Happiness has a flavor — chocolate!
The universally loved sweet treat that comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and flavors is known to release the chemical serotonin and increase the levels of endorphins released into the brain, and while that can sound a little like reading a science textbook, all that means is that a reasonable dose of chocolate improves your mood by helping shield you from stress, crankiness, loneliness and fatigue and overall, making you happier.
Also, chocolate is delicious so that might have something to do with it, too!
If happiness is what you’re looking for (and really, who isn’t?), hop on over to Shangri-La Plaza’s Chocolate Wonderland that’s stationed in the hip mall’s East and Main Atria. It’s a first for the mall, so make sure you don’t miss it!
(Choco Liquor Cakes by Maricar)
This Chocolate Wonderland not only invites you to taste and purchase every kind of chocolate product imaginable, but also encourages you to let your carefree alter ego lose as you enjoy the company of magicians, mimes, juggling jesters, carnival clowns on stilts, pretty ladies and handsome gentlemen dressed as the Easter bunny and huggable plushy chocolate brand mascots roaming the mall.
The venue is also decked out with awesome decorations like an oversized 3D eclair and taffy photo wall, a giant chocolate fountain tower and jumbo Easter eggs you can step into for that perfect selfie and groupie with family and friends!
It’s a celebration of all things fun and playful, but the real stars of the event are the local and international chocolate exhibitors who are out to tempt you with their own versions of the irresistible treat.
Discover local artisans who promote Filipino flavors with their take on Pinoy favorites. As Shangri-La Plaza EVP and general manager Lala Fojas shares, “in addition to the selling, what we did was we brought in not only branded products, but also locally developed brands, speciality chocolates.”
Tablea chocolate of varying combinations of bitterness and sweetness, crunchy cacao nibs, crispy chocolate covered banana chips, chocolate bars made with coco sugar and a myriad of dark chocolate products whose raw ingredients are sourced from different regions in the Philippines and infused with creative ingredients like chili, pili nuts, green mango and calamnsi are just some of the unique finds you’ll run into in booths showing off one hundred percent Filipino-made chocolate.
(Ginto Fine Chocolates)
Juicy, tangy candy apples dipped in caramel and marshmallows, powdery matcha-white chocolate bites, salty-sweet peanut butter chocolate cups, extra moist triple chocolate brownies, dense blocks of marbled fudge, truffled chocolate squares and multi-layered crumbly cakes are also waiting for you to sample them.
Some of the local chocolate brands to watch out for include Theo & Philo, Malagos Chocolates, Coco Dolce, Hiraya Chocolates, Cacao de Davao, Chocoliz, Top Chefs, ChocoATBP., Cocoa Monster, Machiavelli and Manila Chocolatier, NIJI Desserts, Choco-Liquor Cakes by Maricar Reyes-Poon, BiteSize PH, Truffles by K, Hungry Pac, Agueda Manila, Raneese PB Cups, TsokoFino, Ginto Premium Chocolates, Shorts Gourmet and CMBV Confectionaries.
International brands like Cadbury, Kinder Chocolate Cereals and Toblerone are also part of the action, alongside Shangri-La Plaza’s tenants like Candy Corner, Epicurious, Marks & Spencer, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Rustan’s Supermarket, Villa del Conte and Wicked as well as the prestigious Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
The choices are seemingly endless, considering that there are more than 30 booths to visit! Serious tip: make sure you have an appetite before traversing the sugary maze, because it would be a shame to be too full to decline a taste of any of the luscious chocolatey products available.
Topping of the experience are chocolate-related activities the whole family can participate in. “We have more workshops coming; some will talk about how to make chocolates, (and) how to do chocolate sculptures. On top of the selling are workshops that people can attend and join everyday,” Lala adds.
Wherever there’s chocolate, you know you’ll find happiness.
Look forward to discovering and sharing happiness at Shangri-La Plaza’s Chocolate Wonderland that will run until Sunday, April 23.
(Agueda Manila)
(Raneese PB Cups)
(Bitesize PH)
(Cadbury)
(Choco ATBP)
(Chocoliz)
(Cocoa Monster)
(Hungry Pac)
(Manila Chocolatier)
(Marks & Spencer)
(Niji Desserts)
(Rocky Mouintain Chocolate Factory)
(Rustans Supermarket products)
(Shorts Gourmet)
(Top Chef)
(Villa del Conte)
