NICO’s Chocolate Street, Mangalore’s only Chocolate Festival was inaugurated on 29th April 2023 at Fiza by Nexus, Mangaluru by Ruth Dsouza Prabhu, Bangalore based independent features journalist and Prof (Dr) Shantaram Shetty, Pro-Chancellor, Nitte DU. Prof. Raviraj, Head, Nitte Institute of Communication spoke a few words on the Chocolate Festival’s journey so far, while welcoming the gathering.
Calling the festival innovative, Dr Shantaram Shetty went on to share how he keeps a bar of chocolate in his pocket whenever he has to meet a young patient. Chocolate is an instant ice-breaker making conversation that much easier, he said.
Ruth Dsouza Prabhu a features journalist with over two decades of experience in the print medium has had her articles featured in some of the world’s leading publications - The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The National apart from top Indian magazines like Conde Nast Traveller, Architectural Digest and has been on the panel of prestigious F&B Awards such as the Epicurean Guild Awards by Living Foodz Channel, Conde Nast Restaurant Awards, BW Hotelier Awards and The Week Restaurant Awards.
Addressing the gathering she said she was amazed and impressed with how baking and chocolate making which in the Nineties was largely a home-based activity, is now a thriving industry and the number of entrepreneurs displaying their homemade goodies was proof. She lauded the students of NICO for coming up with this interesting idea.
In keeping with tradition, the festival was declared open with the cutting of the cake by the dignitaries.
The fourth edition of the Chocolate Festival saw 36 home-based chocolatiers showcasing their chocolate-based goodies over two days. The chocolatiers came from in & around the city and on sale were brownies, frosted cupcakes, rich chocolate cakes, cookies apart from a stall for chocolate-based skincare products and another for artisanal chocolates (hand made using jaggery & preservative free) from neighbouring Puttur.
Evenings saw the popular Open Mic back again with people of all age groups displaying their talent, through song or dance. The photo booth was a draw with visitors posing, clicking pictures and sharing on social media.
Dushyant Shetty, Student Coordinator for the event introduced the Chief Guests and Arya Chowta, also Student Coordinator delivered the vote of thanks. Prakash K, Faculty Coordinator was present.
The event received wide publicity on social media.
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