Solomon Islands launches chocolate festival

SolChoc - Solomon Islands Cocoa and Chocolate Festival

Honiara, Solomon Islands, April 15, 2018. The delicious and unique flavours of Solomon Islands chocolate will be showcased at SolChoc (Solomon Islands Cocoa and Chocolate Festival) a fun and festive event, launched today.

SolChoc, the annual festival to support the local cocoa sector will be held in Honiara from April 30 to May 5 with industry specific events in the first half of the week and events for the public held from May 3-May 6.

SolChoc spokesperson and Strongim Bisnis Coconut Business Advisor, Brown Onahekeni says, “This is the first year a program of public events will be offered alongside the annual cocoa competition which is very exciting. Profits from the events will be channeled back into supporting local farmers and the cocoa sector, which is showing increasing economic promise with more than 22% of rural households involved in cocoa here and a rising global demand for chocolate”.

The SolChoc public will events include:

SolChoc – Interactive Chocolate Tasting, 3rd May, 2018

Would you like to taste the best chocolate the Solomon Islands has to offer? Come and hear a master chocolatier talk through the wonderful intricacies of judging the best chocolate and listen to how our homegrown cocoa experts get judged as the nation’s best. Enjoy an evening of free chocolate tasting, and live music.

Time: Thursday 3rd May, 7.00pm till late

Venue: Coral Sea Resort

Event cost: Free (Bookings required through Coral Sea Reception ph: 26288)

Ice-cold glass of yellowtail NV sparkling for only $30

SolChoc- Masquerade Cocktail Party (Fundraiser), 4th May, 2018

Dust off your island formal gear, don a mystery mask and join an evening of fun and festivities including entertainment, canapes, cocktails, dancing and a live auction.

Time: Friday 4th May, 7.00pm till 11.00pm

Venue: Honiara Hotel

Tickets: $600 pp tickets available from melanie@macgrouplimited.com.au Phone: 25664. All profits go to the development of the Solomon Islands Cocoa industry.

SolChoc Fair, 5th May, 2018

Celebrate all things chocolate at the SolChoc Fair for all the family. The fair will have specialty chocolate and chocolate-themed foods, cocoa-themed beauty products, a live cooking demonstration, kids entertainment and a cocoa industry technology showcase.

Time: Saturday 5 May, 10.00 am till 3.00 pm

Venue: Heritage Park Hotel, Car Park.

Event cost: Free

SolChoc - Silver Screen Chocolate Cinema, 6th May, 2018

Get your silver screen chocolate fix with a double feature at the Coral Sea Cinema. Bring the kids along to see the family favourite film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and back it up with the French-village set, romantic, comedy-drama, Chocolat. See one or both! Enjoy your movie marathon with a special chocolate cinema snack menu or chocolate cocktail and dessert special from the Coral Sea’s special SolChoc week menu.

Time: Sunday 6th May, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (6.30pm start), Chocolat (8.15pm start)

Venue: Coral Sea Resort

Event cost: Free

Strongim Bisnis, funded by the Australian Government, is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA), the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the Pacific and Horticultural Market Access Program (PHAMA), the Rural Development Program (RDP) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to bring SolChoc to Honiara.

The cocoa sector is one of three sectors Strongim Bisnis supports as part of efforts by the Australian Government to help Solomon Islands with its economic development – thus prosperity.

CEMA’s Chief Produce Inspector, Patterson Siliota says the one-week SolChoc Festival will showcase Solomon Islands cocoa to boutique and fine flavour chocolate-makers and cocoa and bulk buyers from the UK and the region.

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