Fritz Knipschildt of “Chocopologie by Knipschildt Chocolatier”, based in Norwalk CT, offered a BLINI W/ COCONIBS, WASABI PEA CRUSTED TUNA, TOPPED WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE W/ CITRUS.

Sean Olnowich, chef and partner of “The House”, found in Gramercy Park, NYC, offered a COCOA & HAZELNUT SEARED VENISON LOIN W/ A POMAGRANITE GLAZE.

The esteemed jury of food professionals including Chocolatina, aka master pastry chef Martin Howard, Jeffrey Dryfoos, the publisher of Dessert Professional, and Kim Rothrock, a self trained chef and award winning pastry chef settled on Sean Olnowich as the winner in this standoff of masters.

Competing in the first HotChocolate™ Society Fashion awards was everyone of our guests encouraged to dress for the code and theme we call “Cocktail Hip-Glam”.

The jury included Arthur Mandel, founder of NOLCHA Fashion Week and NOLCHA Metier, and Edina Hepgular, designer and entrepreneur behind Sarar USA.

The HotChocolate™ Society’s BEST FEMALE “Cocktail Hip-Glam” interpretation went to Monica Wolfson, aka, the Scottish Princess, and took home a HotChocolate™ Man Statuette made of chocolate and a Red Carpet Treatment by DEX New York.

The HotChocolate™ Society’s BEST MALE “Cocktail Hip-Glam” interpretation went to Glenn “gg” Gulino, who took home a HotChocolate™ Man Statuette made of chocolate and a $200 gift certificate from SARAR.

Also enjoyed by guests were an assortment of delicious sweet bites including two truffles from Knipschildt; one red wine & dark chocolate, and the other Earl Gray, Green Tea Milk Chocolate. Henry Masterov passed mini chocolate cakes and chocolate mousse on a brownie… The chocolate all provided by Guittard Chocolate Company.

Rounding out the menu was a Mexican station created by La Barra Cevicheria consisting of Mexican Fish Ceviche Hors D’oeuvres, Mexican Mushroom Ceviche Hors D’oeuvres, Argentinian Style Beef Empanada, and Mexican Tamales with Chicken & Mole.

The HotChocolate™ Society Oscar Pool was the big prize of the night with the winner receiving “A Kiss From the Queen of Salt”, a salt painting by world renowned artist Bettina Werner, and of course a mini HotChocolate™ Man Statuette. One mentionable highlight of the pool was the system created by 88plug, an Andrew Mello brand, that allowed guests to register online with their phones and then watch it auto-rank all players as the awards were revealed. The winner was Pablo Cartaya, a freelance writer, with 10 of 15 answers correct.

As people left they took with them gift bags filled with chocolate goods… Green & Black Chocolate Bars, Jacalat Lara Bars, Whole Foods Market Hot Chocolate, and Guittard Chocolate Bars.

It was a sweet night.

The HotChocolate™ Society is the creation of Michael D Ellenbogen who explains that the purpose of this society is to introduce people to the finest chocolate, to culture, and to each other. It seems to be a recipe for success!