Last week, we participated in a public event hosted by A Matter of Taste. It was a wonderful evening, which included a thoughtfully curated, single-origin, chocolate journey, an exciting and unusual pairing menu, and a wide ranging panel discussion on everything chocolate.
For the single-origin journey, Obie, our chocolate-maker-in-chief, chose to share cacao from Dos Lagunas – an incredible Costa Rican grower, with a focus on regenerative agriculture systems.
We began the tasting by presenting each person with a few unroasted cocoa beans, which had been through the necessary fermentation and drying process. We then shared roasted cocoa nibs, from the same bean, which allowed everyone to get a sense of how roasting impacts flavor. Next we discussed the process of transforming nibs into chocolate and shared aged and freshly made 76%, two ingredient chocolates made from the same nibs. This offered participants an opportunity to notice the way craft-chocolate flavor can change over time. Finally, to give people a sense of how flavor can be altered further, we followed with a 76% bar which contained additional cacao butter and a 58% dark milk chocolate.
Accompanying the tasting, were options for pairing the chocolate with various dried fruits and nuts. Afterwards, A Matter of Taste served a delightful assortment of their own curated pairings of chocolate with unusual flavors, such as salami, a mango chevre, and a cocoa nib oat biscuit.
Throughout the tasting, participants were engaged in conversation with a panel of three speakers, including Nathan and Joanna, former long time employees of Theo Chocolate and Obie from Insight. We touched on a wide range of topics, from flavor profiles and ingredients, to transparency, equity and sustainability. After the tasting and discussion, participants had the opportunity to sample additional creations by A Matter of Taste, as well as to socialize and engage further in conversation. As often happens after a chocolate event, people were happy and energized and open to connecting further.
A big, heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and enthusiastically engaged in the experience. And, a huge thank you to A Matter of Taste, who made this event possible by opening up their beautiful space, and doing the work of making it happen! We had so much positive feedback, and the exchange that took place that night is exactly why Insight Chocolate came into being. The world of chocolate is even richer than most of us imagine, but it is at its richest when it is a shared experience amongst a community of people.
We are still contemplating everything that came out of it. We feel deep appreciation for all the support and interest we received and hope this conversation only grows!
