South Cape Trolley event May 7
By TIFFANY REPECKI
Those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, while taking in the South Cape, have a chance to do so.
The first-ever Noela Chocolate and Spirits Trolley Event will take place on May 7 from 7 to 11 p.m., with check-in opening at 6 p.m. Hosted by the South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, the event features Noela chocolate samples and two-ounce spirits served up by nine local businesses.
“They’re going to get a different chocolate at each one,” Ande Grant, co-owner of Noela Chocolate & Confections with her husband, Shane, said. “Nine stops – and each one is a different country.”
The chocolate-centered celebration aims to provide a different perspective of the area.
“It’s to show that it’s not just bars down here,” she said, noting that the associations are trying more to promote retail and other South Cape businesses. “We’re starting to get a lot of different businesses.”
And who does not like chocolate?
“It’s a fun way of getting people out that maybe normally wouldn’t come,” Grant said.
Noela Chocolate & Confections specializes in couverture chocolate.
“It’s what the best chocolatiers in the world use,” she said.
Couverture chocolate has a single origin, is typically fair trade and has the most cocoa butter.
“We make everything in house,” Grant said. “We do over 45 different flavors.”
For the event, some of the samples are existing flavors, but others are new concoctions.
“We’re making 6,000 pieces,” she said.
One of the new flavors includes the White Swiss Raspberry Cheesecake at Tubby’s City Hangout.
“I had to get Swiss chocolate in for that,” Grant said. “It melts in your mouth.”
Another will be the Intense Dark Curry at the Tiki Hut Bar & Grill.
“That’s going to be a completely different one that I’ve never done before,” she said.
As for existing favorites, there will be the Chipotle Cinnamon, available at Two Amigos Mexican-American Cuisine Bar & Grill, and the Candied Bacon Truffle, being served up by Dixie Roadhouse.
“That one’s amazing,” Grant said of Dixie’s American pick.
Check-in booths will be open from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Club Square. Ticket holders will receive a commemorative chocolate box, which can be used to save some or all of their samples, if they wish. There will also be a coupon for Noela Chocolate & Confections, which is good through September.
“I’ll refill them (the boxes) one time for $1 a piece, which is wholesale,” she said.
Late check-in will be available after 7:30 p.m. at Cruiser’s Lounge.
During the event, a fleet of trolleys will whisk people among the businesses.
Grant explained that each trolley will have a trolley hostess, who will award riders with coupons and trinkets for answering trivia questions correctly. The trolley questions will be chocolate related.
Ticket holders will be placed into a drawing for a grand prize provided by Noela Chocolate & Confections. Valued at $150, the gift basket will include two bottles of wine, chocolate-dipped wine glasses, a 25-piece box of chocolates and extras, like cookies, brownies and gourmet popcorn.
There are a total of 600 tickets available for the event.
Advance tickets are $20; if there are any tickets leftover, they will be $25 day of.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at any of the participating businesses, or online at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com by searching for the “Noela Chocolate & Spirit Trolley Event.”
A limited number of “Designated Driver” tickets will be available, which will enable ticket holders to enjoy all of the chocolate samples and a discounted price on non-alcoholic drinks at the businesses.
Advance DD tickets are at BackStreets Sports Bar; any leftovers will be at the check-in booths.
Grant explained that organizers are hoping the event will sell out.
“We’re hoping to get people who have never done a trolley run,” she said.
For more information on the event, visit online at: www.southcapeentertainment.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociations.
For more on Noela Chocolate & Confections, visit: noelachocolate.com.
Noela Chocolate & Confections is at 1309 S.E. 47th Terrace.
Cruiser’s Lounge is at 1517 S.E. 47th Terrace.
BackStreets Sports Bar is at 915 S.E. 47th Terrace.