Comic-Con Debuts Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars at Convention Center

The San Diego Convention Center is set to delight attendees at Comic-Con International with the launch of limited-edition chocolate bars. A total of 7,500 handcrafted bars will be available for purchase during the four-day event, from July 24 to 27, 2024. In an exciting twist, four fortunate customers will discover a golden ticket hidden within their chocolate bar, granting them a $100 Starbucks gift card.

Before the event, the culinary team from Sodexo Live! collaborated to develop new flavors. Executive Chef Sufi Karaien and Pastry Chef Molly Pease crafted chocolate bars that incorporate a variety of unique ingredients, creating playful and whimsical desserts. This year’s offerings include one dark chocolate, one white chocolate, and two milk chocolate variants, improving upon previous years which featured overly sweet options.

Innovative Flavors and Creative Themes

The ingredients selected for the chocolate bars range from fortune cookies to potato chips and brownie brittle. After determining the flavors, a creative team comprising Hailey Adams, Grayson Van Loon, and Dylan James devised thematic concepts, complete with imaginative names and illustrations. Attendees will have the chance to experience flavors such as the “Flying Saucer,” which evokes an outer-space theme, and the “Home Run Bar,” inspired by Petco Park. Other offerings include “Saga of the S’mores” and “Pop Star Party,” each designed to resonate with the pop culture celebration that Comic-Con embodies.

The Times of San Diego newsroom conducted a taste test of the limited-edition bars, sharing their rankings and impressions. The “Flying Saucer” garnered praise for its blend of dark and milk chocolate, featuring coffee beans, toffee, and brownie brittle. Reviewers found this combination to be a perfect balance of flavors. The “Home Run Bar” was also well-received, particularly for its salty game-day snacks that complement the dark chocolate, with a mix of pretzels, pecans, and potato chips enhancing the experience.

The “Saga of the S’mores” brings a nostalgic childhood treat into chocolate form, combining toasted marshmallows and graham crackers with a hint of sea salt. For those who prefer non-chocolate options, the “Pop Star Party” offers a delightful white chocolate bar, dusted in pink glitter and featuring a creamy strawberry center surrounded by crunchy puffed rice and fortune cookie pieces.

Impact on the Local Economy

The limited-edition chocolate bars will be sold for $10 each at the Craft Chocolate Bar booth located in Lobby 20. City officials anticipate that Comic-Con will generate a significant economic impact, estimating that the event will bring in at least $160 million to the San Diego region over the weekend.

With the combination of unique flavors and the excitement of discovering hidden prizes, the chocolate bars are poised to be a sweet highlight of this year’s Comic-Con International.