Why you can’t say no to an Italian chocolate bar at your wedding
Sweet chocolate delicacies to offer after the reception
It doesn’t matter the shape: chocolate is always delicious and all the guests appreciate it, even after a satisfying dinner. That’s why you should seriously think about arranging an exquisite Italian chocolate bar at your wedding.
Before diving into how to set it up, I would like to give you some interesting details about chocolate’s origin.
The chocolate tree was discovered 4000 years ago in the area between Mexico, Perù and Panama and pre-Columbian populations started to prepare a hot drink with the chocolate beans. Maya and Aztec people, having got cocoa a precious meaning, used it as trade goods: from that moment on chocolate was named “Gods’ food” because of its divine taste.
In 1502 it was imported in Europe by the coloniser Hernan Cortés and became a healthy remedy thanks to its body and mind stimulation effect. In the modern ages chocolate lost its scientific value: the first factories opened, giving birth to an impressive production, mixing up several ingredients (think about spices like cinnamon, chilli pepper or mint) to create different final products.
This amazing food arrived in Italy via Spain in 1600, because of the royal network between the Spanish court and the Savoy: the city of Turin, located in Piedmont region, quickly became a centre of excellence in producing chocolate and still it is. In this area a very famous product called Gianduiotto was born, matching cocoa and hazelnut: have you ever tasted it? Believe me, you should.
This is only one reason for you to arrange an Italian chocolate bar at your wedding, let’s see more.
After choosing the right area to set a simple buffet table or a counter-top up, together with your caterer you can select the desired specialties: truffles, cookies, different kinds of pralines (white, brown, with pistachio filling, with chopped hazelnut and much more) and dragée displayed on tiered stands; chocolate fondue with fresh fruit skewers on silver trays.
Of course hot chocolate cannot miss: serve it in ceramic mugs or glass cups; delicate puff pastries are great for dipping in. Oh yes, this would be a gorgeous Italian chocolate bar!
For those who want to add an international touch, arrange several toppings in small bowls to self-serve:
- mini marshmallows
- toffee bits
- crushed peppermints
- dark/white chocolate chips
- caramel syrup
- chopped pistachio or nuts
- whipped cream
Last but not least, if you are a booze lover, plan to offer Italian liquors to spike your hot chocolate or drink while eating the sweets: milk chocolate is perfect with Passito di Pantelleria or Marsala (two dessert wines from Sicily), while dark chocolate matches with Grappa – a real taste explosion!
Are you still doubting about offering an Italian chocolate bar? Let’s talk about!
Photo credit: Rimma Bondarenko
