May Breeze 2010 - The Placencia Breeze

Toledo Cacao Festival – 21 st to 23 rd MayIt’s back, and better thanever! The Festival’s signatureopening event, Wine &Chocolate, features livemusic from Benque musicianPablo Collado, a speciallycommissioned performanceby the National DanceCompany of Belize, and afirework display. As well asinternational and Belizeanwines, there’ll be an array ofchocolate treats and dessertsfrom three prominentBelizean chocolate makers –our very own Goss Chocolate,Kakaw from the BelizeChocolate Company, and Cotton Tree Chocolate.ahead of the Sunday concert.The Placencia Breeze May 2010 - Page 24Linn Wilson and Kerry Goss of Goss Chocolate are attending theFestival for the fourth year, and will be bringing some of their newtreats along to the wine & chocolate evening. Linn told us “it’s areally fun festival, and the wine & chocolate is a wonderful, specialevent – the desserts, the savouries, the live music, people lookinghappy, and of course good wine! We’ve been working on a variety ofnew products this year, and we’re looking to show off our specialchocolate-dipped truffles.”Goss Chocolate will also be exhibiting at the Taste of Toledocookery and craft fair on the Saturday -- this year in its newseafront location at Petillo Park and the grounds of the FatherRing Parish Hall. The Fair showcases local and national artisanswork, and will include a special exhibition of George Gabb’slegendary “sleeping giant” zericote sculpture, as depicted on theBZ$100 note. There’ll be local food, cookery demonstrations bylocal chefs, music and dance performances, and a special screeningof the newly released award-winning “Three Kings of Belize” DVDNew Cacao for Kids activities include a sock-puppet class, and alsocreating the longest rainforest mural in Belize, with a chalkpavement art scene along the Fishermen’s Co-op wharf. The SeaToledo kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips will depart from theFisherman’s Co-op wharf, giving everybody the chance toappreciate the beautiful coastal waters of Toledo. The inlandCacao Trail tours take you through the organic cacao orchards inToledo, to learn how the pods are grown, harvested and processedbefore being turned into chocolate – the food of the Gods!On Sunday the focus moves inland to the ancient Maya site ofLubaantun – the place of the fallen stones – and you can learnmore about the current excavations being led by Dr Geoff Braswellas part of the National Geographic sponsored Toledo RegionalInteraction Project.As in previous years, a Maya dance will be performed in the plaza,