Norman Love to be featured at Wine Fest 2007

Norman Love

Norman Love, the world-renowned pastry chef of Norman Love Confections, will provide a wide array of his specialty gourmet chocolates to be paired with dessert wines at the Southwest Florida Wine Fest Gala.

Wine Fest, the Fort Myers Rotary Club's signature annual event, will be held on Nov. 9 and 10. All proceeds raised will benefit The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, and Hope Hospice and Community Services.

"When it comes to helping children's charities, and celebrating the culinary arts of our community, we consider it a pleasure to be involved in the Southwest Florida Wine Fest this year," Love said.

Known as a purveyor of some of the world's finest chocolates, Norman Love Confections has been lauded in national news stories escalating its owner and founder, Norman Love, to celebrity status. Love is a former corporate pastry chef with The Ritz- Carlton and creator of "G," the specialty line of chocolate for Godiva.

"Chocolate and children are a perfect pairing," Love said. "It's as good of a match as fine wine and gourmet foods."

Norman Love Confections, formerly Ganache Chocolates, is located at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers. In February 2002, USA Today named Norman Love Confections one of the top 10 artisan chocolate companies in the country.

"We are thrilled to have Norman join in the Wine Fest effort this year," said Dr. Steve Machiz, founding chairman of Wine Fest. "It is truly remarkable how much time he dedicates to charitable causes every year, and for that we are extremely thankful."

The 2006 Wine Fest netted more than $178,000 in proceeds for charity, and event organizers hope to raise more than $200,000 this year.

The Southwest Florida Wine Fest Gala will be hosted at the Bonita Bay Club on Saturday night, Nov. 10, with Chef Vintner Dinners hosted in private homes throughout Lee and Collier counties on Friday, Nov. 9.

Tickets for the Chef Vintner Dinners are limited and no more than 500 tickets will be available for the Saturday night Wine Fest Gala.

To find out more about Norma Love Confections, visit his Web site at http://www. normanloveconfections.com. For tickets or more information on Wine Fest, please go to http://www.SouthwestFloridaWineFest.org, or call the Rotary Office at 332-8158. ¦