I love chocolate, and I have for as long as I can remember. But, when I became a chocolate sourcerer, I learned something surprising. While I enjoy making a product I love, what I really enjoy most is meeting other chocolate makers. There is nothing better than engaging with others who share your passion. This is why I’m excited to be involved in the upcoming Chocolate Maker Unconference in Seattle on October 2-3, 2014 (happening prior to the annual Northwest Chocolate Festival).
As chocolate makers we spend most of our time running our businesses and, well, making chocolate! This doesn’t leave much time to share thoughts, ideas, and tips on what we’ve learned. But, in order for the industry to thrive, we’re best off learning and growing together. This Unconference is meant to afford us the time to make that happen. From the event description:
The 2014 Chocolate Makers UnConference provides space and time for professional Chocolate Makers to engage with others in their industry to talk about the topics that are important and relevant to them. The conference is 2 days to allow time for each attendee to engage and work through multiple topics. The conference does not feature talks or lectures but rather an “open space” format that focuses on inclusive engagement with round-table style sessions and open dialogue to accomplish what the group determines to be their goals. Topics may range from: the best way for new chocolate makers to get small quantities of quality beans; working through a design for a new winnower; putting together an agreement for more effective direct trade; designing a tasting structure that fits the craft chocolate tasting goals.
If you have any questions for me about this, feel free to contact me at beans@dandelionchocolate.com. We wanted to make it free but we needed somewhere to meet so the fee of $100 is designed to cover the cost of the space. I encourage anyone in the chocolate making industry (makers, growers, equipment producers, etc) or even those getting started in the chocolate making industry, to join us. We’d love to meet you!
We are thrilled to be coming to this event and meet those who romance the chocolate!
Great idea and good luck with it – but I can’t make it
This would be a good idea if it was to happen in the future. I would definately be there.
Forgot to say, I was 2nd in the UK World Chocolate Masters and if you need some assistance in getting this up and running, give me a shout.
Richie,
This is now part of the Northwest Chocolate Festival and happening again in November: https://www.chocolatealliance.com/2022-unconference-tickets