Having a Pure Dark chocolate dessert buffet is sure to make your bridal shower memorable. You and your girlfriends will love indulging in these delectable treats.

1. Cover your table with brown craft paper and accent the table top with wooden serving bowls and platters with a natural arrangement that features small green plants, seasonal florals or fall leaves.

2. For a sweet change, try Pure Dark Ravioli created by Chef Josh Gomes.

3. Surround your entree with a tasting of Pure Dark Barks such as dark chocolate featuring a harvest of fruit and nut flavors like cherries, almonds and caramelized nibs (Classic) to mango, roasted macadamia nuts and caramelized nibs (Island) and crystallized ginger, roasted pecans and caramelized nibs (Fusion).

4. To enhance your favorite chocolate cake or brownie recipes, add caramelized nibs to the cake mix or icing to release a potent, natural chocolate flavor.

5. Brew two scoops of Pure Dark nibs with every pot of coffee for a rich mocha flavored beverage (and you can serve it on ice too!).

6. Place Pure Dark Cardamom Allspice for Raspberry Acai Rounds in the center of sugar cookies before baking.

7. And don't forget a lovely parting gift for your friends! Wrap chunks of Pure Dark in craft paper and tie with raffia or any nice ribbon.

For more great ideas and to purchase Pure Dark chocolate please visit www.PureDark.com.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate your bridal shower? Host a Pure Dark chocolate tasting party. Your girlfriends will love you for it! This fabulous company was created around the idea that chocolate should come from the earth and not be overly processed. Their rich recipe features a blend of the finest beans carefully chosen for their unique and intense flavor.

For your chocolate tasting party, provide up to one-half ounce per guest of each type of Pure Dark chocolate slabs. Try:

• Striking – Pure Dark chocolate (60%) simple and smooth
• Serious – Pure Dark chocolate (70%) with caramelized nibs and course sugar
• Stunning – Pure Dark chocolate (80%) with roasted and caramelized nibs

Cut the slabs into a variety of sizes so guests can either take a quick bite or snap apart a larger piece to get the real chocolate tasting experience.

To complement tasting, consider including a chocolate-themed activity. Rent the movie Chocolat or Julie and Julia, or conduct a book reading. Invite guests to read passages aloud from Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Light and Dark by Mort Rosenblum.

For more great ideas and to purchase Pure Dark chocolate please visit www.PureDark.com.

Check back later in the week for another great way to make your bridal shower choc-tastic!

Tea parties make for the perfect bridal shower

Andrea Correale, renowned event planner and founder of Elegant Affairs Caterers in New York, believes that an elegant tea party is the perfect way to celebrate your bridal shower without breaking the bank. Keep the meal simple by serving light dishes, like tea sandwiches and scones, with chilled herbal teas. Floral-print napkins, silver teaspoons and tiered serving pieces add a touch of romantic grandeur and can be found at thrift shops, antique stores, or even borrowed from your mother or grandmother. Your girlfriends will love your sophisticated celebration! For more of Andrea's tips visit www.ElegantAffairsCaterers.com.