What is the Northwest Chocolate Festival?
The Northwest Chocolate Festival is the largest chocolate festival in North America and has ranked among the top in the world for over 15 years. Its mission? To “Celebrate and Educate the Chocolate Lover in All.” I couldn’t love that more. This year, it took place from October 4th to 6th at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA—and, of course, I had to grab tickets!
Why I Attended the Northwest Chocolate Festival
For a chocolate blogger, attending this festival felt like the Super Bowl of sweets. The vibrant atmosphere, the endless variety of chocolate, and the chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts were too tempting to pass up. Beyond reviewing the event for you, I wanted to immerse myself in the chocolate world, uncover new trends, and expand my knowledge. Having recently completed the IICCT Level 1 and 2 certifications, I was excited to meet my favorite chocolate makers and continue learning from the best in the industry.
A Glimpse into the Festival Experience
Check-in was seamless. The layout was intuitive, with the exhibition hall on the 1st floor and workshops on the 4th. Whether you preferred elevators, escalators, or stairs, the venue was fully accessible.
With over 100 chocolate makers from more than 30 countries, the event was a feast for the senses—wonderfully overwhelming in the best way possible. The booths weren’t limited to just chocolate; I spotted vendors offering high-end olive oil, artisanal coffee, BBQ sauces, and scented candles.
Memorable Booths
- Dandelion Chocolate: They brought fresh cacao fruit for sampling—a rare treat! I first tried it in Costa Rica, so it was a nostalgic experience to taste it again.
- Fran’s Chocolates: A Seattle classic. Their generous chocolate-covered caramel samples were irresistible.
- Mirzam: Their spice-infused chocolate-covered caramel was a delightful twist—reminded me of the flavors I grew up with. Not to mention that they also had an excellent Indonesia bar!
- Dolcetta: Their mini bonbons were so cute I almost felt guilty eating them. Almost.
- GoodNow Farms: Their single-origin hot chocolate from Tanzania and Guatemala was rich and comforting—perfect for sipping on a cool October day.
Workshops and Demonstrations
I attended three standout sessions:
- “Taking Chocolate from Bean to Bar to Bon Bon and Beyond” with Indi Chocolate
Erin Andrews shared her inspiring journey of launching Indi Chocolate, which started with body care products made from cocoa butter and expanded into teas, spice rubs, and even cacao-infused cocktails. It gave me a ton of new ideas! - “Are You Flavor-Curious? Explore Your Sensory Language”
In this session, we sampled a variety of herbs, fruits, and spices to refine our palates. Though it was a great experience for beginners, it felt a bit repetitive for me, given my recent IICCT training. Still, it was exciting to see so many people discovering the nuances of chocolate tasting for the first time. - Dandelion’s Single-Origin Chocolate Custard Demonstration
Stephen Durfee from Dandelion Chocolate showed us how to make a custard using their 70% Madagascar chocolate bar. It was decadent and delicious—I’m already planning to recreate it for an upcoming dinner party.
Favorite Moments at the Northwest Chocolate Festival
One of my personal highlights was meeting Luisa Abram, one of my favorite chocolate makers and expert in using wildly grown cacao from the Amazon Rainforest—a fangirl moment I’ll never forget. I also enjoyed chatting with Hasnaa of Hasnaa Chocolat who shared her journey navigating the chocolate industry in Bordeaux, France.
I was thrilled to finally stock up on Fu Wan Chocolates and try the Kessho bars, which had been on my wishlist for a while. Right next to Fu Wan’s booth, I discovered Rico, an exciting new chocolate company set to launch later this year. A fun surprise was meeting Chris Rivera, a chocolatier from my home state of Minnesota, during a chance elevator ride. Another highlight was connecting with fellow chocolate bloggers like Steph (@beanstalkr_) and Lexie (@thechocolatetourguide)—we swapped stories, shared tips, and built a wonderful sense of community around our shared love of chocolate.
Tips for Making the Most of the Festival
- Start the Day with a Protein-Packed Breakfast: We ate at Tres Sandwich (1502 145th Pl SE, Bellevue, WA 98007) both mornings. Their hearty sandwiches kept us going until the festival wrapped up around 4 or 5 PM.
- Visit Favorite Booths First: I explored the right side of the exhibition hall on Saturday and the left side on Sunday. While this strategy worked well, several popular chocolate makers sold out of their top products early. Next time, I’ll prioritize those booths.
- Need a Break? Head to the quieter 2nd and 3rd floors for some downtime away from the crowd.
- Missed Out on a Bar? No worries! Check out DeLaurenti Food & Wine at Pike Place Market (1435 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101). They carry the largest selection of craft chocolate in the area. I found both the Naive Cola Bar and the Boba Tea Kessho Bar there after they sold out at the festival.
- What to Bring
- Sparkling water or green tea to cleanse your palate
- A water bottle (you’ll need it after all the tasting)
- Comfortable shoes (you’ll be walking a lot!)
- A tote bag for hauling your chocolate treasures
- Savory snacks to balance out the sweetness
Feedback for the Organizers
I had a fantastic time, but a few tweaks could make the festival even better:
- Opening Ceremony: An opening speech could set an exciting tone and connect attendees to the festival’s mission from the start.
- Pre-Event Communication: My friends and I didn’t receive any emails leading up to the event. A welcome email with the schedule, layout, and event tips would have been so helpful for first-timers.
- Categorizing Workshops by Skill Level: Grouping sessions into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels could make the workshops even more impactful by helping attendees choose sessions that match their experience.
Final Thoughts
Attending the Northwest Chocolate Festival was an unforgettable experience. Meeting my favorite chocolate makers and hearing their stories was so inspiring, and sampling some of the world’s best chocolates was an absolute delight.
I hope this post inspires you to attend a chocolate festival yourself. Whether you’re a lifelong chocolate lover or just curious to explore the craft, it’s an educational and delicious adventure. And if you spot me at a future festival, come say hi!
Have you ever been to a chocolate festival? Would this be your kind of event? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
P.S. Curious about what I bought after sampling over 100 chocolate bars? Check out my haul on Instagram: @shelachocodiary!
Day 1 Purchases:
Day 2 Purchases: