MAHO--Chocolate aficionados were given a taste of what is to come over the weekend as the Caribbean Chocolate Festival kicked off on Friday night with a fashion show featuring nine models strutting on stage and into the crowd with chocolate-studded dresses and chocolate-coated accessories.
Each model wore a colourful monotone dress studded in hand-crafted shapes including leaves, individual petals, flowers, seashells and starfish created by award-winning chocolatier and Executive Chef Veejoruth Purmessur and his apprentice Ronald Stephen.
A highlight of the show was the final model who entered “playing” a chocolate violin, wearing angel wings and a chocolate string of pearls.
The festival at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino continues over the weekend with live professional competitions, demonstrations, and wine and chocolate pairings. Demonstrations include how to temper chocolate, decorate chocolate cake and make ganache.
It is the first time the annual event has been featured in St. Maarten. It started in Barbados in March and will continue on to Jamaica in November.
The festival is meant to showcase local, regional and international pastry chefs with emphasis on local St. Maarten chefs demonstrating the fine art of pastry-making with chocolate as a main ingredient, according to organiser St. Maarten Culinary Foundation.
