Whenever someone asks me what my favourite food is, I get a faraway look in my eyes, start salivating and seductively whisper “chocolate”’. Not renowned for its healthy properties, I usually save it for dessert, looking forward to the ooey-gooey sweetness all day long. So when I saw that Credible Edibles,
(a local, vegetarian cooking school), was offering a class entitled “Chocolate – Gift of the Gods”, I signed up immediately, no questions asked!

I’ve taken a few cooking classes from Credible Edibles before but had never seen so many smiling women (and a few eager men) in the intimate space at one time.

Owner Judi Varga-Toth started the evening with a “Did you know?” presentation all about le chocolat.

• According to “Foods that Fight Cancer” and various research studies, chocolate has antioxidants that have been proven to be effective in an anti-cancer diet.
• Up to 40 grams of dark chocolate (defined as having over 70% cacao content, with chocolate as the first ingredient on the label, free of any dairy or milk ingredients) can be incorporated into a healthy,
  balanced diet.
• The Mayans and Aztecs consumed cacao and even used it as
  trade currency.
• Research studies show that chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the body, whereas milk chocolate and white chocolate have no effect.

In the cooking class we created a gourmet feast using chocolate as the connective ingredient. We started with a Mexican Salad (the only non-chocolate recipe, so we didn’t experience a chocolate overdose), followed by Chocolate Chili for our main with Coconut Chocolate Bark, Chocolate Hazelnut Cranberry Cookies and Decadent Dark Chocolate Mousse for dessert.

The CEO of Camino Fair Trade chocolate company, Jennifer Williams, visited the cooking class while we were enjoying dessert and provided a taste testing of their bars as well as informative information on Camino. Camino works to build sustainable communities throughout Central America, South America and South East Asia with their co-ops situated in Dominican Republic and Panama.

You can shop for Camino products online or at various locations in Ottawa, including Bridgehead, health food stores and Ten Thousand Villages. Camino supports eco-friendly practices across their organization, from providing their staff with hemp uniforms, to using recycled materials to package their organic chocolate bars.

For me, a sustainable lifestyle is not just about wearing second-hand clothing; it’s also about supporting local businesses and eating a cruelty-free, organic diet. By participating in cooking classes offered at Credible Edibles ($54/person or $88/couple which includes 2 1/2 hrs of in-class instruction, a three course meal, recipes and leftovers), you’re not only learning, you’re also engaging in a community that believes in the GREEN (good/responsible/ethical/environmental/ nutritious food) philosophy. Green may be the new black in the fashion industry but it’s the new sirloin steak in the nutritional sector so you can feel good about saving our planet, one bite at a time!

Tags: Camino, chocolate, cooking class, Credible Edibles, fair trade, food, organic