Enjoy tastings, demonstrations, entertainment, and more

Endulge in the finest, richest, most delicious chocolate! On Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Quail Botanical Gardens will host its annual Family Chocolate Festival, featuring cooking demonstrations, champagne paired with chocolate, 16 of San Diego's finest chocolate vendors, a variety of Mother’s day gifts, plant sales, food, entertainment, children’s activities and more.

Throughout the gardens, guests can indulge in the passion for cacao theobroma, or the "food of the gods" with delicacies from Bella Dolci Artisan Sweets, California Cupcake Company, Chauao Chocolatier, Chi Chocolat, Elaine’s Cake Boutique, Expressive Fortunes, Guanni Chocolates, Jer’s Handmade Chocolates, King Leo Confections, Leucadia Pizzeria, Marcie’s Sweets, O’Gilvie Chocolatier, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, San Diego Chocolate Guy, Smith Gourmet, Wisteria Candy Cottage. You can purchase “tasting” tickets for just 50¢ each.  The cost of chocolate tastings is dependent on each vendor and general admission prices apply. Seating is limited.

In the past, the Family Chocolate Festival has enticed more than 2,500 people from across San Diego to attend, and this year is expected to be bigger than ever. Highlights will include:

Pastry chef Cindy Mushet with Bella Dolci Artisan Sweets will lead a chocolate smelling and tasting demonstration at 10:30 am.  Learn how the highest quality extra-dark chocolate offers not only exquisite taste but also a fascinating look into the cocao beans used to make them (not to mention their health benefits).  Taste exquisite chocolate from Italy, France, Spain, Venezuela, Belgium and more.  Discover professional tasting techniques, how the chocolate-making process affects the final flavor, and the vocabulary for evaluating different types of chocolates in this delicious seminar.

At 11:45 a.m., Elizabeth Podsiadlo, “The Opera Singing Chef,” will demonstrate how to prepare chocolate mole sauce with baked turkey.  A San Diego treasure, Chef Elizabeth has been featured on KFMB and KUSI.  Learn this special recipe, which incorporates flavors such as chilies with a blended mixture of roasted tomato and semisweet chocolate.  Enjoy delectable samples while listening to Elizabeth’s marvelous opera selections.

Nikki Schaeffer, pastry chef at Leucadia Pizzeria, will discuss how to use chocolate sauces to dress up your homemade or store-bought desserts in just minutes, at 1:00 p.m. From vanilla red wine reduction to chocolate leaves, learn easy tips on how to create and plate like a pro.


Quail Botanical Gardens is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. General admission fees are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and active military and $3 for children ages 3-12.  Children age 2 and under are free. Membership admission cost is free.  For more information, contact Quail Botanical Gardens at (760) 436-3036 x 204 or visit www.qbgardens.org.

About Quail Botanical Gardens

Set on 30 acres in north coastal San Diego County, Quail Botanical Gardens’ mission is to inspire people of all ages to connect with plants and nature. The Gardens include nearly 4,000 kinds of plants representing three general plant habitat types: desert collections, Mediterranean collections and subtropical/tropical collections. Demonstration gardens such as the children’s garden, “Seeds of Wonder,” also encourage conservation education, focusing on horticultural themes and traditional uses of plants. For more information, visit www.qbgardens.org.