Ginger Zee in chocolate dress

By Judy Marcus, February 6, 2011 at 9:27 am

Ginger Zee, weekend meterologist for NBC-5 Chicago, was strolling around in a 15-pound chocolate dress, but that was just the beginning. Guests at "For the Love of Chocolate" at the Merchandise Mart, an event which took place over the weekend to raise scholarship funds for students at the French Pastry School of Chicago, got quite an eyeful--not to mention many, many mouthfuls of luscious foods.

There was Fox Chicago News anchor Jan Jeffcoat, who donned a white chocolate strapless number. Jeffcoat gave off a subtle chocolaty aroma--and I don't think it was because of her perfume. Mrs. Illinois appeared in a chocolate gown, too. A human "candy dots" walked the floor as did a a young woman in a dress constructed of red napkins. Since she encouraged each party-goer to take a napkin, the dress got skimpier and skimpier as the evening wore on.

While dining on both sweet and savory foods, attendees hobnobbed with top chefs, including Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, Paul Kahan and Patrick Fahy of Blackbird and Graham Elliot of the restaurant by the same name. An array of fabulous bakeries and candy purveyors were represented too, including Lovely Bake Shop, Bleeding Heart Bakery, le Flour, Sweet Whimsy, Whimsical Candy and so many more.

Some observations from this incredible evening:

Lots of sweets-on-a-stick: from molasses-caramel lollipops, courtesy of Sarah's Pastries & Candies to heart-shaped cherry pie on-a-stick from Aschatz Handmade Pie Company in Michigan. Also seen: a bounty of gourmet desserts incorporating chocolate pudding.

Best foods: The lobster bisque from Nick's Fishmarket, the oh-so-fresh shrimp with ratatouille and eggplant pudding from the Peninsula, and Frontera Grill's braised lamb mini-tacos with onion, cilantro and coca nubs.

Best dessert: Almost impossible to call at an event like this one, but if I had to choose one it would be Blackbird's Verrine: an incredible multi-layered, multi-textured parfait with butterscotch cream, carmelized white chocolate streusel, passion fruit pearls, Campari liquor candies, blood orange gelee and more. Unique, complex, outstanding.

Best candy: Dark chocolate honey bark from Rich Chocolates & Candies.

Best sweet surprise: Chicago Heights' Zarlengo's Italian Ice served up a lovely banana sorbet with milk chocolate, chopped peanuts and miso caramel. Yes, it was also served on a stick and actually resembled a taffy apple.

Weirdest food combos: Couldn't get into some of twist-on-dessert selections, including the foie gras pot de creme with black walnut pufffed pastry and chocolate toffee bark. Also, didn't care for the bacon-chocolate chip ice cream, but I did like the bacon-nut brittle.

There are two things I would change for next year: More places to sit down to savor your selections. Standing around, going from station to station, you feel like you have to inhale your food. And standing actually diminishes the tasting experience somewhat. Also, I'm appealing to the organizers here: Please turn down the volume of the hip-hop music! But if you have to have it LOUD, put it somewhere else, not by the food. The noise level did a disservice to the surrounding sweet suppliers. We all love chocolate, but who wants to go deaf to enjoy it?

Enough. This event was totally decadent, fun and yes, sinfully delicious. "For the Love of Chocolate" was a part-food, part-theatre, part-musical Disneyland that I'll be savoring until next year.