THE RUSH FOR CHOCOLATE RUSH

The inaugural Chocolate Rush Festival was held on the weekend of the 4 and 5 August 2007. The City of Bendigo was consumed by chocolate lovers from all over Australia as they joined in the festival to learn more about their favourite pastime.

Chocolate Rush Festival was aimed to educate, indulge and challenge the palate! Patrons learned everything about chocolate from handmade chocolates to chocolate garnishes through to chocolate desserts and more.

Classes were full and patrons soaked up every word, technique and sample their chocolate expert tutors had to offer. Over 600 patrons sat in the Masters at Works series keen to pick up tips from their favourite chefs, while the kids walked out of their workshops carefully holding their works of chocolate art.

Two thousand festival goers attended the inaugural Chocolate Rush Chocolate Festival and consumed three tonne of chocolate, 600 litres of milk was served in hot chocolates, while 40 workshops rolled out and 30 stallholders, chocolateirs and producers, shared their knowledge and samples with visiting chocoholics.

The winners from this year's Australian Chocolate Championships were -

Christos Partsioglou - Xocolatl - assorted box of 16 moulded chocolates category
Mica Benito - Cacao - assorted box of 16 enrobed/hand dipped chocolates category
Ruo Ren Wu - La Parisienne - assorted box of 16 chocolates competitors' choice catagory
Mica Benito - Cacao - box of 12 identical commercial chocolates category
Christos Partsioglou - Xocolatl - assorted box of 12 innovative chocolates category

While winners of the People's Choice Awards were -

1st place Mica Benito - Cacao, St Kilda
2nd place Christos Partsioglou - Xocolatl, Canterbury
3rd place John Metzke - Sjokolate in Ballarat

Results from the Chocolate Rush Cocktail Competition taking out the trophy was Jono from The Bridge in Bendigo while Emma from Bendigo walked away the winner of the Indulge Your Senses Hot Chocolate Competition. "The best day ever" was the word from Pat Kelso's grandchildren of Ballarat.

Festival organisers were overwhelmed with the success of the event and have started planning for next year's Chocolate Rush Chocolate Festival.

For media enquires and interviews please contact - Simone Gordon, Festival Director, Chocolate Rush - 0421458 891 or info( at )chocolaterush.com.au