If chocolate had its own Christmas, it would be on October 28. Wait — chocolate does have its own Christmas, and it is on October 28! I hear they’re calling it National Chocolate Day and saying you should celebrate it at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen in Universal CityWalk (their words, not mine).
All jokes aside, October 28, better known as National Chocolate Day, is the one time of year when chocolate lovers from all over get to celebrate their favorite little sweet treat. I would know; I brought it to light in an article last year. You already know Toothsome — aka chocolate central — is on top of bringing everyone tastes of chocolate they won’t find at their local candy store, and missing out on even one of them is NOT an option!
Cocoa Chili Diver Scallops
Scallops taste so much better when a certified scuba diver is the one who’s fetching them, and don’t even get me started on how great they taste with chocolate. Toothsome’s Cocoa Chili Diver Scallops come with chocolate-covered bacon, strawberry fennel salad and are topped with a chocolate stout balsamic marinade.
When it comes to creating new dishes at Toothsome, it’s always a wonder how well chocolate will pair with classic French flavors. Toothsome’s sous chef Armando Diaz Valerio says it takes a lot of trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t.
“We’re always trying to fuse flavors and use different kinds of chocolate — dark chocolate, cocoa powder — and trying to mix and implement them into the food,” Chef Armando says. “The only way to do this, sometimes, is just making and trying things, and that’s the only way we can get to a point when we can discover new flavors and new experiences for our guests.”
Chocolate Pomegranate Barbecue Pork Porterhouse
This National Chocolate Day, Toothsome is reinventing the meaning of “barbecue” with the Chocolate Pomegranate Barbecue Pork Porterhouse. This porterhouse pork chop comes complete with a side of Brie and Gruyere cheese truffle potato gratin, candied heirloom carrots, and cocoa chili pork chicharrones (fried pork rinds).
Chef Armando says when people visit Orlando, they tend to come to Universal CityWalk to try dishes they won’t find in the everyday kitchen. “There aren’t many places in Orlando, I’d say, that you can see as much of a combination of flavors with chocolate as the food that we have,” he says.
Chocolate Beef Bourguignon
You can stew pretty much anything — even chocolate — which you can taste for yourself in the Chocolate Beef Bourguignon. This traditional French stew with a chocolate twist is made with roasted mushrooms, broiled broccolini, and served with gruyere potato puree.
Toothsome chef Joseph Turner says that the bittersweetness of the dark chocolate in the Chocolate Beef Bourguignon helps cut down the rich red wine flavor that is present in a classic bourguignon. “You’ve got that bourguignon and then you put that chocolate in it — it almost changes it completely, but it brings a good flavor to it,” Chef Joseph says.
Toothsome’s Signature 7 Layer Chocolate Decadence Cake
That’s more than enough about dinner; it’s time for dessert! And who does it better than the master chocolatiers themselves at Toothsome? For National Chocolate Day, Toothsome is highlighting a delectable classic: 7 Layer Chocolate Decadence Cake. Find this treat overflowing with chocolate ganache and topped with dark chocolate curls and chocolate popping candy.
“We see people trying the food and saying ‘Wow, this is different,’ or ‘This is nice,’ and we’re really excited to see them try these new dishes that we’re making,” Chef Armando says. “Everybody is working together to make sure our guests get excited and are happy to try something different that they usually can’t find at other places.”
Which National Chocolate Day special are you most excited to try at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen? Let us know in the comments below!