Southern Oregon chocolatiers are racking up more celebrity endorsements this weekend.
Guests at a Los Angeles filmmakers event honoring Matt Damon Saturday will receive goodie bags containing toffee, fudge and other chocolates from four local companies. Lillie Belle Farms of Central Point, Dagoba of Ashland, Cary’s of Grants Pass and Oregon Connection of Coos Bay were tapped by Southern Oregon Visitors Association to provide 1,000 pieces of confectionery between them.
Chocolatiers delivered on short notice to supply the 24th annual American Cinematheque Awards at the Beverly Hilton, says Sue Price, spokeswoman for SOVA, based in Medford. The event will be broadcast on ABC.
“Normally there is a fee to be in the gift bags,” Price says. “It’s not something you’re invited to do.”
Price credits contacts made in October 2008 when a delegation of international food and travel writers toured Southern Oregon and its culinary scene. Fewer than 12 companies from across the country will be represented in the goodie bags, distributed to 1,000 guests, including Hollywood A-listers, she says. Such exposure can catapult a product’s fame.
Lillie Belle chocolatier, Jeff Shepherd, made headlines fives years ago for providing Martha Stewart with enough lavender-fleur de sel caramels to compose her corporate Christmas gifts. We’ll see if Shepherd’s compatriots can bring home more accolades.
