Eclipse Chocolate founder and chocolatier Will Gustwiller has won a special "Guy’s Chocolate Games" episode of Guy’s Grocery Games that aired on Food Network on Sunday, February 12. The owner of the San Diego chocolate shop and bistro filmed the episode in Santa Rosa in November 2016.
In addition to Gustwiller, contestants included personal chef Steven Oliver of San Diego, corporate chef Lindsay Ontko, and Ricardo Trillos of Cao Chocolates in Miami. Judges included Iron Chef judge and cookbook author Domenica Catelli, television personality and San Diego Magazine food critic Troy Johnson, and pastry chef and Food Network Star finalist Damiano Carrara.
During the episode, contestants used chocolate to create sweet and savory dishes. The show’s first challenge had contestants making lunch using key ingredients of German chocolate cake - dark chocolate, coconut, pecans and maraschino cherries. Gustwiller answered with a cacao glazed pork tenderloin served alongside Chinese long beans with coconut and pecans.
The second challenge saw contestants playing a game of spreeball to determine their budgets for a decadent chocolate dessert. Gustwiller’s budget of $15.55 resulted in s’mores with frozen blackberries and spiced drinking chocolate.
During the third round, Gustwiller and remaining contestant Steven Oliver made a romantic chocolate dinner using a porterhouse steak and hot fudge. Gustwiller’s porterhouse with a cocoa balsamic sauce, cocoa nib pasta and asparagus won out over Oliver’s porterhouse with a hot fudge blackberry gastrique and haricot verts.
Gustwiller then used clues to find specific grocery store items like strawberries, white chocolate, mole, chocolate chip cookies and rosewater. Gustwiller nabbed the first four ingredients before time ran out and walked away with $16,000 in prize money.
"I want to be America’s first solar-powered, lunar themed chocolate company,”\" quipped Gustwiller during the episode, as he may decide to put the earnings toward a solar panel for Eclipse Chocolate.
Fans can also attend a special Guy’s Grocery Games Dinner and Viewing Party at Eclipse Chocolate this Saturday, February 18 at 5 or 8pm. This evening is priced at $40 per person and will feature multiple courses, each a recreation of Gustwiller’s recent television appearance. Additional details and reservations can be secured at 619.578.2984 and eventbrite.com/e/guys-grocery-games-dinner-viewing-party-tickets-31525007145.
