Sneak Peek: Artisanal Chocolate Bars Set to Make a Tasty Debut at Comic-Con 2024
Ahead of this week’s opening of Comic-Con, the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) unveiled the show’s limited-edition craft chocolate bars that will be available for purchase when the show opens at 6 p.m. PT on Wed., July 24. The country’s longest-running event for all things comics and related popular art, including movies, TV, gaming and interactive multimedia, runs through Sun., Jul 28.
With a robust program of speakers, exhibits, films, and games, Comic-Con attracts more than 135,000 attendees, creating a regional economic impact of more than $160 million and tax revenues of more than $3 million to the City of San Diego, according to a press release by SDCC.
How it works: Each year, SDCC’s food & beverage partner Sodexo Live! develops new, creative flavors that celebrate the fun and whimsy of the convention. Led by Sodexo Live! Executive Chef Sufi Karaien and Pastry Chef Kristianna Zabala, the F&B team makes 100 chocolate bars every 90 minutes inside the on-site kitchen, hand-crafting each one during the weeks leading up to the major event that features cosplay, programming, exclusive previews, and a diverse exhibit hall that offers merchandise and displays representing all fandoms.
The details: This year’s flavors include:
- Sunday Sundae with milk chocolate, caramel, bananas, strawberries, cherries, vanilla and peanuts
- Moonlight Voyage with white chocolate, dried miso, black sesame and dried strawberries
- First In Line with milk chocolate, puffed rice, cinnamon toast crunch, coffee and marshmallows
- Pirate Potion with white chocolate, dried pineapple, lime, coconut and key lime zest
Need to know: In 2024, 10,000 chocolate bars, 2,500 of each flavor, will be available—exclusively sold to Comic-Con attendees at a booth outside Ballroom 20. The craft chocolate bars are priced at $10 each. Golden tickets will be hidden inside four of the chocolate bars. Each golden ticket can be redeemed for a $100 Starbucks gift card.
Behind the scenes: After the chefs develop the concepts, the SDCC’s communications team tastes the chocolates for inspiration while developing names and themes. The creative trio of Hailey Adams, Grayson Van Loon, and Dylan James then bring the bars to life through designs and animations.
Backstory: In 2023, the SDCC F&B team offered more than 5,000 chocolate bars over four days, selling out every day of the convention. This tradition started in 2016 as an exclusive offering for event attendees.
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