CHOCOLATE TREE ENTRIES COOK UP QUITE A STORM AT  THE DALLAS ARBORETUM

DALLAS, TX – Chocolate is definitely the theme this season with the Amazing Chocolate Tree exhibition on display at The Dallas Arboretum.  To celebrate the exhibition, and its stay at The Dallas Arboretum through January 6, chef’s from the DFW area were invited to take part in the Chefs’ Amazing Chocolate Tree Sculpture Competition – where chefs were asked to design their very own chocolate trees.   

The competition was held on Friday, November 2 and the Chefs’ Amazing Chocolate Tree sculptures made it hard for the judges to make a decision.

            The winner in the professional category was entitled Rama de Arbol con Monarcas (Tree Branch with Monarch Butterflies) by Dunia Borga of La Duni Latin Kitchen and Baking Studio fame.  Her entry was a delightful dark chocolate creation with delicate butterflies resting on a tree branch.   

            The winners in the student category were talented group of 4 from the Art Institute of Dallas, and their entry – Saisons de Chocolat (Chocolate Seasons) was a two part creation depicting fall and winter scenes at the Dallas Arboretum.  Ernie Mendoza, Cristina Zambrano, Kat Kilpatrick-Geddie and Taylor Kearney were all commended on their amazing creativity.

             Winners in each Amazing Chocolate Tree category received a weekend for two at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine.

             Judges included Cathy Barber, Taste and Features Editor of The Dallas Morning News; Teresa Gubbins of Pegasus News.com; Nancy Nichols, food and travel editor of D Magazine; Ramona Hinten, pastry chef of Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Texan Resort; and Jimmy Turner, director of horticultural research at the Dallas Arboretum. Mr. Turner has also worked as a pastry chef.

            The cooking didn’t stop there!  On Saturday, November 3 a Chocolate Baking Contest for recreational cooks was held.    The Best of Show Award and First Place in the cake category went to Menchu Dauz Tungala of Allen, Texas for her Espresso Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Icing. 

            Her prize-winning effort won a cooking class for two at Sur La Table.  

            Budding chef, 10-year-old Isabel Lester of Wylie, Texas, swept the Children 12 and Under category with her deliciously fun Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Jelly Swirl Brownies. 

             All Chefs’ Amazing Chocolate Tree sculpture entries will remain on display in the Sewell Board Room at the Dallas Arboretum through November 26.  Come out to the Dallas Arboretum and indulge yourself in The Amazing Chocolate Tree exhibition.