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LOUDOUN TIMES-MIRROR | MARCH 6, 2020 5
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BY JOHN BATTISTON
The Loudoun County YMCA’s 33rd annual Chocolates Galore & More fund-raiser garnered a crowd of 900 at Lans-downe Resort and Spa Feb. 28, with ticket sales and silent auctions raising an esti-mated $85,000 — significantly up from last year’s estimated $70,000.
Loudoun YMCA Business Director Kasia Bochenek said if the early assess-ment proves accurate, this year’s fund-raiser “will be the best ... from every corner. I’m happy about it.”
More than 20 culinary outlets from across the region presented their signature desserts and hors d’oeuvres for guests to sample as they socialized, took to the dance floor and enjoyed bottomless champagne. Tunes for the evening came courtesy of musician and DJ Nathaniel Davis, while those not keen on dancing could pose in photo booths and browse dozens of items and services up for auction.
“From the feedback that I’ve heard, everybody was saying that [this year’s fundraiser] was the best of the best, better than ever,” Bochenek said. “I thank all, ev-erything went very, very smooth.”
Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite culinary samplings, both sweet and savory, and their picks were tal-lied up to determine the evening’s People’s Choice award winners. The prizes for Best Taste — Dessert and Best Taste — Hors D’Oeuvre went to Sweetz Bakery and The Conche, respectively, while Waltonwood Ashburn and The Lost Fox won Best Pre-sentation — Dessert and Best Presentation — Hors D’Oeuvre, respectively.
Bochenek expressed her glee at
Sweetz’s victory, calling founder Trang Bowers and other company representa-tives “my champions.”
“From 2012 I think they’ve won every single year,” she said.
A different slate of winners took home the evening’s Critics’ Choice awards. Best Taste went to AhSo Restaurant and The National Conference Center for dessert and hors d’oeuvres, respectively, while Yummyworks and Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm won Best Presentation for dessert and hors d’oeuvres, respectively.
Per Bochenek, it is quite uncommon for winners to take home only one award each. “I was very surprised about it, but very, very happy about it. In past years, there were many restaurants that got multiple awards, and you know, that’s not bad. But this year I see that ... the people like something differ-ent [than the critics], which I really like.”
For helping run the event smoothly, Bochenek offers “big kudos” to the staff at Lansdowne Resort and Spa. “They are my huge supporters, and without them I’m sure I would not be able to pull this together,” she said.
Next year’s fundraiser has already been booked for the Lansdowne Resort and Spa on Feb. 26, 2021. More information on Chocolates Galore & More is available at loudounchocolates.com.
Courtesy Photo/A. Sample Photography (Andrew Sample)
Guests of all ages enjoyed the YMCA’s annual Chocolates Galore & More fundraising gala at Lansdowne Resort Feb. 28.
Chocolates Galore raises an estimated $85K for YMCA
THE BESTYEAR YET
YMCA Business Director Kasia Bochenek
