The Chocolate Expo is a regional event that features tastings & sales of chocolates, sweets, treats, and other eats! Having already held their first show of the year in Massachusetts, the next stop was Edison, NJ on March 8 & 9 at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center.
With nearly 100 vendors on-site, you’ll feel like you found one of Willy Wonka’s Golden Tickets! You can expect to find everything from chocolate baking sticks to chocolate bacon sticks! And with non-chocolates, ranging from nuts to donuts, The Chocolate Expo’s got you covered. We’re talking about sauces & seasonings, herbal teas, gelato & sorbet, jerky, cookies & cupcakes, pastries, toffee, cheese & wine, pickles, macarons, freeze-dried treats… and even hot foods from Empanada Lady, Knot Of This World Pretzels, Chow Wow Asian Fusion, 876 Jerk, and Stella’s Empanadas.
And in terms of chocolate, you’re sure in for a treat! Not only were there artisanally crafted confections like 2 Chicks with Chocolate‘s bonbons (above) but also a wide assortment of bars, fudge, coated nuts & coffee beans, truffles, bark, chocolate liqueur, and even organic & dairy-free chocolate options! But a popular attraction at the Expo was definitely Aurora Gourmet with their chocolate fountains where attendees could choose milk or dark chocolate to cover skewered strawberries, pineapples, bananas, and an assortment of other snacks in cups, cones, or bowls:
All the while the Main Stage became home to the sweetest panels & demos all weekend long, including a mini cast reunion of the classic 1971 film “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”. Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Tee Vee), and Rusty Goffe (Oompa Loompa) spoke on their experiences on set and also took time to meet fans for autographs & photos for an additional fee:
The Chocolate Expo in NJ ran from 10am-6pm both days with a 9:30am VIP option, which is great for getting a head start on the free samples! Admission for children was only $10 and the Expo provided a separate Kidz Zone with face painting, balloon art, and crafts.
There’s always tons to try and buy at The Chocolate Expo. For even more, check out their next stops in Long Island, NY on April 14 and Lincoln, RI on May 19!
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