful chocolate vendors tomorrow at Chocolate Fest at the Arts Garden from 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Remember each dessert is 5 dollars and proceeds go towards supporting Young Audiences' mission of providing arts education! Can't wait to see you all there!

Interview with Just Pop In!

Intern Hanna interviews the bubbly owners of Just Pop In! about what tasty treats they are bringing to Chocolate Fest....which...I don't know if you know this or not... is this Thursday, September 15th, from 10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. at the Arts Garden downtown.

Check out the video on youtube by clicking this lovely button right here!

Top 5 Reasons why YOU should go to Chocolate Fest!

I can't believe it, but Chocolate Fest is less than a week away! Oh....how time flies. I'm positive everyone out there in internet-land is just as excited as I am. You're probably happily clutching your pre-ordered Chocolate Fest tickets, brushing up on your chocolate knowledge, and anxiously watching the seconds tick by until it's finally time to get your hands on all the best cocoa-y, tasty goodness that Indianapolis has to offer!

Okay, well...maybe not. But you definitly should get pumped for Chocolate Fest! If you need convincing, here are Hanna the Intern's Top Five Reasons why YOU should go to Chocolate Fest this year:

1. You will be supporting YA's mission of arts in Education!!!
The arts are fantastic. They are essential for a child's successful growth and development! By nurturing your body with ridicules amounts of chocolate at the Fest you will be nurturing students' mental, emotional, and even physical health! Want to know more about how the arts help students? Click HERE!

2. Did we also mention that the arts help our economy?
Yup, it's true. By devouring truffles, cup cakes, and other wonderful treats and goodies, you are not only helping kids, you are also helping Indianapolis (as well as Indiana's, and even the country's) economy. Arts education in schools leads to a greater appreciation of the arts in general. More support for the arts leads to a stronger economy. Wondering how? Click HERE!

3. It's a fantastic break from your busy day!
Yes, we realize that Chocolate Fest's hours are in the middle of a workday (Thursday September 15th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00p.m.) but since it's conveniently located in the Arts Garden and in walking distance of a lot of businesses, we figure what better way to step away from your desk and get a little you time? There will be to-go containers, so feel free to load up on desserts to take back to the office. With so many varieties of chocolate and so much stress back at work, you really deserve to come to Chocolate Fest and indulge!

4. We're really awesome at Young Audiences.
I'm going to be honest.....we're some pretty cool people over here at YA. Come hang out with us. We're a blast.

5. Chocolate
If you've been reading this blog at all over the past months, you probably have some serious chocolate hankerings. One of the best reasons for going to Chocolate Fest is simply for the chocolate (duh). We've got some of the best vendors in Indianapolis all under one roof! You'll find everything from Mexican chocolate cupcakes to flour-less chocolate cake to peanut butter and chocolate popcorn! You really don't want to miss this opportunity to take part in all of these wonderful and decadent treats! The only way this event could get better is if we filled a pool with chocolate and let you swim in it! Hmm....maybe next year?

So, if you're convinced and can't wait to get your hands on some Chocolate Fest tickets, click here please!

We will see all you chocolate crazed folks on September 15th, from 10-2, at the Arts Garden!

A warm drink for a chilly fall day

Suddenly, unexpectedly, and almost surprisingly (especially after those lovely 100 degree days last week), autumn has fallen into our laps. Having grown accustomed to scorching sun and clinging humidity, today's cool 73 degrees has all of us reaching for our sweaters. It's hard to believe that it's finally time to start turning the air conditioning off and digging out the jeans and jackets...or in my case buying new jeans and jackets....you don't spend a summer blogging about chocolate without picking up a few chocolately addictions. Just more insulation for the colder months! So, in the spirit of keeping you warm, Indianapolis, I have found a delightfully spicy and simple drink for those cool September nights. I found this Mexican hot chocolate recipe on FoodNetwork.com, courtesy of Barefoot Contessa. It pairs perfectly with a good book, a nice fire, a blanket, and a snuggly significant other (or cat).

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Yield: 2 to 3 cups

2 Cups whole milk
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
4 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, such as Lindt, chopped
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
smallest pinch cayenne pepper
Long cinnamon sticks for stirrers, optional

1. Place the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Off the heat, stir in chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper with a wooden spoon and allow to steep for 3 minutes. Reheat hot chocolate over low heat until it simmers.

2. Strain the hot chocolate into a measuring cup and pour into mugs. Stir with cinnamon sticks if desired.

Might I suggest a good novel pairing with that? The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a film noir style book set in the dark and mysterious streets of 1950s Barcelona. It's the kind of book that makes you stay up late....which would be perfect with a mug of Mexican hot chocolate! It'll make you gasp in horror, laugh in delight, and never want to put it down.

Coming soon: Interviews with the owners from Just Pop In! in Broadripple and from Confectioneiress in Zionsville!

Chocolate Fest is just around the corner. Have you bought your tickets yet?