The Saturday Morning Cartoons-themed chocolate bars will be distributed via online contests held July 13-17
Continuing its tradition of producing chocolate bars to celebrate the annual Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con) event, the San Diego Convention Center introduces a limited-edition 2020 chocolate bar to be shared with regional fans via social media contests. With a “Saturday Morning Cartoons” theme, the colorful treat features white chocolate, fruit-flavored cereal and freeze-dried raspberries. The bars are created in partnership with the Center’s food and beverage partner, Centerplate.
“As their annual hosts, we are glad to join the Comic-Con team in continuing traditions of this pop culture celebration, like our ‘Convention Con-fections,’” says Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, president and CEO of the SDCC. “Through the series of online contests, we hope to bring together our local community to share their special memories and experiences of Comic-Con in San Diego.”
The Saturday Morning Cartoons bars will be distributed to fans through a series of online contests held July 13-17 via the Center’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts; no chocolate bars will be available for sale. Contest details will be shared through the Center’s social media and website next week. The chocolate bar prizes must be picked up in-person at the SDCC on July 20 or 21.
Saturday Morning Cartoons Chocolate Bars
For the first time in its 50-year history (and since 1991 in San Diego), Comic-Con is not taking place in person this summer. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual event, Comic-Con@Home, will be held on the same dates as the canceled gathering, July 22-26. The 2020 chocolate bar theme connects to the watch-from-home experience.
Centerplate’s Senior Executive Sous Chef Sufi Karaien developed the concept. “I am a huge fan of white chocolate and, since it lends itself so well to vibrant coloring, I decided to use it as a catalyst for the bar,” Karaien says. “For the flavorings, Fruity Pebbles cereal was an immediate choice due to its color and its crunchy texture. Lastly, we added freeze-dried raspberries to give it the acidity that balances a sweet dish. All these elements combine to create a lively splash of colors on the candy bar and a nostalgic experience of the fun times that people have at Comic-Con each year.”
In 2019, the Centerplate team created more than 4,000 chocolate bars over four days, selling out every day of Comic-Con. The demand has increased over time, leading some attendees to buy dozens of bars to use as gifts and souvenirs.
“Each year, our chefs have fun developing new chocolate bar flavors for Comic-Con,” says Bobby Ramirez, Centerplate’s general manager. “They’ve used everything from Pop Rocks to chipotle dust to maple syrup marshmallows to make a fun sweet treat for guests. We couldn’t let a July in San Diego go by without continuing this popular tradition in some form. People get excited for them each and every year, and we do too.”
Comic-Con spokesperson David Glanzer says, “Every year we look forward to working with our friends at the San Diego Convention Center. It is no small feat that the staff and housekeeping manage to keep up with Comic-Con’s 135,000 attendees. Even though circumstances are preventing us from gathering this year, we’re grateful that this contest allows for us to connect, even if not in person.”
To learn more about Comic-Con@Home, see Comic-Con.org and follow along via social media at #ComicConAtHome. The 2021 Comic-Con International event is scheduled to take place at the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25, 2021. For a brief behind-the-scenes video of Pastry Chef Matthew Haven, click here.
The San Diego Convention Center is the region’s premier gathering place, hosting conventions, tradeshows and community events that economically benefit the City of San Diego and advance the region’s convention and tourism industry. The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is a public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego to exclusively manage, market and operate the 2.6 million sq. ft. waterfront facility. For more info, visit VisitSanDiego.com or connect via Twitter @sdconventionctr, Instagram @sdconventionctr or Facebook/sdconventioncenter.
Centerplate is a leader in live event hospitality, “Making It Better To Be There” for more than 115 million guests each year at more than 200 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues. From hosting VIPs at the Super Bowl to super heroes at Comic Con, the company provides hospitality services to North America’s premier events. A Sodexo company, Centerplate creates unique, locally-inspired menus, best-in-class guest service, and one-of-a-kind experiences backed by world-class design and insights teams. For more info, visit Centerplate.com or connect via Twitter @centerplate, Instagram @Centerplate_ or Facebook.com/centerplate.
