The Great Hall at Union Station was transformed Dec. 3 into a festive holiday wonderland for the 14th annual World of Chocolate gala benefiting the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. More than 1,100 guests, many dressed in “Great Gatsby”/Roaring ’20s-inspired attire, sampled sweet and savory treats from 27 of Chicago’s top chocolatiers, chefs and caterers.
During the evening, a panel of judges and attendees cast their votes for their favorite creations and presentations. The top prize, the People’s Choice Award, was presented to chef Randy Reed and his team from the Intercontinental Hotel Chicago, who were inspired by a 1920s prison theme. After guests enjoyed Reed’s cocoa martinis, beef Wellington “cigars” with chocolate dipping sauce, scallops with chocolate risotto and more, they were “arrested” and photographed in a faux prison cell.
The Peninsula Chicago took home the prize for best business class/large business. Chef Dimitri Fayard, a former World Pastry Champion, served chocolate cinnamon ganache tarts with chocolate cream and hazelnuts. Three 3-foot-tall Minion characters made of sugar dough and dressed as Santa added a touch of whimsy to the display.
Chef/instructor Siddharth Mangalore won the Best Sweet Treat Award for Kendall College School of Culinary Arts with his white Bavarian chocolate, raspberry and milk chocolate caramel ganache bonbons. Chef Christian Ragano won the award for best savory dish for the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel with his spice-crusted venison loin with smoked butternut squash puree, caramelized pears and sage.
Other winners included Fred’s at Barney’s New York Chicago (best business class/small business) and CH Distillery (best libation). RL Restaurant’s Chef Ryan Pitts served designer Ralph Lauren’s favorite treat, his grandmother’s rum-laced brownies.
Co-chaired by Jill Allread, Greg Hyder, Glen Pietrandoni and Ben Stringfellow, the gala raised over $120,000 for the foundation and commemorated World AIDS Day, a global effort observed annually Dec. 1 to raise awareness and celebrate the progress the HIV/AIDS community has made in ending the epidemic.
John Peller, foundation president/CEO, said, “We received the news on World AIDS Day that, for the first time since 1990, there were fewer than 1,000 people diagnosed with HIV in 2014 in Chicago.”
Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.
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Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace’s website at www.candidcandace.com, or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace.
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