One of the highlights of holidays past for me has always been getting to taste some of the the delicious chocolate goodies that seem to appear everywhere this time of year. So the idea of checking out and tasting some of our city's finest chocolate makes absolute sense, which is where next weekend's Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon comes handily into play.

The event, which is presented by TasteTV, will include speakers and demos, as well as a sneak-peak screening of the new short film, "Searching for the Heart of Chocolate," by filmmaker Sarah Feinbloom. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a broad variety of artisan and premium chocolates, as well as beverages from local wineries, all of which is included in the admission price ($20 at the door, $17.50 in advance).

A Chocolate Tasting Panel has been assembled, and includes local food celeb Evan Kleiman of KCRW's Good Food and the marvelous Angeli Caffe, as well as Lesley Balla (Editor, Eater LA), lifestyle/cooking personality Audrey Bernstein (Oh-Audrey), author Amelia Saltsman (The Santa Monica Farmer's Market Cookbook), Anne Smith (The New School of Cooking), author Stacey V. Bolden-Bowers, and, oh, yes, yours truly.

Says TasteTV and Chocolate Television Executive Producer A.K. Crump, "A partial list of Luxury Chocolate Salon participants includes L'Artisan du Chocolat, Mignon Chocolate, Decadent Tastes, Yum! Chocolate, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Chuao Chocolatier, Guittard Chocolate, The Chocolate Traveler, Malibu Toffee, Cocoa Prive, The TeaRoom, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Chocolate Covered Company, Randy Fuhrman Events / Randy's Brownies, Silver Stone Wines, C'est Tres Chic Chocolate Molds, Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, and much, much more."

Personally, I can't wait. Bring on the chocolate... hope to see you there!

The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
Sunday December 9th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pasadena Center
300 Green Street, Pasadena

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, under 6 free (advance tickets are $17.50). For advance ticket purchases, Salon information, the film trailer, or for the menu of events, go to the event website.

Photo of heart-shaped chocolates from Chuao Chocolatier courtesy TasteTV/LA Luxury Chocolate Salon