Media Release September 2019 STRAWBERRY AFFAIR CHOCOLATERIES CELEBRATE VICTORIA’S NEW STRAWBERRY SEASON WITH A TWELVE DAY CHOCOLATE & BERRY SHOWCASE 16-27 October The strawberry season in Victoria will get off to a delicious start with twelve days dedicated to one of the most loved culinary combinations - strawberries and chocolate. Victoria’s famous Chocolateries in the Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula will host ‘Strawberry Affair’ from 16 - 27 October to launch new season strawberries. The pick of local crops will be transformed into dozens of ‘limited edition’ couverture chocolate and strawberry combinations by the team of European Chocolatiers and Pastry Chefs at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and newly opened Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie. Classic offerings will include strawberries coated in your choice of milk, dark, white or ruby chocolate; strawberry and chocolate fondues; strawberry hot chocolates; delicate chocolate strawberry truffles and strawberry pastries and croissants. A range of sensational strawberry sundaes and freshly churned strawberry ice creams and sorbets will delight young and old. The fresh berry bounty will also be used to craft chocolate treats such as Strawberry Wagon Wheels, Couverture Coated Strawberry Marshmallows and Honey-berry Rocky Road. Visitors can rendezvous over decadent desserts such as Strawberries & Cream Pretzel Tart, Ruby Chocolate Mousse Parfait and a new ice cream creation, Death By Triple Choc Berry that takes the choc-strawberry creations to heavenly new heights. Lovers of the chocolate and strawberry match will swoon over the Strawberry Affair Tasting Sessions staged at each destination where twelve mini berry-licious delights can be savoured and sampled during 45 minute tastings. ($20 per person, bookings essential). Page 1 of 2 Media Release September 2019 CONTINUED... “Beautiful new season strawberries and our couverture chocolate – what a match made in heaven!” says Leanne Neeland, Owner of the Chocolateries. “We just love heralding local produce and working with Victoria’s premium berry providers means we can really celebrate this wonderful food match,” adds Leanne. Each Chocolaterie is open every day 9am-5pm, where chocolate lovers of all ages are welcomed with free tastings, the chance to watch Chocolatiers at work, marvel in the spectacular showroom of hundreds of different chocolate varieties or enjoy freshly churned artisan ice creams. The Yarra Valley and Great Ocean Road destinations also offer an all day Café overlooking landscaped grounds, orchard and kitchen garden, serving breakfasts, lunches, decadent desserts and a changing array of cakes, tarts and pastries made fresh daily by talented French Pastry Chefs. The newly opened petite Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie tempts visitors with hot chocolate, barista coffee, artisan gelato, a Brownie Bar and freshly made Belgian waffles to take away and enjoy in the sun. 100% of our chocolate is made from cocoa that is sustainably sourced through our funding of Cocoa Horizons, a Foundation that supports initiatives to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farming communities in the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and Indonesia. The program also works towards no deforestation and zero child labour. FAST FACTS: What: Strawberry Affair 2019 Where: Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie - on the Surf Coast 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae, VIC 3228 (10 mins from Torquay) Ph: 03 5263 1588 Yarra Valley Chocolaterie - in Victoria’s premier wine making region 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen, VIC 3775 Ph: 03 9730 2777 Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie - a petite Chocolaterie in the charming seaside village of Flinders 45 Cook Street, Flinders VIC 3929 Ph: 5989 0040 When: 16 - 27 October 2019 How: 12 days celebrating new season strawberries with the ultimate culinary combination Limited edition choc-berry creations – chocolates, ice creams, desserts, pastries, ice creams, fondues, sundaes, hot chocolates… Tasting Sessions More: gorci.com.au yvci.com.au mpchoc.com.au Owners – Ian and Leanne Neeland, Phone 0411 109 527, [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT: Q STRATEGIES Susan Wright ~ 0421 007 200 [email protected] Page 2 of 2.