- Title: EGYPT: Cairo celebrates chocolate as 'Salon du Chocolat' comes to the city
- Date: 8th April 2010
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (APRIL 2, 2010) (REUTERS) CHOCOLATE EXHIBIT WITH CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN IN FOREGROUND CLOSE ON CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN WITH WOMEN IN BACKGROUND CHEFS IN FRONT OF CHOCOLATE SCULPTURES INCLUDING EIFFEL TOWER CLOSE ON SIGN FOR "SALON DU CHOCOLAT" CHOCOLATE SCULPTURE OF QUEEN NEFERTITI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPONSOR OF SALON DU CHOCOLAT AND HATEM SALEM COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIRECTOR, HATEM SALEM, SAYING: "This is a great event because there is a chocolate fashion show, a group of big Egyptian designers will make dresses out of chocolate for the first time, in addition to another very big event, the chefs' competition, which is on an international level, and the chocolate academy for children, which will teach them 'how to do chocolate recipes' in addition to the wonderful activities that are being done by everyone working in this event -- sushi with chocolate or 'new ideas' in every area, so therefore 'it's really' four days of chocolate." VARIOUS OF KITCHEN ARTIST AT RAMSIS HILTON HOTEL, CHEF BADRY KAMEL, WORKING ON WHITE CHOCOLATE SCULPTURE OF ANCIENT GREEK GOD POSEIDON (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KITCHEN ARTIST AT RAMSIS HILTON HOTEL, CHEF BADRY KAMEL , SAYING: "Right now, this is a statue of the Greek God of the Sea, Poseidon, the God of the Seas and oceans and the storms of the seas. I chose an item that requires a lot of intricate work because I honestly like more complex work. I've been working on it for 10 days." PEOPLE GATHERED AT SUSHI COUNTER WHERE SUSHI MIXED WITH CHOCOLATE IS BEING SERVED CLOSE ON SUSHI CHEF CUTTING CHOCOLATE TO PUT ON SUSHI CUSTOMERS EATING CHOCOLATE SUSHI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN ATTENDING SALON DU CHOCOLAT, GEORGE YOSEF, SAYING: "I love chocolate and I love sushi, but it's the first time in my life I have eaten the two combined, and I adore both, and I truly loved the taste." PEOPLE ATTENDING CHOCOLATE EXHIBIT STANDING BEHIND CHOCOLATE STATUE OF MUSICIAN CLOSE ON CHOCOLATE STATUE OF MUSICIAN
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVAC5KOMAPIO5WHB046R94Y28KX2
- Story Text: The chocolate exhibition and festival, "Salon Du Chocolat" comes to Cairo for the first time, with an astonishing variety of products on display, and chocolate themed events like a fashion show in which chocolate is incorporated into the dress designs.
Cairo's chocolate lovers were given a treat this weekend when the world's largest international show for the chocolate industry came to Egypt for the first time.
The Salon Du Chocolat, which regularly tours major capitals like New York and Paris, set up shop for a four-day show in Cairo with visitors treated to a host of chocolate related activities, like a chocolate sculpture competition and a fashion show in which models wore dresses partly made from chocolate.
Hatem Salem, the head of the communications group promoting the show, said Salon Du Chocolat has something for everyone.
"This is a great event because there is a chocolate fashion show, a group of big Egyptian designers will make dresses out of chocolate for the first time, in addition to another very big event, the chefs' competition, which is on an international level, and the chocolate academy for children, which will teach them 'how to do chocolate recipes' in addition to the wonderful activities that are being done by everyone working in this event -- sushi with chocolate or 'new ideas' in every area, so therefore 'it's really' four days of chocolate," Salem said.
But Salon Du Chocolat is mostly about giving the chocolate industry a boost, and visitors to the inaugural show were given a chance to sample some of the latest creations available on the Egyptian market.
Also on display were some of the startling chocolate sculptures that will be entered in the competition.
The kitchen artist from the Ramsis Hilton in Cairo astounded onlookers with his white chocolate sculpture of the ancient Greek God Poseidon.
"Right now, this is a statue of the Greek God of the Sea, Poseidon, the God of the Seas and oceans and the storms of the seas. I chose an item that requires a lot of intricate work because I honestly like more complex work. I've been working on it for 10 days," said Shef Badry Kamel.
The emphasis at this weekend's show was on innovation, and one restaurant tried to marry Egypt's recent sushi craze with the abiding love for chocolate.
While it may not have been to everyone's taste, chocolate flavoured sushi definitely won some taste buds.
"I love chocolate and I love sushi, but it's the first time in my life I have eaten the two combined, and I adore both, and I truly loved the taste," said George Yosef, a visitor to the event.
The highlight of the festival was the fashion show where some of Egypt's most talented fashion designers wowed audience members with a series of chocolate-themed designs, many of which were edible.
Nearly 200 exhibitors were expected at this year's festival, which ended on Sunday (April 4). Tens of thousands of visitors were expected to have take part.
The event's organisers said while tastes in deserts are different all over the world, they are confident that Egyptians' enthusiasm for chocolate will ensure Salon Du Chocolat will return to Cairo for many years to come. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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