Carlamae Chavez, the foundation's manager of events and special projects, wanted to find new ways to keep the ninth annual event interesting and attract more people. “In year’s past we didn’t announce a winner at the end of the fashion show. This year we announced a winner and also used a confetti cannon to mark the announcement,” said Chavez. “One of the other exciting elements we added this year was a culinary demonstration room where attendees could learn how to work with chocolate and make their own creations at home.”
The highlight of the three-hour event was the Des Alpes Chocolate Fashion Show; this year, more than 14 chefs spent hours creating chocolate-based outfits and accessories for models who walked the creations down the runway. Working with the theme of “Literacy on the Silver Screen,” Co Co. Sala chocolatier Katie Musser wowed the judges with her Cruella De Vil outfit modeled by Miss District of Columbia Jen Corey.
Before the runway show, more than 900 guests made their through the ballroom, hallways, and conference rooms, where 60 local restaurants (Kushi, RIS, Bourbon Steak, and Chef Geoff’s among them) and catering companies (including José Andrés Catering With Ridgewells and Windows Catering Company) set up tasting stations offering both sweet and savory samples. Guests also perused the multiple tables of silent-auction items scattered throughout the space.
