Start your Valentine’s Day weekend off right by enjoying a Friday evening with chocolatier, Phillip Ashley, as he pairs his delicious creations with a variety of whiskey, beer, wine, cocktails, and champagne at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Jana Wilson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Memphis Botanic Garden, said, “Memphis Botanic Garden is a nonprofit organization. We do fundraising events like this to help support our education programs.”
Memphis Botanic Garden offers educational programs for children and adults.
According to the Shelby County Tennessee Government website, Memphis Botanic Garden serves over 43,00 school-aged children annually through organized education programs, and offering them the opportunity to get outdoors and learn hands-on activities and nature play.
Wilson said that Memphis Botanic Garden introduced the Whiskey, Wines and Chocolate event last year with Phillip Ashley Chocolates.
“Phillip Ashley is a local businessman who is also known as the ‘Willy Wonka’ of chocolate,” she said. “He does really amazing creations with other artists and chocolates that are specifically chosen to pair with those beverages.”
Some students are intimidated to pair wine and chocolate together, but according to Drinks Serious Seats, the secret is to match sweetness with sweetness. Wines such as Vintage Port, Banyuls, Recioto, and Chinato are considered to be good choices for pairing.
However, champagnes and sparkling wines won’t work if they’re on the crisp, acidic side. According to How to Pair Wine and Chocolate webpage, aim to purchase quality chocolate whether its white, milk, or dark, its origins should be impeccable and its manufacture of a high quality standard.
Also, select wines according to the flavors of the chocolate. White chocolate can be matched with a fruity Chardonnay, milk chocolate with Merlot, dark chocolate with robust wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and bittersweet chocolate with Bordeaux or Orange Muscat.
Wilson said that the Whiskey, Wines and Chocolate event has been very popular this year. “We sold about 180 tickets last year, and this year we sold 275.”
Whole Foods and Just for Lunch will be catering the evening with hors ‘d’oeuvres and other appetizers. Also, there will be a Happy Heart Fortune Telling by the Amazing Grayson.
The event will take place on January 13th, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 non-members, which includes pairings and light appetizers.
For more information call Memphis Botanic Garden at 901-636-4131.
Founded in 1947 by Edward Crump after the City of Memphis decided it needed a park outside city limits to compliment Overton Park. Crump influenced Mayor Sylvanus Polk and Park Commission head John Vesey to purchase the old Goodwyn House and 186.5 acres for $205,00 from Robert G. Heard, great grandson of Sally Ann and Robert Goodwyn.
Crump wanted the new area to be named Bluebird Park, but the commissioners decided that it should be named after noted naturalist John James Audubon.
On July 17, 1966, The Memphis Botanic Garden was officially christened. The new name was adopted in connection with efforts to coordinate and develop new existing garden areas, and tie a network of roads and trails with the new Goldsmith Civic Garden Center.
