Chocolate lovers have advocate in St. Charles

There is no doubt that Karen Porter likes her chocolate. I found that out about 15 years ago when she alerted me to the fact a radio station called KISS-FM was going to conduct a Hershey Kisses parade that would be awarded to the community that could garner the best promotion.

Sue Klinkhamer was the St. Charles mayor at the time, and she promised some city support with a firetruck and police car in ushering the parade through the Timbers subdivision, where Porter lived.

I got the newspaper involved in such a way that the radio station couldn't resist, and presto - tons of Hershey Kisses were being tossed to tons of kids along the parade route on a beautiful summer day.

Porter, who is the scholarship coordinator at St. Charles North High School, recently dropped me a note to say she is back in the chocolate world, but not as a parade promoter. She's a Dove Chocolatier, the only one in the area at this time.

"I guess chocolate is in my blood because I am now a chocolatier," Porter said. "I come to your home and hold Dove Chocolate Tasting Parties, which are like an old-fashioned Tupperware party, but with lovely chocolate that you get to eat."

Porter rattled off the chocolate fare available for those at a gathering - chocolate martinis; cinnamon-dusted, chocolate-covered almonds; truffle fudge brownies; chocolate mousse; and chocolate fondue, just to name a few.

Porter is banking on the economic climate not affecting chocolate craves, noting that chocolate sales in the U.S. last year were more than $17 billion.

Porter asks the age-old question that will be a key to her future success - "And who doesn't love chocolate?"

Chocolate lovers can get the tasty details from Porter at (630) 584-6938.

That chocolate guy: Speaking of chocolate lovers, chef Alain Roby of Geneva certainly falls into that category. Roby has been mentioned a few times in this column for his record-breaking chocolate creations, but this past week he vaulted into the hottest sports market in Chicago.

Roby, a corporate chef for Hyatt, created a life-size chocolate sculpture of Chicago Blackhawks broadcaster and former player Eddie Olczyk and presented it to the team last Sunday at the United Center in recognition of its record-breaking season for victories.

For the foundation: The work continues in earnest for the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson's disease research.

Events and gestures of kindness continue for Ruby and his mission to aid research into a disease he is coping with daily.

Watch for future details about the Sub-5 Century bike ride challenge coming in September, as all proceeds from that event will go to the foundation.

And if you go to the Geneva Women in Business luncheon next Tuesday at Wildwood Restaurant to hear Lorrie Walters Marsiglio speak about marketing - and you purchase her guide book - she intends to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Paul Ruby Foundation.

Ruby, the general manager at the Herrington Inn, impresses you with his positive outlook and determination to keep Parkinson's research in the forefront. Help like this just increases his resolve.