Ethel's Chocolate Lounge Holiday Tasting
By Caroline Clough in Food on Oct 21, 2006 8:12PM
When Chicagoist got an invitation to preview Ethel's Chocolate Lounge's holiday collection of chocolates, we got a little excited. When we actually read the whole invitation and learned that the event was also a chocolate and wine pairing event, we got really excited. Chocolate and wine, how can you go wrong? The answer is, well, that you can't. When Chicagoist and our guest walked into Ethel's Armitage location we were enthusiastically greeted by not one but three Ethel's representatives. Within minutes our coats were taken (or they would have been if we were wearing one), a large pink platter of chocolates was offered (and taken), and we received lovely cheat sheets describing and explaining the wine and chocolate pairings. Heck, we even got to meet and talk to the woman behind the chocolates, Chef Jin Caldwell.
Ethel's new holiday collection riffs off of traditional Christmas and Thanksgiving sweets. Chef Caldwell was happy to tell us about the ingredients she uses for her chocolate creations, from real pumpkin puree in the pumpkin pie chocolate to loads of brandy in her rendition of Pecan Pie. She also pointed out that Ethel's Chocolate Lounge chocolates are preservative free, meaning a slightly shorter shelf life but a much richer and true tasting experience.
The tasting began on the ground floor, with the white wine pairings. We started (as suggested) with the pumpkin pie chocolate, paired with Huet Vouvray "Le Haut-Lieu d'Acqui" (2002). Next came the eggnog paired with J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (2004). And last there was the cranberry (surrounded in milk chocolate) paired with Banfi "Rosa Regale" Brachetto D'Acqui. Of the three we found that the Riesling/eggnog pair brought out the best of both flavors. Our companion, however, preferred the Rosa Regale/cranberry pairing.
Upstairs, red wines were paired with Ethel's pecan pie, dreamy white (with dark chocolate vanilla center) and cinnamon & sugar chocolates. The chocolates were paired, respectively, with Lapierre Beaujolais Cru Morgon (2005), Michael & David Phillips Earthquake Zinfandel Lodi (2004) and Blandy's "Rainwater" Madeira. Not experts in wine or chocolate, we were impressed by the Cinnamon & Sugar/Madeira combination. The wine really brought out the nuances of the chocolate.
Though Ethel's may not be the cream of the chocolate shop crop, their new collection is worth a try, especially the pumpkin pie and eggnog chocolates. Chicagoist tried a few of their regularly offered chocolates and we were seriously impressed with the Earl Grey truffle. The wines, which were paired by Sam's Wine & Spirits, were of a better quality than we usually drink and we definitely could tell the difference. We were smitten with the Vouvray while our companion preferred the Beaujoulais (though he did not feel it did much for the chocolate). The event was well run and informative and we certainly would go back for another helping of their truffles.