Wine + Chocolate = Heaven on Earth: Sweet Delights at LaMantia Holiday Open House

, a Main Street shop with a national reputation for retail excellence, will host a holiday open house showcasing the delights of chocolate, wine, and fine art tonight from 7 to 9 pm.

"We were looking to do something that was fun, different and festive. Roxanne Browning, of Exotic Chocolate Tasting, will be bringing in some of the finest chocolates from around the world and pairing them with terrific wines," co-owner James LaMantia said.

Browning, whose company is almost a year old, served as mayor of Northport from 1998 to 2002. When asked how she came to be involved in the world of exotic chocolate, Browning replied that her new passion found her.

As Browning sought to begin a new chapter in her life, she said that she revisited her interest in photography, art and graphic design. She went to a chocolate show with the intention of photographing chocolates, and fell in love with her subject matter.

"The chocolates were like jewels," Browning said, adding that she drew inspiration from the stories of people who had changed their lives in the course of creating chocolate.

"Artisan chocolate is like a fine bottle of wine; every step is a labor of love," Browning said of the extraordinary product that results when cooperatives of cacao farmers in Madagascar, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and the Amazon partner with 'bean-to-bar' chocolate makers.

"I liked the message. It's chocolate with a conscience.  It's good karma," Browning said of her chocolate which is organic, derived from single-origin beans, and certified as Fair Trade or above, meaning that consumers can rest assured that the farmers who grew the beans were paid a fair price for their harvest.

"The Fair Trade movement empowers cacao farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, and thus protects the rain forests. Artisan chocolate makers, whose creations are truly a labor of love, produce these chocolates of a 'higher purpose,'" Browning said, adding that her mission is to raise awareness for these causes while having a good time with guests who love quality chocolate.

These 'bean-to-bar' chocolates cannot be found on a grocery shelf, Browning explained.

"Each chocolate has a different profile because of where it's grown, and the flavors are amazing," Browning said.

At LaMantia Gallery, guests will sample chocolates from Madagascar and Ecuador; one will be paired with a wine from Portugal; the other with an Italian wine.

As a chocolate sommelier, Browning works out the pairing with wine by a process of sampling. The result is an amazing mix whereby the chocolate enhances the flavor and nuances of the wine, and vice versa.

"Each pairing is like a snowflake," Browning said, adding that guests can look forward to an evening that is both entertaining and educational.

LaMantia and his partner, Robert Bluver, have made it a habit to remember the less fortunate even when hosting feel-good events, and the holiday open house will be no exception.

"We are asking guests to bring a can of food for the Northport Food Pantry which right now is servicing over 150 families," LaMantia indicated.

All are invited to attend. LaMantia Gallery is located at 127 Main St., Northport Village. To RSVP, call (631) 754-8414.