Chocolate Soufflé Cake

I completely forgot to share this recipe with you all back in May. Just as my job was shifting into full-gear for our annual event, my slated recipes and blog posts took a bit of a backseat to the 100-hour workweeks. Hopefully you can forgive me for hanging on to this gem of a recipe; I promise this one is worth the wait.

I created this dessert for a friend’s surprise 30th birthday party. It still strikes me odd that I am somehow old enough to have friends who have entered their third decade of life, even if I am only a few years behind them. It doesn’t seem so long ago when being in your thirties seemed incredibly adult and, well, old to me.

My view of turning thirty might have changed as I grew older, but there is nothing like a chocolate dessert to lessen any blow one might feel about joining a new age group. I needed a delicious, simple recipe – a crowd-pleaser amongst a group of people with varying tastes. I also needed a gluten-free dessert, so every person could indulge as desired. This chocolate soufflé cake fit my requirements perfectly and made a lovely vessel to hold a candle as we all sang our birthday wishes on a beautifully cool May evening, overlooking the East River and Queensboro Bridge.

Aspen, Colorado

While I felt as though I was running non-stop during the week I spent in Colorado for the 2011 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, the breathtaking beauty of Aspen, Colorado made me smile each time I had a spare second to look up.

Surrounded by mountains, filling my lungs with fresh air, and feeling the sunshine on my face was such a treat.

Even during the cloudy days, when the sky was thick with fog and rain clouds, Aspen struck me as truly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited.

Happy 4th of July!

AMERICAN FLAG
New York, NY
© Dolcetto Confections | Allison M. Veinote, 2011

2011 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen

Three months ago, after spending the first three years of my adult life endlessly searching for a career I truly loved, I was welcomed into an incredible team of individuals who work day, night, and weekend in planning the annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.

It is difficult for me to put into words how quickly this event took over my life – in the best way possible. To be able to take part in the weekend, to truly understand the importance and significance of the event, was an incredible feeling of accomplishment. The exhibitors filled the Grand Tasting Pavilion, offering wine, food, and cocktails to thousands of consumers. In between tastings, consumers took part in seminars, where they attempted soak up as much knowledge and inspiration as possible from culinary legends and wine experts.

I listened to so many coworkers describe their favorite “Classic Moments,” moments that emphasized the uniqueness and specialness of the weekend, and wondered if I might have any of my own, intermixed with a week of non-stop work and running from one location to the next. I did not leave Aspen disappointed, experiencing not one, but two moments that completely took my breath away – and it wasn’t just the altitude! These moments deserve their very own post, but more than anything, they made me stop and think: this is my job. I get to wake up every day and be part of a team that plans this incredible event each year, an event that offers information and access to talent like no other I can imagine.