Fantastic time
Fundraiser features dinner, live auction and a chocolate wonderland
Tables laden with chocolate truffles, brownies, cake bites, miniature cupcakes and cookies offered a chance for guests to eat dessert first at the Chocolate Fantasy Ball on Feb. 8 at the Statehouse Convention Center.
Guests also enjoyed chocolate martinis, a photo booth and chocolate treats passed around by beauty queens as they perused silent auction items outside the Wally Allen Ballroom. On display, guarded by two airmen and later modeled by Miss Arkansas Darynne Dahlem, was one of the live auction items — a 7.83-carat diamond necklace and 5.15-carat diamond tennis bracelet donated by Sissy’s Log Cabin.
The ballroom, where dinner was served, was lighted in purple. Tables were dressed in gold satin and each centered with candles and arrangements of fresh flowers. Dinner included a salad of mixed greens, cranberries, feta and grilled peaches served with a citrus vinaigrette. The entree was a beef filet with bordelaise sauce, braised broccolini and olive oil and whipped potatoes. For those who hadn’t had their fill of chocolate during the reception, at each place setting was a chocolate decadence cake served with chantilly cream, raspberry jam, chocolate sauce and white chocolate shavings.
Money raised from the event benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Arkansas. Dean and Susan Davenport served as chairmen of the fundraiser. Susan, speaking at the dinner, said the event was an evening they look forward to every year. Recognizing all the board members and volunteers she noted it “takes a tremendous amount of people to put together an enchanted evening such as this.”