Feasting On Chocolate At The Mackinac Island Fudge Festival

Every August , Mackinac Island , Mich. , host a Fudge Festival to lionise one of the many treats most all its visitor taste , if not also go away the island with . Fudge there comes in small boxwood and is sell by the pound and half dog pound . We , along with our Word , arrived off Shepler ’s Ferry just in time for the event - filled sidereal day , which culminated in a delectable , fudge - inspired feast at The Cudahy Chophouse . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Because most visitor to the island will hop-skip on a bicycle at some point in time during their visit or stick around , why not see who can pedal the slowest in the Great Turtle Slow Ride hold at Windermere Point at the edge of bustle about downtown . The 8 - mile cringle around the island is a great way to exercise off some of the calories from any fudge try out , many of the locals say . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Great Turtle Toys engineer the Great Kite Ascension , also agree at Windermere Point . By this head , we were take pretty athirst for a appreciation of Mackinac Island fudge , the most popular in the country , so we did what most “ fudgies ” ( fudge fanatics ) do : sample some of the many flavors at the legion fudge shops downtown — there ’s about one workshop every 100 ft . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

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Madelyn Le Page purchased a box of fudge with one of the Golden Tickets , which entitled her to a return two - night arrest on Mackinac Island for four people . Each of the six participating fudge shops ( most of which have more than one storefront ) , had one of the seven Golden Tickets that were direct inside specially - designated boxes of fudge only offer for sale during the Golden Ticket event . Chances of deliver the goods a Golden Ticket are 1 in 40 at each locating , so some fudgies purchased more than one box . The various loot vacation software system included island stays at the Mission Point Resort , Grand Hotel , Island House Hotel and Chippewa Hotel . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Even the 2013 Michigan Sugar Queen , Victoria Hudgins , was on hand to grant the hotel packages to the winning ticket holder . While expect for the Golden Ticket winners to be herald , we enchant her watch the ferry come and go from the island ’s idyllic harbor with Fort Mackinac and victorian cottages and planetary house stretching along both bluffs overlooking the town . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

For us , however , the sexual climax of the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival was dinner party at the Cudahy Chophouse , where a fudge - inspired dinner awaited us . The eating place is located inside the Inn at Stonecliffe , a glorious estate about 2 forested mile outside the meddling business district . We enjoy a leisurely walk to dine there , but most kinfolk choose for a cavalry - draw posture hack — or hopped on their bikes .

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Photo by John D. Ivanko (HobbyFarms.com)

John D. Ivanko/farmsteadchef.com

wide acclaimed Michigan - based family line musician , Audra Kubat , serenade us as we grab a board outside overlooking the Mackinac Bridge , just as the sun started to flatten over the Straits of Mackinac . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

With a poof of surprising smoke rising as Lisa open up a Ball mason canning jarful , the chicken satay deal inside came with some saffron crocus Elmer Leopold Rice and a mildly spicy burnt umber dipping sauce in the spoon . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Chef Richard Gilles promise this gratuitous appetizer an “ amuse . ” “ The flavors should divert your mouth , ” he says . The Grant Wood used as the scale was made from a tree that had been struck by lightening on the property . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Photo by John D. Ivanko (HobbyFarms.com)

John D. Ivanko/farmsteadchef.com

Chef Gilles forges new culinary territory by crossing hot chocolate with savory mantrap , blending our puerility confect fetish with our grown - up foodie palette in a one - of - a - kind dining experience at the Fudge Festival . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Who acknowledge adding some white chocolate to comminute potatoes would turn out so delicious . The pepper - crust beef tenderloin with a chocolate larboard sauce and a side of chayote squash , plus those melt - in - your - mouth mashed potatoes with white drinking chocolate , prove that chocolate needs to get off the dessert menu more often . The hot chocolate bestow subtle sweetness , greatly enhancing the whole entrée . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Of course Chef Gilles did n’t forget about chocolate on the dessert bill of fare ; he just would n’t settle for the same old standard sweet . Instead , we savour a creative whirl on a campfire basic with his S’more Bread Pudding with a crème de menthe sauce and graham cracker sprinkles . John D. Ivanko / farmsteadchef.com

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Photo by John D. Ivanko (HobbyFarms.com)

John D. Ivanko/farmsteadchef.com

Chef Gilles ’ Chocolate Curry Chicken with Saffron Rice was cranky , flavorous and , with the fudge - invigorate sauce , pure decadence . Fortunately for us , he was uncoerced to partake in his recipe below !

Check back next workweek when we share a fudge formula you may make in your own farm-place kitchen !

Recipe: Chocolate Curry Chicken

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken Glaze

Chocolate Sauce

Chicken

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Photo by John D. Ivanko (HobbyFarms.com)

John D. Ivanko/farmsteadchef.com

Preparation

Chicken GlazeCombine all glaze ingredients in a sauce smoke and bring to a simmer to compound the flavors .

Chocolate SauceCombine water , sugar and Zea mays sirup in a saucepan . Bring to boil and move out from warmth .

tot up enough of the syrup to the hot chocolate pulverisation to make a easygoing spread , stirring until the mixture is completely suave . bit by bit add the stay sirup to the paste . contribute the melted hot chocolate , and stir until compound . Keep fond until service .

Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - Photo by John D. Ivanko (HobbyFarms.com)