Gourmet Warehouse- 2nd Annual Chocolate Challenge

Happy Tuesday great foodie friends….
The Gourmet Warehouse continues to be a culinary Disneyland as well as keeping their finger on the pulse!

I know that the Captain of the good ship Culinary wonderland is Caren with her ever smiling helpful ways.

But I also know that she has a fantastic team by her side constantly tweaking, identifying and organizing ways to make the store better everyday.
The term “it takes a village” comes to mind and though it is usually used in reference to raising our kids, I have come to see that it is true also in business.
The Gourmet Warehouse has a village and is happy to extend that same support to the great community surrounding them.

Oct 10th I was thrilled to have attended the 2nd annual Chocolate Challenge which is hosted by The Gourmet Warehouse and supported / co-hosted by Cacao Barry / Callebaut and many other suppliers.
The focus of this great event is to raise money for the Strathcona backpack program (helping feed youth in the area).
The event was a success this year raising just over 16,000.00 which will go a long way to helping feed countless kids that need it.

The Chocolate Challenge was a great opportunity for Culinary students and home cooks alike to show off their chocolate magic to some of the best judges a contest could hope for to showcase your talents.

By the way, who knew that the quiet un-assuming talented Thomas Haas was such a comedian? !

You could feel the anticipation and tension in the competitors as some of their mentors -Thomas Haas, Greg Hook and Rob Feenie were tasting their creations….

A good night was had by all!

Some of the treats:

The store was decked out with tasting stations with some surprise hosts and guests:

Richard Wolak – Vancouver Foodster
As well spotted in the crowd where many more of Carens supporters- Bill Good, @YVRBCbro- prominent Vancouver food writer/photographer and the Food Gays- also well known Vancouver food writers.

Erin Ireland and her friendly baker! From To Die For Foods.

Pasta from New York’s Rao’s

Rockin Ronnie’s pulled pork!

Chef Ann Kirsebom – showcasing a great new cooking product from Cacao Barry!

Congratulations to The Gourmet Warehouse, Cacao Barry / Callebaut Chocolate and Strathcona Backpack program for a successful event!
Thank you to Sophie Lui for being the evenings MC and for all of Carens supporters for your undying support for great causes!

Finally I leave you with a shot of Chef Christophe’s Chocolate sculpture that he created while the chocolate Mayhem was in motion.

Chocolate Challenge 2013- The Gourmet Warehouse

Happy Friday great foodie friends,

I can’t wait for the 2nd annual Chocolate Challenge being held at the Gourmet Warehouse!
Date: Oct 10, 2013
Time: 6:30-9:30pm

Are you an aspiring pastry student, confident home cook or just a confident master in the kitchen with an original delectable chocolate recipe?
Then honestly, this challenge is for you!

Click on this link to submit your “original” recipe to submit your chance to compete. Choose either “student” or “home cook” and bring your best to have the opportunity to win up to $1000.00 in each category.
click here to submit your recipe

All recipes need to be in by September 19th and the top 3 recipes chosen will be announced September 26th.

If you were chosen now what?
You will have your opportunity to bring your best effort and to be judged by some of the best chefs in Vancouver!

The judges panel include:
Rob Feenie

Food concept architect, Cactus Restaurants, First Canadian winner of Iron Chef America

Thomas Haas

Pastry Chef & Chocolatier, owner of Thomas Hass Chocolates

Greg Hook

Cacao Barry brand Ambassador, and owner of Chocolate Arts

The MC for the night is Vancouver’s own Jill Crop!

Lastly I just heard from a little birdie…
That Erin Ireland from To Die For Fine Foods will be attending the Chocolate Challenge and just might be doing tastings of her own To Die For Banana bread (maybe the Lemon loaf too? Not sure but I am hopeful!)

I attended this event last year and can tell you that is is more than just a chocolate challenge…. There will be unique and fun food served and sips to enjoy all while you are being entertained and enjoying the night.
Besides there being plenty of delectable chocolate temptations, there will be a wine bar as well as tasting stations featuring tasty treats such as New York’s Rao’s specialty sauces…Sable & Rosenfeld’s gourmet foods and pulled pork from Albertan BBQ Master Rockin Ronnie Shewchuck.

The true magic of this evening and the reason that your host Caren McSherry is putting on this event is for the Strathcona Community Centre’s backpack program…. The money earned from this evening will go towards the Strathcona community centre Back-Pack program which delivers backpacks of food to deserving children on the downtown Eastside on the weekends.

This night will prove to be a lot of fun and entertaining all while in a great location! The Gourmet Warehouse is what I like to call a Culinary Disneyland

Come out and support Caren and the Strathcona Backpack program all while having a great evening of fun and entertainment! This is a “Foodies” dream night…..

Get your tickets by calling 604-253-3022
Cost-$50.00 and is a great value as well as for a great cause.

Kick off your fall season with a truly unique and fun event!

You Gotta Try This!