REVIEW OF THE CHOCOLATE/WINE TASTING AT AFFAIRS CAFE AND DESSERTS >>>
I had my first affair, I loved it, and now I want more.
Needless to say, I'm a college student intern, and this was my first experience at a Nosh League event, a foodie group sponsored by the Weekly Volcano.
September's event was held at the delicious Affairs Café and Desserts, a delectable little shop located on Bridgeport in University Place. It was easy to find even for a person who is directionally challenged and is freaking out due to the gaslight coming on. No, no, don't worry; I wouldn't have missed a chocolate tasting event.
The tiny shop was decorated with kitchen aids and antique furnishings of bakeries past. Raffle tickets were handed out as you walked through the door, along with friendly smiles from the owners and bakers.
As people started to file in, the space filled with chatter, friendly conversation and the offer of complimentary wine from the server.
The only downfall of complimentary wine is for the unlucky few who must decline due to the date of their birth. However, I had a lovely wine glass full of refreshing iced water.
Reading the menu for the night at the small rectangular table I was skeptical. It started with: Spanish Prawns: fired with spicy chocolate, ginger, chili, garlic, served over greens. I'm not sure about anyone else, but when I eat chocolate, my first idea isn't to serve it with seafood and salad. Luckily, I was proven wrong.
I admit I am a chocolate lover by nature, and a chance to taste a round of chocolaty goodness was far from my self-control button. I was definitely NOT prepared for what my taste buds were about to experience!
Affairs Torte: a 10-layer buttercream and ganache cake. Need I say more? If Affairs Torte were served in every class, I would never leave college, and a lot more people would be extending their student loans! However, after the entire plate was clean, there were still two more temptations to come.
While I was enjoying the blissful chocolate and lively conversation, prizes were handed out. I was jealous not to receive the two truffle boxes from Affairs, Counting Crows' tickets, gift cards with the promise of cheese and meats, and two alluring massages.
Everyone in the restaurant was suffering a chocolate high from the last dessert served, an extremely rich chocolate decadence cake with raspberry puree. This was testing my stomachs integrity, knowing there was still a truffle to come.
The grand finale consisted of every attendee encountering a palm-sized truffle. The table I was sitting at was last, and anticipation grew as each and every other customer walked from the back licking up the slop of chocolate in one hand, and carefully holding a ball of chocolate in the other.
Finally, as the last group, we walked to the back of the kitchen, tied aprons around our necks, and drowned a creamy ball of ganache in a bowl of chocolate bliss.
A few of us said the chocolate dropped too deep in the bowl. Leaving us with only one course of action: plummeting out fists in the chocolate lake. Naturally saying this while slurping up the chocolate dripping down our hand.
As the group filed out of the kitchen, the place seemed to have cleared, leaving only the remnants of their previously edible chocolate.
It was a night I would happily repeat, minus the calories and the chocolate hangover. Great food and good people: who could ask for more. Did I mention it was a chocolate tasting event?
Note: The Nosh League's next outing/tasting will be at The Melting Pot Thursday, Oct. 13. Join the group here. Join the group's Facebook here. And subscribe to the Nosh League's weekly newsletter here.
[Affairs Cafe and Desserts, 2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.8604]