A SWEET PARTNERSHIP seems to have been struck between the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) and the annual Chocolate Festival.
On Saturday, the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre was transformed into a haven for those with a sweet tooth, filled with chocolates of all types.
Event organiser and owner of Mangolia Chocolatier, Margaret King, told the DAILY NATION that the show, which was in its third year, had attracted a host of chocolatiers, chocolate makers and pastry chefs from across the island.
More importantly, she added, this year the festival had partnered with the BTPA.
“We’re partnered with the Barbados Tourism Product Authority again this year for their Sugar And Rum Festival and they made this the last day for their season,” King said.
“We incorporated the chocolate festival as well as some chocolate making classes I did last month under their sugar and rum season,” she added.
The cupcakes by Fantasies and Z’Kacey’s Sweet Treats were popular with patrons.
BTPA product officer Shanice Taylor said that the sugar and rum season had been created to showcase the story of sugar and its contribution to Barbados’ economy.
As sugar was used in the chocolate-making process, she said the decision was taken to work with King and the Chocolate Festival.
Present at Saturday’s show was chef Peter Edey whose cooking classes had also been a part of the season.
In addition to being pleased with the Chocolate Festival, he also praised the BPTA’s work with the festival.
“I’ve been working with the BTPA in putting this programme on and it’s a fantastic programme,” he said. “For me, this is a programme Barbados was waiting for in that the whole festival touches on everything Barbadian, and that is what you want for a national culinary festival.” (AD)