Physics of Chocolate and Food for Thought at Alumni House "Chocolatada"
Professors and Ph.D. students gather with alumni to taste, talk and think about the virtues of food
On Sunday, March 27, 2011, Alumni House hosted a Peterborough Chapter Alumni Association event Chocolatada, a celebration of art and chocolate.
As each person in the crowd bit into a piece of chocolate, Dr. Suresh Narine ’91, director of Trent’s Biomaterials Research Program, talked about the physics of the super food, going into detail about its unique texture while extolling the oral process of its emulsion - one that results in a 500-flavour experience.
Michael Sacco, Ph.D. candidate in Trent’s Indigenous Studies Department and founder of ChocoSol Traders, provided all of the fair-trade chocolate for the day and presented his talk “Reclaiming Chocolate: Once the food of the gods, now the candy of the masses!” Mr. Sacco spoke about his socially affirming and sustainably productive chocolate company, Chocosol Traders. Mr. Sacco emphasized the important relationships that he has formed in his work from here to Mexico and the deep historical roots of sustainable food and agriculture.
The Annual Student Art Show was on exhibit and Alumni House was filled to capacity. President Steven E. Franklin and his wife Dawn Franklin joined the festivities along with outgoing vice-president of External Relations and Advancement Dianne Lister, a distinguished alumna of Trent. A fine selection of nutritious chocolate, truffles, and molés were served along with chocolate tortillas, hot chocolate and chocolate martinis.