You Heard Him First at the Chocolate Festival!
Steven Wallace, this year’s keynote at THE Festival of Chocolate… and More, is featured in Georgia Pellegrini’s new book, Food Heroes: 16 Artisans Preserving Tradition. Wallace, President and Founder of the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company in Milwaukee will be speaking from 11:00am – noon, Saturday, November 20. The Festival is from 9:00am –3:00pm at the Jensen Community Center in Amherst.
Although Wallace’s keynote presentation is included in the festival admission fee, we encourage advance registration to reserve your seat for this spellbinding program. Admission to the festival is $11 in advance and $13 at the door.
Wallace’s program, “Chocolate and Beyond” will highlight:
- Interesting facts about chocolate and cocoa beans
- Describe how to eat fine chocolate
- Explain why chocolate is considered an aphrodisiac
- History, mission and vision of Omanhene
- Importance of a “Beyond Fair Trade” business ethic
Those attending the keynote will also receive a sample of one of Francois Kwaku Dongo’s recipes, the Executive Chef of Omanhene, and Partner/Executive Chef for Wolfgang Puck’s enterprises.
The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company is a joint venture between the US and Ghana. Wallace began his lifelong affection for Ghana and its people in 1978 as a 16 year old foreign exchange student. He lived with his traditional Ghanaian host family in the district producing the finest cocoa beans in the world. After receiving his law degree he founded the company in 1991 at the age of 29. Wallace’s vision was to create a true and world class culinary culture that showcases the natural and human talent of Africa. The company is built on a “beyond fair trade” business model. “We are concerned with the entire value chain, not just the initial transaction involving payments to farmers. At the end of the day, there are many paths to creating a more just and peaceful world and I support all efforts to improve the human condition.” Not only does Omanhene support local independent farmers, it is also involved with environmental sustainability, anti-corruption, and child labor issues.
According to the “Financial Times”, Ghana produces the finest cocoa beans in the world. Wallace conjectured correctly that the finest cocoa beans could produce the finest chocolate. Having proven itself to be one of the most creative and successful joint ventures between the US and Ghana, Omanhene has won accolades from the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan; Shirley Temple, former ambassador to Ghana; and former president, Jimmy Carter.
Omanhene produced the first single source chocolate using only the richest cocoa beans produced in Ghana. Omanhene Chocolate has been noted in “The New York Times” and seen on NBC’s Today Show; selected by Chocolatier magazine as one of only three dark chocolates in the world featured in every one of Chocolatier’s Caribbean cruise chocolate tastings; featured on the international radio network, Voice of America which transmits in 46 languages to 92 million listeners per week; and highlighted in “The Financial Times” (London), “The Journal of Commerce”, “The Amsterdam News”, “Consumers Digest”, and in Reuter’s “European Business Report”.
The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company is an excellent example of a business that not only produces a desirable product of the utmost quality, but also is based on a business model that is ethical, moral...and more. After listening to Wallace’s passionate story and tasting the product, it will be easy to see why Wallace’s keynote is the perfect fit for the Third Annual Festival of Chocolate ….and More.
Gather your friends and enjoy the third Annual Festival of Chocolate…and More. Other activities included in the admission fee include: five tickets to be used for chocolate samples, an art and craft fair, mini-fitness adventures, additional theater programs, chocolate fondue, a hot cocoa and coffee bar, and a silent auction. High school and college students will receive a half price admission fee with their student ID.
To register or for more information go to: www.festivalofchocolate.org or call 715-824-5202.
