TASTE & LEARN SCHEDULE
All schedules are subject to change. Personal appearances and times may be updated. Please check back regularly for the most current.
11:00am - 11:45am
Fine Chocolate
Industry Association
Fine Chocolate 101: The Art of Tasting
Join the Fine Chocolate Industry Association for an essential guide to high-quality cacao. Learn professional tasting techniques to identify complex flavor notes and discover the craftsmanship that distinguishes fine chocolate from the rest.
12:00pm - 12:45pm
Chocolate in a Bottle
Chocolate in a Bottle: The Perfect Pairing
Join Chocolate in a Bottle for an exclusive pairing experience. Taste their signature French sparkling wine (infused with cacao and hazelnuts) served alongside complementary chocolates. Discover how the crisp bubbles and rich flavors create a unique sensory harmony that elevates the tasting ritual.
1:00pm - 1:45pm
Graffeo Coffee
The Roast is Everything: Inside San Francisco’s Oldest Coffee Roastery
Graffeo Coffee is a 90-year old Bay Area gourmet icon, making ultra-premium coffee in San Francisco’s North Beach since 1935. Beloved by Ruth Reichl of The New York Times and served in Michelin-starred kitchens, Graffeo is known for coffee that’s rich, clean, and never bitter. Co-owner Walter Haas tells the story of the company, explains why roasting matters, and demystifies Graffeo’s unique low-temperature, "Fluid Bed" hot-air roasting process. Attendees will leave with a take-home sample of Graffeo’s legendary beans!
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Baiani Chocolates
Baiani Chocolates: A Tree-to-Bar Journey
Explore the authentic flavors of Brazil with Baiani Chocolates. This seminar reveals their sustainable tree-to-bar process, rooted in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia where they cultivate their own cacao. Attendees will enjoy a guided tasting of award-winning bars, experiencing firsthand how specific roasting profiles unlock the deep, complex notes of single-origin chocolate.
3:00pm - 3:45pm
Bonbons and Horse Racing
Presented by Advisory Board Members: Laura Tornichio and Charles Niedermyer
Enjoy exclusive access to the historic bonbon tasting created for the Kentucky Derby's 150th anniversary. Fashion, fun, and hospitality are integral to the experience of this iconic American sporting event famously known as "The fastest two minutes in sports." Hats are optional!
4:00pm - 4:45pm
Prophecy Chocolates
Discovering Cacao and it's Cousins
Take a trip with Mateo from Prophecy Chocolate to the Jungles of Peru and Mexico and meet and taste the Wild Family of Cacao including Macambo, Copuazu, and Cupui.
5:00pm - 5:45pm
Jamie Metzl
A Sacred Cacao Ceremony
Confessions of a Chocolate Shaman: A Sacred Cacao Ceremony
Join Jamie Metzl for an inclusive and uplifting experience where everyone is welcome. Blending guided meditation, sound healing, and movement, this unique ceremony uses fine cacao as a focal point to celebrate community and inner connection. Discover the Metzl School of chocolate shamanism through a joyous journey designed to unlock happiness and bring people together through the shared love of chocolate.
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