USU chocolatiers show off their creations at Aggie Chocolate Expo
Utah State’s Aggie Chocolate Factory hosted their first ever chocolate contest on Sep. 25. The only requirement for the event: entries must be made with chocolate.
Professor Silvana Martini began teaching classes about the science, history, and society of chocolate at Utah State University in 2015. After taking the class, the students thought it would be beneficial to have a lab. They proposed an idea similar to that of the Aggie Creamery, and the result was the Aggie Chocolate Factory. It produces all its own chocolate to sell to the community.
“The class is not about going to a store to buy the chocolate and then putting it in a mold. It talks about how chocolate evolved over time and how we make chocolate from the bean to the final product,” said Martini.
Martini and her students wanted a lab that could represent the chocolate making process from beginning to end. The production of the chocolate is not hidden behind walls in a factory. Large, clear glass windows reveal all the equipment and allow customers, or just curious people, to learn a little about chocolate.
The factory is located in the Blue Square apartment complex. There is seating where you can watch the process through the windows and tucked in the corner of the shop is the counter where you can buy all your chocolate needs.
Martini stated, “Let me emphasize that the whole objective of the factory is to use it for teaching and research and to cover all the aspects of chocolate making.”
Despite its primary use as a teaching tool, the factory is also a great place to hold things such as chocolate expo contests. The contest had two categories, entries made with any chocolate, and entries made with Aggie chocolate. The entries were brought in throughout the day, and spectators could take a look at them, as well as try some samples from the creamery and factory.
Visitors were able to sample foods like steak, chocolate, ice cream, cheese, sausages and dips. The creamery introduced a new ice cream flavor, “The Scotchman”, made with Aggie chocolate. The Aggie Chocolate Factory also announced they will be offering gift baskets full of goodies from the creamery and the factory. The factory offers pre-assorted and customizable baskets.
Haden Davis a Lab manager for the meat research lab is grilling some steak with a chocolate meat rub made for the Aggie Chocolate Expo.
The factory also had lectures periodically for more opportunities to learn about chocolate. There were classes on how to bake with chocolate, the history of it, how to make ganache and many other topics throughout the day.
The winners of the contest were announced at 6 p.m. For the “Aggie chocolate” category, Michelle Merrill won a hotel stay and a gift card for her smoked chocolate ribbed brisket.
In the “any chocolate” category, Ted Eriksen’s Pezongs de Venus won him a fondue set.
Every contestant received something, from chocolate bars to Aggie ice cream, just for entering the competition. Everyone involved was able to participate in the fun learning environment the factory provides.
“We hope people enjoyed this and hope to see everyone back again for the next one,” Martini added.
@mariindal
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