Ghirardelli's Intense Dark to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation

This blog post and chocolate tasting party was sponsored by Ghirardelli.  I am paid to host the party.  
 
With temperatures dropping from the high 100's and October around the corner, it is time to start thinking about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This year Ghirardelli is kicking it up by supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  From Sept. 1, 2011 through the end of December 2011, Ghirardelli will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for every purchase of specially marked pink ribbon packages of Ghirardelli Intense Dark.  These specially marked chocolate bars will be available at grocery stores and specialty retailers nationwide.

Courtesy of Ghirardelli 
 
To celebrate Ghirardelli's support to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Leslie Sbrocco (@BeaThirstyGirl) has  teamed up with Ghirardelli's to throw chocolate pairing parties.  After the parities, Ghirardelli Chocolate and ThirstyGirl.com will host a live tasting party and Tweet Chat on Intense Dark™ chocolate to be held Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST. They'll be tasting four varieties of IntenseDark—Evening Dream®, Twilight Delight™, Midnight Reverie® and Toffee Interlude®—and creating and sharing food and wine pairings.

Courtesy of Ghirardelli 
 
Ghirardelli is supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). From September 1 through the end of December 2011, specially marked pink ribbon packages of Ghirardelli Intense Dark™ found at grocery and specialty retailers nationwide will carry a pink ribbon code worth a $1 donation to the NBCF (up to $100,000 total donation). Follow @BeAThirstyGirl and the hashtag #TGTaste to learn more about this fun event. 

Above were some photos of pairings that I'll be having at my party.  Chocolate smores, chocolate and cheese, and chocolate with wine, and chocolate with root beers are all popular pairings, but I'm going to bring a little twist to my pairing party.  I'll be pairing the darker chocolates with pungent cheeses and salty olives.  I love the chocolate and salt combination, especially salty truffles.  In addition to pairing, I'll also be making some chocolate pork riblets based off of this recipe.  Pork, cheese, olives, and chocolate; it may sound odd, but it could be a winner.

There will be a wonderful surprise in addition to the chocolate pairings.  Michael Chu (@cookingengineer) brought over some pecan praline ice cream he made using the Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream recipe, and it was fantastic!  It was so good, that several other friends bought the book of recipes.  At my party, we'll have two versions of the Jeni's Splendid darkest chocolate ice cream.  Michael Chu will be making the recipe using a home ice cream maker, specifically the Kitchen Aid that attaches to a mixer.  I will be serving a hand churned recipe.  For those who are coming to the party, it will be awesome!

And if you'd like another way to enjoy chocolate while benefiting disease awareness, pencil in the Austin Chocolate Festival on Oct. 15-16th.  The festival has raised $5,000 for the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, and this year's festival will benefit Multiple Sclerosis (MS) awareness.  See the photo below for a little preview for the festival.  Photo by John M. P. Knox.

Again, don't forget to Follow @BeAThirstyGirl and #TGTaste on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST.