Media Release

Mangaluru, Mar 31: The second edition of NICO’s Chocolate Street, the only chocolate festival in the city, began on March 30 at Forum Fiza Mall. The fest will continue on March 31.

'NICO's Chocolate Street' is an initiative to bring together the home bakers, and other entrepreneurs who specialise in chocolates in the city of Mangaluru and surrounding areas, and provide them with a platform to showcase their chocolate based products. NICO's Chocolate Street is organised by the final year students of Nitte Institute of Communication (NICO), a constituent college of Nitte (Deemed-to-be) University. It's a one-of-its-kind festival that bonds all the chocolate lovers of Mangaluru. This is the second year that this event is being organised by the students of NICO.

The city of Mangaluru has long possessed a sweet tooth, including the presence of home-grown ice cream brands such as Ideal, and Hangyo; and the cocoa cooperative Campco. A chocolate festival in Mangaluru is therefore an ideal platform to bring together upcoming entrepreneurs who can dazzle the denizens of the city with a wide assortment of chocolate items.

The products on display and sale range from a wide variety of home-made chocolates, pastries, cupcakes, cookies, shakes, and even chocolate based lip-balms and moisturisers. There are 24 stalls at NICO's Chocolate Street, mainly in the Atrium area of Forum Fiza Mall.

The festival began on March 30 at 11:00 a.m. with the inauguration by chef Sinu Vijayan, Executive Chef at The Taj Gateway, Mangaluru, symbolically cutting a cake.

Manish B, a junior chef at the Lalit Bekal, will be conducting a masterclass on baking chocolate delicacies on March 31, at 4 pm at the atrium in Forum Mall. Entry to this session is completely free, and the chef is available for interaction sessions with the audience on Sunday afternoon.