We’ve got chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Enough chocolate to
pull us through this last full month of winter.
February is chocolate nirvana in and around the resort,
starting with the sweetest event of all — our annual Chocolate Fest next Saturday. Here’s a couple special chocolate-themed experiences you can
find in and around the resort soon, along with a few other ways to get your
chocolate on any time of the year.
Chocolate Fest
First things first: If you don’t have Chocolate Fest tickets
yet, you’ll want to secure some soon. It’s been a sellout the last two years,
and we’re nearing sellout territory already for this year’s event on Saturday,
February 8.
Here’s a little taste of what’s in store at our chocolate
extravaganza.
In the spirit of this year’s Parisian nightlife theme, you’ll
find French treats galore. Crème brulee tarts, dessert crepes, chocolate
croissants, chocolate-dipped madeleines, macarons, cream puffs raspberry
clafoutis — and that’s just the start of nearly 60 chocolate creations all
prepared by our bakery and pastry team. Many of your favorite traditional
chocolate treats will be back (including the chocolate fountain and milkshake
stand), along with unique creations like chocolate-covered bacon and chocolate rose
petals.
Go ahead, this is your day to have dessert first.
Chocolate Lover’s Weekend
at the winery
Indiana Uplands Wine Trail is offering Chocolate Lover’s Weekend Along
the Wine Trail at all of its participating wineries the weekends of
February 8-9 and February 15-16. Each winery on the trail will be offering
chocolate treats paired with their wines, and French Lick Winery right here in
town will be getting in on the chocolate act.
Stop by French Lick Winery one of those four dates for
gourmet chocolate made by local chocolatiers — it’s free alongside the purchase
of a wine tasting. Bloomington Chocolate Company and Jasper Flowers and Gifts
will be the two featured chocolatiers. No tickets are necessary, though it’s
first-come, first-served so get there early before the goodies are gobbled up.
At French Lick
Springs Hotel
At our final Kitchen
Live demo of the season, you’ll find chocolate playing a savory cameo role.
Stop by on February 29 and watch Chef Josh Emmons prepare his chateaubriand
beef tenderloin with chocolate demi-glace and whipped garlic rutabaga. The show
is free — and so are the samples of the finished product.
Haven’t had your chocolate fill yet? Drop by the Signature Shop and salivate over nearly 65 different types of chocolates and truffles—some of which are locally made right here in Indiana, with many sugar-free varieties as well. Hey, when you’re traveling you gotta treat yourself with some of these mouthwatering candies, including the sea salt caramel chocolates and the milk chocolate pecans which are among their most popular.
All you chocolate lovers will also want to make a stop at
the French Lick Mercantile Co. just off the lobby for a Mr. Cook Milkshake.
Named after the man who led the Cook Group’s purchase and restoration of our
two historic hotels, this milkshake has a richer chocolate flavor and you can
even double down on the chocolate flavor by asking for it made with the Blue
Bell hard-pack chocolate ice cream. Ask for it dressed up with extra chocolate
syrup and chocolate shavings on top. And at 24 ounces, this shake it sure to
last you a while and cure any chocolate craving.
While you’re out to eat, make room for the new triple layer
chocolate cake at Power Plant Bar & Grill. And at 1875: The Steakhouse,
start with their famous 1875 Chocolate Martini and finish with the molten
chocolate lava cake.
At West Baden Springs
Hotel
Do the Chocolate Dome. Just as stepping inside and admiring
the actual dome is part of the West Baden experience, so is savoring the
chocolate version of the dome made from chocolate cake, chocolate mousse and
chocolate ganache. Get one at Ballard’s in the Atrium or Sinclair’s Restaurant,
and if you’re feeling aggressively chocolate-y, pair it with a Chocolate
Martini made with Godiva chocolate liqueur, Absolut Vanilla and fresh cream.
Chocolate Tasting
Train
We’ve got bad news and good news about the Chocolate
Tasting Train at the French
Lick Scenic Railway. Bad news: the train’s already completely filled up for
the February 14 excursion. Good news: It leaves the station on five more
weekend dates in 2020. (March 27, April 10, June 6, July 25 and September 26)
Check out the menu, and you’ll understand why you’ll want to
buy tickets early as other Chocolate Tasting Train dates are typically at or
near sellouts. It’s both sweet and spirited, with three decadent desserts
paired with chocolate-centric cocktails. Trains depart at 6:30 p.m., so you’ll
want to eat a light dinner beforehand while saving some space for the chocolate
rush to come. You’ll also be riding in style — the Chocolate Tasting Train uses
the two newest first-class cars at the railway.