[Sca-cooks] OOP International Chocolate Festival

[Robert Downie]

I just thought this was so neat, I've forwarded it from my other list.  
Even though it is definitely post period - it has a modern illusion 
foods component.  I wonder what they have in store for 2006?
Faerisa

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[Cozinha_Portuguesa] International Chocolate Festival of 
Óbidos & Chocolate Salame Recipe
Date: 	Sun, 08 Jan 2006 18:28:08 -0000
From: 	castelrouge <fernanda at mts.net>
Reply-To: 	Cozinha_Portuguesa at yahoogroups.com
To: 	Cozinha_Portuguesa at yahoogroups.com



While I was surfing I came across a mention of a Portuguese festival I
had never heard of before.  Since I am such a chocolholic, I just had
to pass it on :-)

Fernanda

http://www.festivalchocolate.cm-obidos.pt/index.php?lang=eng

Some of the activities for 2005 included:

The World's Biggest Chocolate Salami
During the days of the Festival the world's biggest chocolate salami
will be made presenting 100 meters of lenght. After having completed
the salami, it will be given out to the visitors.

Chocolate Fashion Show
This year's edition counts with a novelty that will please visitors.
The chocolate professional team and the "Centro de Formação
Profissional da Industria de Vestuário e Confecção" will make
different clothes and accessories in chocolate that will be displayed
in a fashion show during the days of the Festival.


This site also descibed a few other festival activities:
http://en.cm-obidos.pt/noticias/default.aspx?not_id=24

Children's Chocolate House
This area is entirely dedicated to children. All activities will be
related to the Chocolate theme. This space offers various ateliers
where children can paint, draw, stick, participate in various games
and above all, learn a little about chocolate.

Chocolate Sculptures - "The World of Cinema"
This space is mandatory for those who visit the Festival. Last year,
this space was a great success and has become a must for those who
visit this event. The organizing committee intends to improve the
quality of this exhibition space as well as number of pieces.

Chocolate Courses
At the International Chocolate Festival, visitors will have the
opportunity to take a cooking course where they will learn how to make
some chocolate recipes.

Chocolate Sales
In this space the visitor will have the chance to taste and buy all
types of chocolate products from handmade bonbons, cakes to other
pastry products, as well as national and international prestigious
chocolate brands. The purpose of this venue is to promote the world of
chocolate and the many companies who wish to participate in this event.

Chocobar
This is a new place where people can taste chocolate cocktails among
other products.

Choco Party
This party is a big event that will take place on Saturday, November
12, at 11 p.m. It dance party is open to everyone who wishes to
participate.


In honour of the "world's largest chocolate salami", I'm posting some
chocolate salami recipes:

Salame de Chocolate

200 g chocolate powder
100 g butter
200 g sugar
200 g graham crackers, crushed
2 eggs
Port Wine or Brandy

Mix well butter with chocolate powder. Add eggs and sugar, mixing
with your hand. Add crackers. (It will be a little sticky.)

Place the aluminium foil on a counter and sprinkle with the wine.
Place the mixture in the center and shape into a roll like salame.
Refridgerate to harden. Slice before serving.
http://www.recipecottage.com/portuguese/salame-chocolate.html

I also found these slightly more complex verions:

Chocolami Improv

This is an extraordinary, tasty gourmet dessert that your guest will
definitely remember... It's great for a party, because you can prepare
it in advance and it serves a small crowd.

Pistachios, chopped roughly
Almond slices
Crushed chocolate-coated biscotti
Orange peel
Dried cherries, soaked in water for 1/2 hour
Semi-sweet chocolate
Butter
Sugar
Approx. 1 oz. Grand Marnier

Melt semi-sweet chocolate with butter and sugar; mix well. Add nuts,
biscotti and orange peel. Stir in liqueur. Add cherries last, stirring
carefully so as to not break them up. Form salami-shaped roll on
parchment paper. Refrigerate roll for a minimum of 4 hours or
overnight. Cut into slices with a hot knife.

Chocolami Improv #2

1/2 lb Maria cookies (my note: Bolacha Maria are available in
Portuguese food stores - If you can't find them, subsitute Digestives
or Arrowroot cookies)
4 egg yolks
8 Tbsp sugar
1/2 lb unsalted butter
1 cup of Brazil nuts crushed into large pieces
3 Tbsp of Port Wine or Cointreau
4 Tbsp of Nestlé Quick
1 Tbsp of dark chocolate
1 teaspoon of Nescafé

Melt butter and let cool. In a mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until
they double in volume. Mix in butter. Mix Nestlé Quick, Nescafé and
dark chocolate with a drop of water or two and add to the egg and
sugar mixture. Add liquor. Remove from mixer and add Brazil nuts.
Crumble Maria cookies (if you can't find them in Latino markets, try
Graham Crackers) into large pieces and add to mixture.

Spread mixture on a piece of plastic wrap and put it in the freezer,
uncovered, for 1/2 hour. Remove from freezer and place on a clean
kitchen towel. Roll it up until "salami" is formed and wrap it in a
large piece of aluminum foil, longer than the "salami" so you'll be
able to twist foil at both ends. Freeze for one day or overnight.
Transfer to refrigerator until ready to use. Open "salami" at one end
and use a large kitchen knife to cut it into thick slices.
http://www.chocolatemonthclub.com/pastnewsletters/vol2no5.htm

    *  Visit your group "Cozinha_Portuguesa
      <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cozinha_Portuguesa>" on the web.