CHOCOLATE WITH LAING? YES, PLEASE!

'Venchi is not just another chocolate brand. It's magic, tradition, and emotion wrapped in a simple yet powerful bite.'

- LAI S. REYES

Chocolate knows no boundaries. But I'd be lying if I told you that I'm 100-percent sold on the idea of pairing this iconic Bicolano dish with a small bar of chocolate. I just take comfort in knowing that the versatility and sweetness of coconut milk and chili peppers can play well with the bitter and umami flavors in chocolate.

But after experiencing this in a degustation hosted by Venchi Philippines, a popular Italian chocolate brand, at M Dining + Bar, I'm hooked—totally! Venchi's Chocoviar 75%, a rich, dark chocolate in a 75-percent extra dark shell, not only added an extra layer of flavor, but also made the taste of the coconut-based dish more pronounced. The dark chocolate's intensity was also tamed by the caramelized sweetness of the grilled pork belly.

This savory treat is just one of the six chocolate food pairings—for Buongiorno! (Brunch), Tavola Con Amici (Lunch), Dolce Merenda (Afternoon Snack), L'Ora dell'Aperitivo (Pre-Dinner Bites), Cena Raffinata (Dinner), La Notte è Giovane (Late-Night Cocktail)—that demonstrated Venchi chocolates' versatility, proving that they can be enjoyed any time of the day—from early bites to late-night indulgences.

Venchi's Chocoviar 75%, incidentally, is a flagship product created by Venchi co-founder and brand ambassador Giovanni Battista (GB) Mantelli.