PCPL offers chocolate class to sweeten the day Sept. 18

The Putnam County Public Library will offer a sweet one-day chocolate class taught by chocolatier Anastasia Wells on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

The 5-8 p.m. chocolate class and all materials are offered free of charge. The class is restricted to eight registered participants, but all are welcome to attend and observe.

Participants may register for the class at the library reference desk.

The class will include a lecture on the basic make-up of chocolate, understanding percentages of cocoa butter and cocoa liquor (chocolate solids) and cover basic chocolate-handling techniques, including molding and dipping, with particular emphasis on tempering.

Each participant will work hands-on with chocolate and will take home finished projects.

Wells holds a master's degree in library science from Simmons College in Boston, and is currently employed as a librarian at DePauw University.

She received part of her chocolate training at the Lake Champlain Chocolates factory. Their chocolates have won regional and national awards, as well as accolades from The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, the Wall Street Journal, Travel and Leisure, Martha Stewart Living and others.

Wells also attended the Cacao Barry Confectionary Training Center where the "deepest secrets of the Belgium, Swiss, French and English Chocolate heritages" are taught, as well as the latest techniques, recipes and applications with the goal of bringing "fresh inspiration to national and local chocolate cultures."

She has competed in several Boston-area chocolatier competitions from 1993-1996.

For more information about the program, persons may contact the Putnam County Public Library at 653-2755.

Wells may be contacted at anastasiawells@depauw.edu.