Treat yourself to a fantastic dessert while contributing to a great cause with Chocolate for Congo, returning to the Portland area for its 6th year. Mouth-watering desserts made with Theo Chocolate benefit Action Kivu - investing in the women, children and communities of Congo through vocational training and education - with $1 from each dessert sale going to the organization. Theo Chocolate, which now sources more than 70% of its chocolate from the Congo, has generously donated the chocolate for the benefit. Local organization, Never Again Coalition is also sponsoring.
The best part? Some of Portland’s best pastry chefs and award-winning restaurants are participating! These desserts are available all of February, and with 15 locations and 28 days, you can try them all—some even twice.
Participating restaurants and bakeries include:
Ava Gene’s
Baker & Spice and The Cakery
Bakeshop
Bistro Agnes
Canard
Clyde Common
Coquine
La Neta
Le Pigeon
Little Bird Bistro
Oui! Wine Bar + Restaurant
Ox
Pie Spot
Tusk
Here’s a sneak peak into what some of the pastry chefs are making:
La Neta - chocolate and corn tarts with Morita chile toasted marshmallow
Clyde Common - Victoria Hutfilz's bittersweet chocolate pecan pie, smoked vanilla bean ice cream and confit citron
Ava Gene’s - chocolate frittelle from Nora Mace
Bistro Agnes - frozen dark chocolate marquise with pistachio anglaise, candied kumquats, kumquat zested meringue and a sprinkle of Jacobsen sea salt flakes
Tusk - chocolate pistachio whoopie pies from Mace
Canard - chocolate banana cream pie
Baker & Spice and The Cakery - flourless chocolate cakes
Oui! Restaurant and Wine Bar - spiced dark chocolate pot de creme, sea salt and Willamette Valley honey meringue with brown butter graham shortbread cookies from chef Althea Grey Potter
Pie Spot - chocolate-caramel corn pie
Bakeshop - chocolate persimmon tea cakes made with a combination of buckwheat and all-purpose flour, and laced with chunks of melted chocolate and orange flecks of caramelized persimmon; available at their flagship shop on NE Sandy and with select wholesale clients.
Seattle-based Theo Chocolate has generously donated the chocolate for this event to benefit Action Kivu, and together these two organizations are making a powerful impact that you can be a part of. Theo Chocolate sources 70% of its chocolate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, supporting more than 4,600 farmers and their families as they reinvest in their community. In a country where reliable employment, education and healthcare are hard to come by, Theo also supports a maternal health initiative that has led to a dramatic difference in maternal and infant mortality rates. Action Kivu partners with ABFEC, a Congolese non-profit. Your support enables direct human to human assistance to those suffering from unspeakable violence, giving them the tools to be agents of peace and change. It also encourages homegrown and sustainable solutions by caring individuals. Click here to read the stories of success to learn how your support is changing lives!
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued with violence for far too long. The path to peace is long but Theo Chocolate and Action Kivu are making a real difference in the lives of Congolese people.
For more info on the amazing work of Action Kivu and their partner in the region, ABFEC, please visit their websites: actionkivu.org
Questions? Please contact Lauren Fortgang at neveragaincoalition@gmail.com