Over the weekend, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables hosted “A Festival of Chocolate,” an event filled with live chef demonstrations, sweet treats, and handcrafted wares from local businesses.
Guests enjoyed handmade chocolates and chocolate-themed snacks, and took part in fun activities to see how cacao is used in regular desserts and unique flavors.
The festival also gave local sellers a chance to show off their products, whether they were made with chocolate or influenced by its taste and culture.
“I think it’s really important for us to have a sense of community,” said attendee Andrea Moller. “Sometimes in Miami, there’s something going on and not everyone is already involved. Everyone is going on with their day-to-day, but this allows everyone to come together.”
Valeria De Souza is a sophomore at Florida International University, majoring in Digital Communication and Media, with a focus on digital TV and multimedia production. She is passionate about storytelling and hopes to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, working at a news station to help share impactful stories within the community.
Kiara Lequerica is a second-year student at FIU studying Digital Communication and Media. Kiara aspires to work in sports journalism. Her Peruvian background shaped my love for telling stories and showing different cultures in the media. Besides journalism, her favorite food is ceviche, a popular dish from Peru.
Sarah Mayorca is a Digital Communications and Media major with a love for storytelling in both English and Spanish. Growing up in South Florida’s vibrant cultural mix, she finds inspiration in covering stories that highlight community, creativity, and identity. Blending her background in dance with her interest in broadcasting, she hopes to build a career as a multimedia journalist, bringing powerful and authentic stories to the screen.
Noah Rico is a freshman Colombian-American student journalist with a passion for storytelling. At Caplin News, he works on stories that spark conversation and uplift community voices. He hopes to grow as a multimedia journalist and one day make an impact at a major news outlet.
