'Chocolate' event raises money for AIDS Foundation

November 29, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- If you love chocolate, the Chicago Hilton is the place to be this Thursday. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago will present its 10th annual ''World of Chocolate.'' It is the city's sweetest holiday event of the year.

''World of Chocolate'' raises money and raises the bar on how good chocolate can ultimately be. This year, once again at the Hilton, patrons will be tasting 30 different varieties of chocolate made by the best...in shops like Terry's Toffee on West Grand. For nine years Terry's has been turning out toffee so good that now it's given away each year to the big stars at the Oscars. Right now the owners -- Michael Frontier and his partner Terry Opalek -- are stirring up goodness for Thursday evening's holiday chocoholic bash.

"The World of Chocolate is the event for the AIDS Foundation and where chocolatiers show up...to raise money for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago," Opalek said.

They make about 800 pounds of toffee every week in this tiny shop and it's sold across the country.

Business is good, and despite the recession profits are up, but they won't make a penny on this recipe.

"This is a labor of love for us," said Opalek. "We, we are donating our toffee. We show up with about 60 pounds of our special toffee we are making for the event."

The top secret recipe that Terry's Toffee will reveal this Thursday at the World of Chocolate is called "Holly Berry." But you don't have to be an actress and pretend you like this stuff -- it's good!

"This year our Holly Berry Toffee is filled with almonds, cranberries, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and it is covered with dark chocolate, and we're dotting it with cranberries and pistachios," said Opalek.

There are still tickets available for the Thursday night event at the Hilton. But, remember, it's not free. For $125 you can eat all the chocolate you want. And no one will stop you.

No one?

"Maybe your doctor or your wife," said Johnathon Briggs, AIDS Foundation of Chicago vice president.

Holly Berry will be there with about 1,700 others. There are still tickets available.

More information at: http://afc.aidschicago.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1072 or call 312-334-0935.

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