Crafted with Love: Intros and Innovations in Chocolate Workshop
Join the Chicagoland RCA and Blommer Chocolate, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America, for a presentation on all things chocolate along with the opportunity to make some sweet chocolate hearts for your sweetheart!
Session will begin with a Chocolate 101 where attendees will be given a foundational introduction to cocoa and chocolate manufacturing and highlight newer innovations in the marketplace with items like CBE’s (Cocoa Butter Equivalents) (30-45 minutes) Attendees then have the opportunity to break off into groups to do guided tastings of chocolate ingredients and a hands-on hollow molding of chocolate shapes they can take home.
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza STE 626 Chicago, IL 60610: Blommer’s Application Lab is located inside the Merchandise Mart, which is walking distance from Ogilvie Station, Union Station, and CTA lines.
Private garage parking is also available @ Mart Parc Wells Parking Garage - Overnight Parking in Chicago or through SpotHero.
Event Agenda:
3:30 – 4:00pm Arrival and Check-In
4:00 – 6:00pm Breakout Groups
Speakers:
Katie Simpson
Blommer Research and Development Manager – Applications
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Katie has worked in food her whole career, including new product development in the pastry, IQF, liquid, and now confectionary sectors. Now the Applications Manager at Blommer R&D, Katie leads a team that transforms Blommer ingredients into beautiful confections, baked goods, and other consumer products.
Cara Watkins, CRC
Blommer R&D Research Chef
Cara Watkins is a Certified Research & Development Chef (CRC) & Scientist at Blommer Chocolate Company with over 16 years of baking and pastry and 10 years of R&D experience. She is a graduate of Kendall College Baking and Pastry program and Dominican University’s B.S. Culinology program.
Thank you to our Corporate Partner, Kalsec Inc.
Event Contact: Ben Stanley : Bstanley@BellFF.com
RCA Disclosures:
Contact Information: By registering for this event, you consent to the sharing of your contact information (such as name, email address, and company) with the event’s sponsors. This information will be shared exclusively with sponsors for purposes related to the event and will not be shared with other attendees or third parties.
Photographs and Videos: During this event, RCA may take photographs and/or video of you which may be posted to social media and on the association’s website. By registering for and attending this event, you agree to the use of image in photographs and/or video for this purpose. Additionally, other event attendees may take photographs and post said photographs to social media. RCA shall not be responsible for photographs taken and/or shared by other event attendees.
Session Recordings: This session may be recorded for the purpose of education, training, and use in RCA’s Learning Library. The recording will be used for this stated purpose and shall not be used for any other purpose. Do not share information that you do not wish to be recorded. If you are uncomfortable being recorded, please refrain from speaking and submit questions via email.