BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Eric Gorzeman, 10, of Long Beach, Calif., finishes his last piece of chocolate near the end of the feast at the State Library and Archives Saturday. Gorzeman was visiting his grandmother in Minden.
In the lobby of the Nevada State Library and Archives, Jane Johnson looks over the last table of goodies left at the sixth-annual Feast of Chocolate.
The husk of a cupcake lies on its side, partially covered over by a torn paper doily. Confectioner's cups are strewn here and there on the ripped tablecloth. A plastic plate once holding chocolate eclairs bears nothing but a sticky, gooey debris and a pair of worn-out tongs. A lone maple tartlette is hidden among the crumbs and rubble. Only a peanut-butter cake has survived completely intact during the 11 a.m.-2 p.m. all-you-can-eat melee.
"I'd say it was a success," said American Association of University Women, Capital Branch president, Flo Bedrosian, touring the remains of the feast like a military general inspecting a battlefield victory.
The group's largest annual fund-raiser, the Feast of Chocolate helps raise scholarship money for community women seeking higher education.
"Last year we raised enough to give three scholarships," says Bedrosian, a Pepperdine alum. "One went to a girl from Carson High, one from Pioneer High and one to a re-entry student at Western Nevada Community College."
Judging from the damage, Bedrosian suspected that the group may have surpassed last year's total.
"We had people lined up at the door before any of us got here," she said.
While casualties of the belt-busting buffet moved molasses-like around the perimeter, others went back in for seconds. And thirds. And fourths.
Paul and Mary Jolly enjoyed the chocolate mousse cake from Adele's, in agreement with recent Journal of the American Medical Association articles that have touted chocolate as a sort of "health food" for its antioxidants and flavonoids.
"Sure," laughed Paul, forking up a piece of the decadent chocolate treat. "We're here on a health kick."
Twirling around the floor like a sugar-fueled dervish, 2-year-old Lauren Winne was happy as a smiley-faced cookie.
A result of excessively high chocolate levels?
Not quite. Members of the family confirmed, "She's always like this."
Several area businesses donated to the event, including: The Grocery Outlet; The Carson Nugget; Thunder Canyon; Sierra Bakery; David Walley's; Albertsons south, east and north; Adele's; City Cafe Bakery; Grandma Hattie's and The Candy Bar.
The American Association of University Women was founded in 1881. The first chapter opened locally in 1944.
n Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
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