Taste of Chocolate: Behind the Scenes

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Three words.

Taste of Chocolate.

Are you in?

Around 350 chocolate lovers will be at Four Seasons Resort Maui on Friday, June 17, dressed up and ready for a tantalizing taste.

It’s one of the premier dining events during Maui Film Festival, which spans from Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, June 19. See the lineup in our article.

The Taste of Chocolate runs from 9 to 11 p.m. on the Four Seasons’ lawn, and costs $195 per person. For chocolate fans ages 21 and older (photo ID required), the celebration features live Music by Cool Steel Band, and each ticket includes admission to any Celestial Cinema double feature of your choice. Check out more details and tickets here.

The pastry kitchen at Four Seasons Resort Maui has been passionately — and patiently — preparing for weeks. The pastry team, which regularly works in rotating shifts between 3 a.m. and 11 p.m, will devote many hours to bringing its creative flair and expertise to the Taste of Chocolate.

“Details, details, details! We are really passionate,” explains Four Seasons Resort Maui Executive Pastry Chef Bruce Trouyet, originally from Nice in the Southern part of France. After training internationally as a pastry chef, he worked at Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora before coming to Maui four months ago.

With a declared sweet tooth himself, Trouyet shows us the process of tempering dark chocolate, which is first heated up to around 131 degrees Fahrenheit. Chefs keep it moving (to avoid crystallization) until it cools to 80 degrees, then the chocolate is typically chilled to be eaten at around 87 degrees.  Dark, milk and white chocolate all have their own tempering styles.

“You can do what you want, all form, all texture, mix it with a lot of different things,” he says.

Four Seasons Resort Maui Executive Pastry Chef Bruce Trout tempers chocolate. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Tempering dark chocolate at Four Seasons Resort Maui. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Initial phases of the showpiece for Maui Film Festival’s Taste of Chocolate event. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Chocolate canoe for the showpiece at Taste of Chocolate on June 17. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Chocolate display being carved at Four Seasons Resort Maui. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Chocolate spheres at Four Seasons Resort Maui. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

WAILEA, HI – JUNE 05: Cocktails are served at Taste of Chocolate at the 2015 Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Maui on June 5, 2015 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival)

WAILEA, HI – JUNE 05: A general view of the atmosphere at Taste of Chocolate at the 2015 Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Maui on June 5, 2015 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival)

WAILEA, HI – JUNE 05: Chocolate desserts are served at Taste of Chocolate at the 2015 Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Maui on June 5, 2015 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival)

WAILEA, HI – JUNE 05: Chocolate desserts are served at Taste of Chocolate at the 2015 Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Maui on June 5, 2015 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival)

WAILEA, HI – JUNE 05: Chocolate deserts are served at Taste of Chocolate at the 2015 Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Maui on June 5, 2015 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival)

Friday’s celebration will showcase five decadent stations and more. Here’s the rundown:

PRESENTED BY FOUR SEASONS RESORT WAILEA PASTRY CHEF, BRUCE TROUYET

ACTION STATION 1
Molten Chocolate and Salted Caramel insert
Chocolate Fountain; Skewered Fresh Fruits, 3 varieties of Shortbread,
Pate de Fruit, etc

ACTION STATION 2
Chocolate Macaroon: Set up on a sugar display;
Finishing with Jet 27 Cloud
Japanese Fountain with Chocolate

ACTION STATION 3
Chocolate Truffles: Coated with Chocolate a la minute; Guest has
choice of different crust: Pistachio, Coconut or Chocolate

ACTION STATION 4
White Chocolate plated dessert, finished a la minute Hazelnut
Dacquoise, Feullantine & Milk Chocolate Cream
Caramelized Pecan Brownies & Chocolate Cremeux
Lemon Tartlet & Light White Chocolate Cream
Milk Chocolate Panacotta & Tropical Fruit
“After Eight Tartlet”

STATION 5 – PIZZA STATION
Savory & Sweet: Decide your topping
Mascarpone / Braised Short Rib / Nutella / M&M / Cocoa Nibs / Air
Dried Beef / Caramelized Pear / Pineapple / Banana / Macadamia Nut /
Pistachio

STATION 6: Chef Donald Wressell – Live Show Pieces

Leading his very first Taste of Chocolate event, Trouyet is excited to “create emotion,” as enjoyment takes center stage during the film festival.

“It’s perfect for us. It’s like Easter or Christmas,” he says. “It’s the best part of our job, I think.”

The film festival also features the Taste of Summer opening party on Wednesday, June 15 at Grand Wailea and the Taste of Wailea on Saturday, June 18 at the Wailea Gold golf course, considered the “crown jewel” of the festival’s culinary arts events. Learn more here.