for the Mail Tribune

"Everyone loves chocolate," says Karolina Wyszynska, marketing manager at the Ashland Springs Hotel. Wyszynska created the Oregon Chocolate Festival last year to celebrate the region’s artisan chocolate products and the opening of the hotel’s newest restaurant, Larks. After selling more than 450 tickets during the inaugural event, Wyszynska decided to take the festival community-wide in 2006.

Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, more than 20 Oregon food artisans will showcase their chocolate-infused products.

"What does chocolate go with?" asks Wyszynska. "Everything!"

Many of the vendors are chocolatiers and several companies represented will feature foods that complement chocolate. Wyszynska considers the festival to be a reflection of some of Oregon’s best offerings. While some of the weekend’s participants are household names, many of the food artisans are waiting to be discovered by discerning foodies everywhere.

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The diversity of products represented runs the gamut from Newport’s Rogue Ale’s Chocolate Stout to Ashland’s very own Dagoba Organic Chocolates. Dagoba is returning to the festival this year to offer its award-winning organic sweets. The San Francisco Chronicle named Dagoba’s dark chocolate the best in 2004. Rising Sun Farms and Rogue Creamery will feature their internationally famed foods. Moonstruck Chocolate of Portland is included in Oscar baskets every year.

Beginning Friday night, chocolate lovers can kick off the weekend with the First Friday Art Walk as various galleries celebrate the chocolate theme while the Varsity Theatre will features the film "Chocolat," starring Johnny Depp; check the box office for showtimes Friday through Sunday.

The festival offers a little something for everyone, while adults can sample hand-crafted chocolate delights and wine; children can explore the science of chocolate at the ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum. Seminars at the Ashland Springs Hotel begin at 11 a.m. Saturday; topics include history, health benefits, chocolate in cosmetology, and wine and chocolate pairings.

After entertaining your taste buds, look to the stage as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers theatergoers a 50 percent discount on any shows during the weekend if the chocolate festival is mentioned while purchasing tickets. Oregon Stage Works will feature a one-woman musical comedy, "Chocolate Confessions."

Skiers and snowboarders can head up to Mount Ashland to enjoy "White Chocolate on the Mountain," with special treats and discounted lift tickets all weekend, discount coupons for lift tickets can be picked up at the Ashland Springs Hotel or can be downloaded from the hotel’s Web site.

For those who want to roll up their sleeves, Allyson’s of Ashland has scheduled a unique cooking class, "The Art and Science of Chocolate," at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Samples of chocolates, chocolate-infused foods, drinks and dessert wines from over 20 Oregon companies will be available.

Chocolate enthusiasts may be surprised by the use of chocolate in everything from meat rubs to foot scrubs.

Call 488-1700 or see ashlandspringshotel.com on the Web for ticket and event information.