July 10, 2008 1:21 PM

Greenberg Traurig's Chocolate Factory

Posted by Vivia Chen

We love chocolate--who doesn't?--so last night, donning a dark brown chiffon skirt with a matching tee, we trekked to Manhattan's West Side for a chocolate tasting. Billed as a networking opportunity for women lawyers at Greenberg Taurig, the event was held at the home of partner Judith O'Neill. Some 60 or so female partners, associates, and summer associates from the firm's New York, Philadelphia, and Albany offices jammed into O'Neill's 26th floor apartment.

As bonding events go, this one was pretty relaxed and convivial, though the pre-tasting mingling between the older partners and the younger associates felt a bit belabored--as if alumnae from the Smith class of 1975 were holding a mentoring session for incoming members of the freshman class. But chocoholism seems to cut through the generations; everyone was anxious for the tasting to begin.

We had envisioned scooping up a variety of hand-cut pieces of chocolate from an array of silver trays. Alas, the reality was a bit disappointing. Everyone was given a prosaic baggie containing six wrapped pieces of chocolate--rather puny in size, like the kind you find on pillows at hotels. There were Italian, American, and French confections, some made from only one type of bean, others a composite. To cleanse our palettes between bites, saltine crackers--how mundane!--were served.

This, in other words, was no chocolate orgy, though we did learn a bit about cocoa beans and the process of making this confectionary. Led by food writer Dina Cheney, it was a course about the history and art of chocolate appreciation. Cheney asked us to let the pieces slowly dissolve in our mouth, then asked us to describe the taste: Were there hints of cherry and cinnamon (usually good), or was the bite chalky or rubbery? The best chocolate, says Cheney, leaves you with "a long finish"--in other words, a nice aftertaste.

It was all a bit academic, but then this was a lawyers' event. In fact, Cheney says chocolate tastings are extremely popular with lawyer groups, and that she's run four of them for law firms in recent months. "Lawyers are very analytical, so they love critiquing chocolate," she explains.

Next time, we'll bring a big bag of M&Ms.

Image: Flickr/net_efekt

Make a comment

Comments (2)
Save & Share: Facebook | Del.ic.ious | | Email |

Reprints & Permissions

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In

You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out

Name:

Email Address:(Not displayed with comment.)

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments: