Chocolate delight Saturday night

If your sweet tooth wasn't satisfied Halloween night, the 18th Annual Chocolate Festival to benefit Tahoe Women's Services should quell those cravings Saturday evening.

Last year, more than 600 people enjoyed the taste sensations of North Shore chocolatiers and wineries, Michelle Prestowitz, TWS fund development manager said.

Nine North Shore businesses - Big Water Grille, Fredericks, Hired Hands Tahoe, Jake's on the Lake, Mr. Z's Homemade Candies, Moody's Bistro & Lounge, Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn and Pianeta Ristorante - will feature their confections.

Last year Incline's own Mr. Z's Homemade Candies won the people's choice prize with "Tahoe Mahalo" truffles.

"This year, we're bringing an array of all different types of confections," owner Aaron Zendner said. "People's tastes are so different - when you do one thing, you may not appeal to everyone."

Zendner said he will be bringing smaller, sample-sized truffles for those who get overwhelmed with "chocolate overload," but he would not disclose anything further.

"What we're actually bringing is a surprise," Zendner said. "We're making new things that we normally don't have at Mr. Z's all the time."

While the contest is a major draw for the chocolatier, the chance to support Tahoe Women's Services is the real reason Mr. Z's is participates in the event Zendner said.

"It's a good organization in town," Zender said. "I've personally seen people it's helped and it's good for people to have those services (available locally) if they need them."

Tahoe Women's Services will have its Silent Witnesses and Clothesline Project on display at the festival, executive director Karen Edwards said.

Silent Witnesses are life-size silhouettes of women who were killed by their husbands or boyfriends in Nevada.

The Clothesline Project is a series of T-shirts made by victims of domestic violence in the North Shore to represent the impact their experiences had on their lives.

"We want to raise money, but we also want to educate the community," Edwards said. "We all want to live in a healthy community, violence-free. If people come out to support the Chocolate Festival, the money will go to educate the community about domestic violence so they understand what it is and they know what to do if it happens to them or someone they know."

The event is from 7 to 10 p.m. , Saturday at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach.

Tickets are available for $40 in advance and $50 at the door, all proceeds benefit Tahoe Women's Services. 21 and over, cocktail attire suggested. Call (775) 298-0010 or visit www.tahoewomenservices.org for tickets.

Ticket outlets include Barifoto Photography in Tahoe City, 7-Eleven in Kings Beach, New Moon in Truckee and Village Ace Hardware in Incline Village.