The Carefor Chocolate Brunch and Competition is an amazing event that both benefits the chocolate lover and Carefor Health and Community Services. For $75 attendees not only got a buffet brunch but got to sample nine decadent chocolate desserts and act as a judge and score each competitor based on table presentation, originality and taste. Sure, there were official judge's such as Ron Eade (Ominvore's Ottawa), Claire Fowles and Don Chow (FoodiePrints), Jantine Van Kregten (Ottawa Tourism), Christian Faure (Le Cordon Bleu) but that didn't stop Dima and I from being serious judges ourselves!
(Above) The ultimate craving by The Joy of Gluten Free - the best chewiest moist brownie of all time smothered in Susan's Mom's chocolate sauce, layered with mousse and crunchy candied bits, Hershey's semi sweet chocolate, brandy and Drambuie. Sadly this wasn't my ultimate craving. I found the brownie itself to be dry and the bottom slightly burned showing that it might have spent a bit too much time in the oven. I did love the chocolate sauce and candied bits though.
(Above) Double chocolate truffle mousse by Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana - a mousse made with 56% Callebaut Belgian chocolate with a chocolate cake base and chocolate truffle centre covered in dark chocolate ganache. Yes, this is as decadent as it looks and the beautiful creamy chocolate taste as well the tables wonderful chocolate show piece is why it topped both Dima and my score cards.
(Above) La Dôme by Sucré Salé - a 70% chocolate dome with cremeux insert, almond croustillant and blood orange juice. It just looked awesome. I loved the textures, I loved the flavour of the almond and I kind of liked the novelty of being able to add the juice myself.
(Above) Raspberry chocolate sugar bomb by The Southern Cross - raspberry and chocolate ganache between two semi-sweet chocolate crusted wafers dipped in rich dark chocolate. This wasn't the prettiest presentation however, I loved the crunch of the wafers and enjoyed the combination of raspberry and chocolate.
(Above) Duo of hot chocolate and old fashioned donut by Todric's Fine Dining & Catering - a home made hot chocolate and old fashioned donut with chocolate-caramel. I love mini donuts, I have found memories being at the Canadian Expo watching the mini donut machine pumping them out and begging my parents to buy them. These mini donuts missed the mark though - a little dry, perhaps they needed more chocolate-caramel. The hot chocolate was okay but it tasted like there was something more than chocolate in it.
(Above) Double sensation by Tulips & Maple Catering - a flourless dark chocolate and ancho cake with bourbon and orange creme anglaise and roasted garlic and goat cheese truffle. This has a crazy mix of flavours. When I first bit into it I liked it, then as I took another bite and another I discovered more and more. It was good but maybe too crazy of a mix for me.
(Above) Two chocolate terrine by Fratelli - a white and dark chocolate pate with raspberry coulis. I really enjoyed the white and dark chocolate flavours together but thought that this mushy dessert needed a bit of a crunch somewhere to really make it amazing.
(Above) Sushi by The Wakefield Mill - A white chocolate and coconut milk sushi with fresh fruit and spicy black chocolate dip cacao soy reduction. Although pretty to look at I didn't enjoy the soy reduction. Eaten together it created a weird combination of flavours.
(Above) Raspberry chocolate ganache by Luxe Bistro - a dark chocolate and raspberry ganache with cookie crumb crust and white chocolate anglaise. I forgot to take a picture of what the individual tasting portions were like so this is what the plate that was given to the judges (you can see more by going to my flickr stream). I remember enjoying the raspberry and dark chocolate flavours and the cookie crust which added texture.
At the end of the day Dima and I had eaten a lot of amazing desserts and had a turn or two at the chocolate fountain. We were very happy that Carefor not only achieved their goal of $30,000 with the ticket sales but surpassed it with the silent auction. Congratulations also go to Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana who took home the judge's award and Sucré Salé who took home the people's choice award. I will be back next year and I will be just as critical in my role as a non official judge
I think I need to make sure I am definitely at this event next year and your post reminds me to visit the Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana soon!
Posted by: Tamaramanning | Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 06:02 PM
Oooh, what gorgeous pics! I totally need to go next year!
Posted by: Eclectic_cook | Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:57 AM
A lot of people are saying that now - next year we'll get our own table and indulge with friends :)
Posted by: Katy | Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 12:47 PM