A Delicious Gathering of Friends at Savory Pantry
SARATOGA SPRINGS – A pre-Valentines Day showcase tasting and shopping event, with chocolate at its centerpiece, brought a festive gathering to Savory Pantry (486 Broadway) on Friday, February 8, with 20 percent of the proceeds earmarked for SaratogaArtsFest.
Put simply, it became apparent that I was not the only one in town who likes chocolate! But I was completely impressed with the depth and breadth of the ways in which it was used in recipes by Chef Mark Walsh of Made By Mark Catering. And I was hardly alone in this respect as well. Visually appealing and tasty – that was the chocolate daily double everyone cashed in on this evening.
It was a delight to have Bartenders Megan and Rocky on the scene, mixing up craft cocktails that paired beautifully with Chef Mark’s creations…
And a very nice addition to invite crosstown neighbor Annmarie Guglielmo, owner of By The Bottle boutique wine + spirits shop (11 Spring Street). I particularly enjoyed the Cooper’s Daughter small-batch Bourbon she brought along. Others were raving about her Microbatch Raspberry and Black Pepper Liquor Vodka. Clearly, further exploration is called for here.
As usual, the assortment of purveyors of the honored ingredient, chocolate, and other candy goodnesses included several that Savory Pantry alone has – they seem to search the globe to find the unique and tasty, and bring it to you… often these purveyors are indeed close to home, such as Saratoga Chocolate Co., which was among the many offerings tonight; or Fat Toad Farm’s sweet love sauces, which are from nearby Vermont….
But I defy you to find another shop in town that has Duck Fat Caramels, which I discovered a few years back when i lived in Nashville, Tennessee!
I’ll save you the trouble – don’t bother looking elsewhere! Because if for some unearthly reason, those goodies don’t do it for you, Savory Pantry has about 800 more items that will. Check them out, and you will truly feel like a kid in a candy store!
GALLERY:Share the Love, and the Chocolate
Photos: Cathy Duffy
Arthur Gonick
February 10, 2019
