February 2015 – World Fare

Winners of 2015 Chocolate Affair

Well, the weather outside was frightful, but frigid temps and blowing snow are not enough to keep our local chocolate lovers away! The 2015 A Chocolate Affair was a great success with over 120 people coming through to try the delectable treats dreamed up by a dozen different bakers and baking teams. World Fare sends a huge thank you to all who entered, and a big congratulations to this year’s winners, who each went home with a World Fare gift certificate and a special edition, handmade Valentine’s vessel from our resident potter, Elizabeth Brouwer.

People’s Choice First Place: Cian Monroe (Chocolate Bark with Peanut Butter)
People’s Choice Second Place: Lorie Minor (Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Brownies)
People’s Choice Third Place: Elisabeth Wenger (Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake)
Most Original: Lorie Minor (Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Brownies)
Best Presentation: Michaela Kitzinger & Patti Eberhard (Chocolate Coca Cola Cupcakes)

Thank you also to our local celebrity judges, who braved the cold to select our winners for Most Original and Best Presentation: Beth Hubbard (Corey Lake Orchards), Melissa McPherson (Three Rivers Public Library), and Brian Persky (Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority). World Fare continues to be able to pursue its mission of supporting economically disadvantaged communities around the world because of the amazing support of our local volunteers, customers and chocolate aficionados!

Local celebrity judges for A Chocolate Affair 2015

World Fare is delighted to announce our three local celebrity judges for A Chocolate Affair 2015!

Melissa McPherson is the director of the Three Rivers Public Library.
Brian Persky is the director of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and the Michigan Main Street program.
And Beth Hubbard is the manager of Corey Lake Orchards and the daughter of the farm’s co-founders, Dayton and Allene.

We are so thankful to our judges, not just because they’ll join us tomorrow to determine the awards for Most Original and Best Presentation, but for the good work they do in our community in such a wide variety of areas.

Join us tomorrow 2-3:30 p.m. to taste and vote for delectable fair trade chocolate goodies! Tasting is free and voting tickets start at $1, with all proceeds supporting World Fare’s mission of partnering with economically disadvantaged communities to encourage a living wage for our world’s most vulnerable workers. What a perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day: celebrating the love that goes out to cocoa farmers around the world through our conscious choice for fair trade chocolate!

P.S. – Fun Winterfest activities will be happening throughout downtown Three Rivers from noon-4:00 p.m. Come out to enjoy the snow and see how our local merchants are brightening up the season!

Get your chocolate fix on Valentine’s Day!

Join us this Saturday, February 14, for our Annual Chocolate Affair bake off! From 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., taste delicious treats from 10 local bakers for free; then vote for your favorites to win People’s Choice awards. Voting tickets start at $1 each, with quantity discounts. All proceeds from voting go toward World Fare’s efforts to support economically disadvantaged farmers and artisans around the world.

And while you’re downtown, be sure to check out all of the WinterFest activities happening throughout downtown Three Rivers from noon – 4:00 p.m. Bring someone you love to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a PLACE you love!

We look forward to seeing you there!