Groton - Mini chocolate tacos, chocolate chicken chowder and chocolate-dipped dates were just a few of the offerings on hand at the Art of Chocolate event at the Mystic Marriott Sunday.

"The chocolate-covered bacon is delicious," said City of Groton Mayor Marian K. Galbraith.

Fairview Retirement Community in Groton hosted the event, which attracted between 400 and 500 people.

"I'm overwhelmed by the amazing amount of support that we've received today," said Tricia Cunningham, director of development and community relations for Fairview.

Sixteen businesses showcased their chocolate-making skills. There were even non-chocolate items for attendees to enjoy like foie gras and various dips.

"Everything's been pretty good. There were these little chocolate cheesecakes, which were delicious," said Rebekah Pryor, of Norwich, who came to the event with her sister Shoshanna, of Manchester.

"The jams were also really good," Shoshanna said. "They seemed to give out a pretty large tasting portion."

Proceeds from the event go toward the Guided Journeys Memory Care Program at Fairview and the retirement community's unrestricted annual fund.

"It's a unit that was designed for those who have cognitive impairments, different forms of dementia, and who have skilled nursing needs as well," said Fairview CEO James Rosenman.

"However much we raise we're just really appreciative of everyone coming out and being supportive and having a lot of really, really, really good food," Rosenman said. "Every little amount makes a very big difference because we really are investing a portion of those funds back to the memory care unit and that directly impacts the resident's quality of life."

The event also featured live music, hand massages, a braid bar and a lipstick station courtesy of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon, and "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" was streaming on a television throughout the afternoon.

"It was a really, really phenomenal event. The team did a great job," Rosenman said.

Businesses received awards for various categories. The winner of the People's Choice Award went to You Take The Cake. Extra Virgin Oil Store, based in Olde Mistick Village, won most savory use of chocolate for its chocolate chicken chowder, which was the winner of a chowder festival two years ago.

Chef Stephen Clemente said it is a classic chicken chowder "but we fold in our chocolate raspberry balsamic and cocoa powder into the soup, and then we finish it off with a chocolate balsamic glaze that the customer stirs through the soup. So it basically becomes like a chicken mole in soup form so it's really, really nice."

The result is a hot soup that is both sweet and savory.

"Not only are we supporting a great cause but we're obviously getting some recognition, and hopefully it drives more people to our business but to Mystic as a whole. A lot of people are from out of town here today so to show them that Mystic is this little foodie destination is pretty great," Clemente said.

j.bergman@theday.com

Twitter: JuliaSBergman