As you know from my recent post Italy in Chocolate, I spent several days in Turin at CioccolaTo, Turin's chocolate festival. Actually, my month in Italy was planned specifically for two things: Carnival in Venice and CioccolaTo in Turin. All the amazing other things that happened during my Italy travels between these 2 events were just chocolate ganache on the torta cioccolata!
For two weeks in March, Piazza Vittorio Veneto was transformed into a chocoholic's (called ciocco-dipendenti in Italian) paradise. Hundreds of chocolate makers in Turin and Piedmont participated, and also those from all parts of Italy and Europe, selling chocolate and giving out samples. A lot in the way of chocolate education was also available to those interested in more than sampling.
There was the tent that housed Italy and 20 of its monuments in chocolate. Also in the tent, highlights of Italy's united 150-year history and the history of chocolate in Italy were displayed on storyboards that lined the tent walls.
There was a chocolate demonstration booth, where various Piemontese chocolatiers and pastry chefs showed the audience chocolate making, baking, decorating and tempering techniques. Chocolatier Silvio Bessone sponsored a booth that had chocolate-making machines, in operation, during the festival. There was an interactive chocolate education area designed for children, although I saw some adults playing the learning games. A photo exhibition of chocolate-making and chocolate wear were also on display.
The cinema in the piazza, Cinema Empire, showed chocolate films from around the world (Chocolat, Like Water for Chocolate, Bianca, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, and more). If you were exhausted after eating all that chocolate, you could recline at Spalm Beach - a play on Palm Beach and Spalmabile, the generic term for the spreadable chocolate & hazelnut goodness many know as Nutella. If you needed even more pampering, a spa, Cocoon Center, in the piazza offered free chocolate beauty & wellbeing services.
Although Turin is most noted for its Gianduia (chocolate and hazelnut bars), there was plenty of other kinds of chocolate available - dark, milk, white, hot chocolate, chocolate liqueur, chocolate gelato and more. Here are scenes from CioccolaTo 2011:
Caffarel Gianduia Stand in the shape of a Gianduia Bar
Ziccat Chocolate
Melted Chocolate - Gianduia Cream Liqueur - and Chocolates
Chocolate Rochers
Guido Gobino Booth
La Perla Chocolate Booth
Chocolate Truffles and Chocolate-Coated Candied Citrus
Spalm Beach
Chocolate Wear
Cremino Nocciolato Gianduia & Gianduoitti in the Tricolore of the Italian Flag
Chocolate Making in Progress
Chocolate and Gianduia Making Process Displayed in Photos
CioccolaTo 2012 is already scheduled! It's from March 2 to 11, 2012 (And, Carnevale di Venezia will be from February 11 to 21, 2012.) Just a few reasons to visit Italy in winter!
This post is part of Wanderfood Wednesday - Head on over there and see what other food lover's that travel are writing about!
Related Posts:
Italy in Chocolate at Turin's CioccolaTo Festival
History of Chocolate in Turin - Gianduja and Much More
Eurochocolate Perugia - Italy's Biggest Chocolate Festival
Gianduja Budino and a Chocolate Pass in Turin
Seven Sensational Gelaterie in Turin - After Over 100 Scoops
Italian Hot Chocolate at Carnevale in Venice
Torta Setteveli - Seven Veils Cake from Palermo
Gianduja - Nutella Cheesecake for World Nutella Day 2010
Nutella Love Cake - Chocolate & Hazelnut Cake with Nutella Ganache for World Nutella Day 2011
Torta Caprese - Flourless Chocolate Cake from Capri
Easter Chocolates in Paris Windows
I LOVE the Caffarel Gianduia Stand! It's my favourite Italian chocolate and what clever presentation!
Posted by: Corinne @ Gourmantic | April 13, 2011 at 03:59 AM
This is amazing!
Posted by: Nancie | April 13, 2011 at 06:46 AM
OMG, Chocolate! How did you resist eating everything?
Posted by: Dian Emery | April 13, 2011 at 07:49 AM
A chocolate festival? In Italy?? Sign me up!
Posted by: Wanderluster | April 13, 2011 at 10:48 AM
The chocolate clothing ... I think that's something I should get my daughter for her honeymoon, right?? :-)
Posted by: Paula | April 13, 2011 at 01:08 PM
I have just added this event to my bucket list.
Posted by: Debi Lander | April 13, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Thanks for the comments everyone!
Corinne - And, the clerk was dressed like Gianduia (the Turin Carnival character from the 1800s).
Dian - I didn't resist....Death by chocolate was a real possibility. I was also doing more chocolate research/tasting, in addition to the festival, for an upcoming Travel Belles article, so I had definitely overdosed on chocolate by the end of those 5 days.
Paula - Actually, there is always non-edible fabric under those chocolate garments. Might I suggest the spalmabile al gianduia (spreadable gianduia) for your daughter's honeymoon :-O
Debi - Glad to hear it. You'll definitely enjoy the trip.
Posted by: Kathy | April 13, 2011 at 04:04 PM
Clothing made out of chocolate? Have I died and gone to heaven? Great post. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Carrie | April 14, 2011 at 02:00 AM
I love the tall Easter eggs and miss them a lot. Without them, it doesn't feel like Easter to me. I know, they are expensive, but they are so pretty!
Posted by: Simona | April 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Carrie - Chocolate heaven, that what it was.
Simona - The decorated eggs are so pretty. They were all over Italy, practically the day after Ash Wednesday. I remember seeing my first in Rome that Thursday.
Posted by: Kathy | April 18, 2011 at 07:38 AM