Well I've been completely taken by surpirse and years of work have come together with a bang!

Last Thursday I was sitting at my desk thinking about my visits to Oaxaca and my work with Mayordomo when the phone rang. It was the owner of Long Grove Confectonary calling to tell me that Long Grove IL was having a chocolate festival, May 2,3 and 4, and he thought I should come. It hit me by surprise, totally out of the blue, and I told him I would have to think about it, see what equipment I'd need to get together etc and I'd call Monday. My head began to spin and I began sharing the news with my mentors and asking them if they thought I should do it, after all it was an eight hour drive!

Without hesitation or exception everyone I asked said, " DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!". I guess the decision was made.

Having done fairs and festivals in a previous life -- I sold fresh squeezed lemonade -- I knew many of the requirements that would be necessary to pull this off. My first thought was my mobile molino -- my truck with a shop in the back -- and a pop up tent with some tables would do, then I realized that the health department would want me to be clean and sanitary -- they are funny about that -- so perhaps a concession trailer would be best. I'm going to place an order Saturday!

Supplies, employees, timing, it all has to come together QUICK! Thinking it all through is really making my mind swim, but it is exciting and the beginning of a dream come true.

If you're in the greater Chicago area, make plans to come up to the Long Grove Chocolate festival. There you can SEE your chocolate being made and sample it straight from the mill. The freshest chocolate you've ever had, made just the way YOU like it.