IT’S a wonderland for ChoColaTe loverS aT Shangri-la Plaza
If Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is your favorite movie or you’re just a chocoholic in general, Shangri-La Plaza Mall has cooked up the go-to event for you with its “Shang Chocolate Wonderland,” the last day of which is Sunday, April 23.
Kicking off last Easter Sunday, it’s the first chocolate festival held by Shangri-La Plaza, featuring 31 participating chocolate purveyors in both the Main Atrium and East Wing area.
“We’re highlighting many locally produced boutique chocolates, as well as well-known brands,” said Lala Fojas, general manager and EVP of The Shangri-La Plaza Corporation.
“Choco-Liquor Cakes is here by Maricar Reyes, the wife of Richard Poon,” adds Marlene Dualan, marketing manager of Shangri-La Plaza. “In the East Wing we have Davao chocolate, Cocoa Monster, Christian Valdes of CMBV Confectionaires, Marks & Spencer, and Rustan’s.”
Step into the Choco Wonderland and you’ll sample dozens of confections from Shang vendors like Candy Corner, Epicurious, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Villa del Conte and Wicked, as jugglers, mimes and stilt-walkers circle the periphery, perfect for IG and Facethe book selfies.
Last Sunday featured demos, street and musical performers, and mascot appearances, as well as plenty of free samples from the Philippines’ own Theo & Philo, Bakeshop, Malagos Chocolates, Coco Dolce, Hiraya Chocolates, Cacao de Davao, Chocoliz, Top Chefs, ChocoATBP, Machiavelli and Manila Chocolatier, NIJI Desserts, BiteSize PH, Truffles by K, Hungry Pac, Agueda Manila, Raneese PB Cups, TsokoFino, Ginto Premium Chocolates, and Shorts Gourmet. Some vendors are selling chocolates at special discounts and promos for a certain time.
Shangri-La Hotels also participated, and Fojas filled us in on Shang Plaza’s plans for the coming year: “There will be a digital event that hasn’t been brought to the country yet. In the East Wing we’re adding new concepts like a Korean concept for children. Yesterday we had an event in East Wing aligned with the chocolate festival featuring Pororo, the popular Korean mascot. And this store coming in will carry everything Korean.”
The mall continues to grow and add stores and concepts reflecting the latest consumer tastes. “If you go down to the lower ground, we’ve developed it into a sort of wellness area with Nail Tropics, Curves, Ride Revolution, a fashion school called ICE, Dental Harmony for cosmetic dentistry, and Skin 101,” notes Fojas. “You can spend a whole day there.”
The Chocolate Festival offers workshops as well. Today there’s a Chocolate Praline Making Demo by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts at 3:30 p.m.; a Truffle Making Workshop by Wicked at 5 p.m.; Chocolate Tasting Workshop by Hiraya Chocolates at 6 p.m.; and the fest concludes tomorrow with a Chocolate Praline Making Demo by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts at 3:30 p.m. and Matcha Chocolate Making Workshop by Top Chefs at 5 p.m.
The only thing lacking was Willy Wonka’s chocolate river, but who knows? If Shangri-La Plaza decides to make this a yearly event that might someday be in our future.
** * Catch the Shang Choco Wonderland until April 23 at the Main Atria and East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.