This coming weekend will be a chocolate-lover’s dream: The very first Portland Craft Chocolate Festival starts on Friday and goes all weekend in Southeast Portland. It’s a great opportunity to taste products and treats from local makers, vote on your favorites, and more.
Who Is Behind the Portland Craft Chocolate Festival?
That would be Ranger Chocolate Founder and CEO George Domurot. He, along with David Beanland (honestly, a great name for a chocolate maker), founded Ranger Chocolate Co. in 2013. They are a bean-to bar chocolate maker and their mission is “to create the highest quality chocolate bars using organic, Fair Trade (or better!) and sustainably sourced ingredients.”
The Portland Craft Chocolate Festival takes place at the Olympic Mills Commerce Center, which is also where Ranger Chocolate has their factory, chocolate and coffee cafe, and a retail space.
The Portland Craft Chocolate Festival Goings On
Here is the schedule:
- Friday, October 3, 5pm to 7pm: Kickoff Party (VIP access) with cocktails & small bites.
- Saturday, October 4, noon to 5pm: Market open to public, sampling & shopping
- Sunday, October 5, noon to 5pm: Market open to public, continued tasting & vendor experiences
The first 100 guests each day receive a tote bag with gifts, samples, and swag.
Who To Expect at the Portland Craft Chocolate Festival
Domurot says the festival is “creating a space for chocolate and community to come together.” They’ll have over 36 exhibitors, which will have things to taste and to buy, including chocolate makers Creo Chocolate, Stache Chocolate, and Ranger Chocolate Co.
Sweet
For more sweetness, you’ll find Missionary Chocolates (who recently opened a location in the Hollywood District), Wildwood, TEOW Chocolat (they are out of Vancouver), Oregon Bark, Bees & Beans, Portland Caramel Co., SugarBean (candy), Vehicle Mushrooms (functional mushroom coffee & organic chocolates), Rawdacious Desserts (vegan/gf desserts), Sh’mallow (dairy-free aerosol marshmallow), and Ground Up Nut Butters (they make sweet and not-so-sweet nut butters).
Less Sweet
It’s great to see some options that are on the more savory side, as there will be plenty of sweet things to try at the Festival. Check out Sibeiho, Marshall’s Haute Sauce, HAB Sauce, The Better Bar, and Freddy Guys Hazelnuts (savory and sweet roasted hazelnut products).
To Drink
Beverage makers include Straightaway Cocktails, New Deal Distillery, Canopy & Company (aperitif made with Oregon-foraged botanicals), Still/Spark (NA botanical mood spritzers), Dappled Tonic Water (NA), Freeland Spirits, and Abbey Creek Winery. I think Smith Teamakers will also be there.
Portland Syrups (I especially love their yuzu syrup), Okome Kitchen amazake, and Hibisbloom (handcrafted sparkling West African drinks and concentrated cocktail mixers) bring interesting angles on the beverage scene.
Shops and Non-Edibles
The Meadow, purveyor of many fine chocolates—and where I get some of my favorite unsweetened chocolate—Kitchen Table Magazine, Elephants Deli, and New Seasons are also going to be there.
Tasting Sessions
Laurenne Hom, a local chocolate tasting expert, will lead tasting sessions during the Festival. And when I mean “expert,” I mean that she is a Level 2 chocolate sommelier through the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasing. She’ll lead two tastings on Saturday, October 4, 1pm and 3pm.
There will also be a chance to vote for your favorite chocolates and confections during the Festival.
Tickets
Here are the ticket prices:
- $25 for a One-Day pass
- $50 for Weekend pass
- $75 forVIP pass, which includes the Friday kickoff event and weekend access.
- Kids under 8 enter free.
- It’s also possible that the codes “RCC50” “MAKERS50” or “KOIN50” will get you half-off the ticket pricing.
You can buy your tickets here on the Festival’s Wannago? page.
It really sounds like a great group of makers are part of this event, including many which are new to me. I hope you get a chance to go and enjoy the products from chocolate makers, chocolatiers, local sweets and beverage companies, and more. Enjoy!
Portland Craft Chocolate Festival
Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5
5pm to 7pm Friday, noon to 5pm Saturday and Sunday
Olympic Mills Building, 107 SE Washington Street, Portland
PDXCCF website | Instagram
Meg Cotner
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