The third annual Chocolate on the Beach Festival drew a crowd of nearly three thousand visitors to the small town of Pacific Beach during the last weekend in February.

Many of the area’s businesses took part in the festival, including the Navy’s own Pacific Beach Resort and Conference Center that hosted a “Winemakers Dinner” featuring chocolate-inspired dishes, Feb 27. The meal included five courses, each paired with a Northwest wine and introduced by a professional wine steward. The main entrée consisted of cocoa crusted beef tenderloin with chocolate cabernet sauce, complimented by a shitake mushroom risotto.

Among those in attendance were Cpl. David Schinkle and his wife Terra. Schinkle, currently a member of the Army Signal Corps, is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. After recently returning home from training, he and his wife made their first trip to the Pacific Beach Resort at the recommendation of their neighbors.

“My husband is a chocolate connoisseur so this fell right into his lap. It was amazing,” said Terra Schinkle.

The festival also featured several contests for amateur and professional chocolatiers. John Bass, Food and Beverage Manager at the Pacific Beach Resort, won first place in the Professional Dessert category for his mini-white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Tony McGraw, a cook at the resort, won second place in the Professional Baked Goods category for his chocolate starfish.

The resort will host many other special activities throughout the year, including a whale watching excursion March 27, the annual luau on the beach Aug. 14, and the winemaker’s dinner Nov. 6.

For more information about lodging and these special events, please call (360) 276-4414 (toll free at 888-463-6697).