Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! To celebrate, **Chef Ken Bergeron** (former owner of ION Restaurant in Middletown, CT) will be giving a demonstration on baking desserts with vegan chocolate. He will be sharing a recipe from his cookbook [Professional Vegetarian Cooking](https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Vegetarian-Hospitality-Bergeron-1999-06-08/dp/B01K8ZZ96Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZU1IA094VJ6Y&keywords=professional+vegetarian+cooking+ken+bergeron&qid=1673710049&sprefix=professional+vegetarian+cooking+ken+bergeron%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1) and giving out samples to taste.

This event is co-sponsored by the brand new [CT Vegan Center](https://ctvegan.org) and is part of the annual [Chocolate Auction](https://uuse.org/the-chocolate-auction-returns/#.Y8LKKy-B0gp) fundraiser at the Unitarian Universalist Society East in Manchester. Members bake desserts made with chocolate and attendees bid on them to raise money for the church and win yummy treats to take home and enjoy.

While the auction isn’t entirely vegan, there will be vegan chocolate-based goodies baked by me and members of the Sustainable Living Committee that will be up for bid:

* Glutenfree Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
* Glutenfree Chocolate Wowie Cake made with Teff
* Chocolate Covered Pretzels
* Chocolate Biscotti
* Double Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Brownies

If you’d like to participate in the auction, you may donate your favorite vegan dessert to introduce others to the wonders of vegan chocolate! (This is entirely optional. You’re welcome to come just for the chocolate demo.)