Festival is a chocolate lover's reward

Chocolate lovers young and old will unite in Bloomington Saturday for the sixth annual Chocolate Fest.\nThe festival, benefiting Options for Better Living, is expected to attract about 1,500 people, said Executive Director Susan Rinne. She said the festival started as a way to raise money for Options customers.\n"Once they (fund-raising staff) saw the word chocolate, that was it," Rinne said. "It's been a jewel."\nThe fun begins at 5 p.m. in the Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave.\nChocolate Fest is just in time for Valentine's Day, and it includes all-you-can-eat chocolate desserts, wine and beer tasting, live music and a movie showing. \nThe desserts are judged in seven categories: restaurants, incredible cakes, cheesecake creations, candy, cooking by kids and anything else. One of the restaurants expected to compete is Scholar's Inn Bakehouse. \nThe restaurant's entry this year is the Bakehouse Black and Tan Tort, said Nicole Anderson, pastry manager for Scholar's Inn.\nThe dessert is a chocolate cake made with the Inn's signature black and tan coffee and filled with almond crème and topped with ganache. She said the employees at the Bakehouse participate in the festival in support of employee Logan Pipher who has Down Syndrome. \n"We do all this for him," she said. "We're really excited. It's a fun time."\nThe Black and Tan Tort is one of the newer specialties to come out of Scholar's Inn, and the restaurant will start carrying it in April, Anderson said.\nAnother restaurant unveiling a creation Saturday is Upland Brewing Co. with the Upland Dark Chocolate Stout. \nBrewery Manager Ed Herrman was a participant in last year's Chocolate Fest. \n"I didn't just watch," he said. \nHerrman said the festival seemed to be the perfect place to unveil the new beer, which took six to eight months of trial and error to perfect.\nWhile the public will not be able to enjoy the new beer in Upland until Valentine's Day, those over 21 will get a sneak preview at Chocolate Fest.\n"We wanted to make it an exclusive event for the chocolate festival," Herrman said. "I was interested in doing a beer like this and Options for Better Living is a great charity."\nOptions for Better Living serves disabled people in the Bloomington community, offering supported employment and supported living in customers' homes.\nAs the biggest annual fund-raiser for Options, the group set its goal at $20,000, said Carrie Selby, an administrative assistant. The festival is sponsored by Oliver Winery and Fifth-Third Bank as the headlining sponsors, she said. \nThere will be a silent auction from 5 to 8 p.m., with the winners announced at 8:30 p.m. A lot of the donations for the silent auction are centered around Valentine's Day, such as movies, dinners and hotel stays, Selby said.\nChocolate vendors, a new addition to this year's event, will also be set up to give away and sell Valentine's Day gifts, Selby said.\nTicket prices are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at several locations including Kroger, Bloomingfoods, the Chocolate Emporium and Moonstruck. \n"Last year there was a very large turnout and this year we've changed the layout to accommodate," Selby said. \nThere are expected to be over 80 entries in the contest.\nIn the cooking by kids category, Girls, Inc. will have two entries, Program Director Lee Ann Jourdan said. One group will build a chocolate castle and the other is making a chocolate cake rainbow.\n"The kids pretty much do it themselves," Jourdan said. "The girls love to bake, and they love to participate in any contest. This one way they can put those together."\nGirls, Inc. is a social service organization that strives to encourage girls to be strong, smart and bold, Jourdan said. The organization provides after school as well as sports programs for girls from 5- to 18-years old. \nSelby said the Chocolate Fest benefits Options in ways other than funding. \n"Publicity is big," she said. "We're gaining awareness for people with disabilities"