Wine, Women & Chocolate

Did you know that you can pair wine with chocolate? Sure, certain full bodied red wines and dark chocolate are great palate partners, but there are other combos that are just as harmonious. If you're in the Phoenix area on Sunday, October 19, you can learn how to pair different wines with complementary chocolates, and support a great cause at the same time.

The Phoenix Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, (I'm a member) is holding a fundraiser to benefit the Phoenix Downtown Public Market. Wine, Women & Chocolate promises to be a fun but educational event and includes a comparative chocolate tasting lead by Donna Nordin, a renowned chocolate expert from Tucson and a wine and chocolate pairing featuring Chatham's Fine Chocolate truffles. But that's not all.

The event is also a launch party for the Les Dames d'Escoffier's brand new, national cookbook, Cooking with Les Dames d'Escoffier, which features recipes from some of the most famous women culinary leaders like Julia Child, Alice Waters, and Florence Fabricant. Two local women also have recipes in the book, including culinary maven Barbara Pool Fenzl, who will be autographing the the book at the event.

Tickets are $75 and include a copy of the cookbook. The event is Sunday, October 19 from 3 to 5:30 p.m., at Fairytale Brownies. To reserve a space, mail a check for $75 to LDEI at 15029 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy, Suite B-111 #466, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, or call Janis Normoyle at (602) 740-8767.