another evening of chocolate enjoyment

September 20, 2014 was the fourth sold-out dinner of “Chocolate Exploration” held in the Community Classroom of McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg.

McNally Robinson

McNally Robinson is a favourite location of readers and writers alike, and I was privileged to also have a special signing of Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate at which I could affix a “Readers’ Favorite Award Winner” sticker to each book as I signed them.  Such an honour!

book signing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef Karen Nielsen and the culinary team once again outdid themselves for our chocolate and cocoa-inspired menu. The starter consisted of a delicious salad described as “Orange and onion salad with feta cheese , candied pecans and dark chocolate balsamic dressing.” It was great, but I would have loved more of the delicious candied pecans on it.

salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main course was “Chocolate and coffee crusted New York steak with milk chocolate, cognac peppercorn cream sauce.” The meat was tender enough to cut with a fork, and the chocolate sauce really enhanced the richness of the meat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the dessert was a “Triple Chocolate Crème Brûlée” served with a pecan brittle. What an absolutely decadent way to end a perfect meal!

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I look forward to the next chocolate dinner in the Community Classroom, which is scheduled for February, 7, 2015. Just one week before Valentine’s Day–you know we’ll have a sweet time.

 

 

 

You can register online at the McNally Robinson site. Call Barb King at McNally Robinson at 204-475-0483, or email classroom@grant.mcnallyrobinson.ca if you have any questions. But please don’t wait! The chocolate dinners always sell out well in advance of the event date.  Hope to see you then, or at another one of the chocolate events I’ve got coming up. Stay tuned (subscribe) to this site for updates.

Doreen Pendgracs

Known throughout the Web as the "Wizard of Words", I've been a freelance writer since 1993. I researched and wrote Volume I of Chocolatour that won a Readers' favourite Award in 2014. Always enjoy experiencing new destinations and flavours.

10 Responses

  1. Doreen,

    I’m with Susan. I’ve never heard of a chocolate and coffee crusted steak either. It sounds delicious. Your next chocolate dinner in the Community Classroom will be here before you know it! It sounds like this last one will be hard to beat. What an opportunity it must have been for you.
    Sherryl Perry recently posted…Will Building Your Blog Community Make You a Superstar? #FridayFindsMy Profile

    • Hi Sherryl. I’m really enjoying the chocolate dinners, and I think chocolate connoseurs must be, too, as the Feb 7, & April 4 dinners are sold out, and we’ve already got the next one slated for Sept 19th. Too bad you live so far away. You could join us!
      Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Chocolatouring in 2015My Profile

  2. The dinner was fantastic. And the information you provided fun and informative. I’m thinking about shopping for chocolate in a whole new way now. And I have to find or make a chocolate balsamic dressing!
    Donna Janke recently posted…Nature PlaygroundMy Profile

    • doreen says:

      Donna, dear. I know you have a copy of my book. Go to page 131 in the Recipes and Pairings chapter and you will see a recipe from Paul A. Young that no doubt is very similar to the sauce we enjoyed on the salad at McNally Robinson on Saturday night. Enjoy!
      doreen recently posted…the importance of greeting cardsMy Profile

      • Wonderful. I looked through these recipes before but until I tasted it I couldn’t imagine chocolate in a salad dressing, so forgot about it.
        Donna Janke recently posted…Nature PlaygroundMy Profile

        • doreen says:

          I know. It’s an unlikely combination — until you taste it! I had my first salad adorned with chocolate dressing in Montreal as we embarked on the 1st leg of the first Chocolatour. My choco-knowedgeable friend, Kathe Lieber, took me there for lunch before we departed for Belgium. And what a journey it was! But if you ever find yourself in Montreal, do visit Juliette et Chocolat. Here is the link to their menu and chocolates:http://www.julietteetchocolat.com/chocolat.php?lang=en. Delish!
          doreen recently posted…award winning authorMy Profile

          • Kathe says:

            Oh yes, any chocolate lover who’s visiting Montreal must go to Juliette et Chocolat. There are several branches, all in interesting areas. One of the many things I like about the menu is that you can go there for breakfast, or brunch, or lunch, or dinner, or dessert… you catch my drift! My daughter, who is also a chocolate lover (though I inexplicably went off chocolate while I was pregnant with her), likes to take me there for Mother’s Day. I never say no…

          • doreen says:

            Hi Kathe and Happy Birthday! I would love to return to Juliette et Chocolate with you. they will be featured in Volume II of Chocolatour.

            That’s interesting that you went off chocolate while pregnant! Had it been causing you nausea? So glad that passed, and that you have become the chocolate-loving person that you are.
            doreen recently posted…another evening of chocolate enjoymentMy Profile

  3. I have never heard of a chocolate and coffee encrusted steak but it combines 3 of my favorite things. Yum! I bet it was delicious. Great picture of you. 🙂

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