Going to the secret chocolate party?

Wait -- you mean I wasn't the only person Andy Cordia invited to the Secret Chocolatier anniversary party?

Sorry, Andy. When you sent me that invitation, I didn't know I was supposed to pass it on.

OK, chocolate fans, before Friday runs out, make a note to run by the Secret Chocolatier Saturday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the first year of the sweet little shop at Providence Road and Sharon Amity.

They promise lots of free chocolate stuff.

Happy anniversary, you guys. You had me at "Sea Salt Chocolate Butter Toffee."

What are you doing New Year's?

I was flipping through the James Beard Foundation's December events guide when I spotted a familiar face: Tony Coturri, the maker of organic wines in California who's been a favorite at farm-to-fork dinners around here for several years.

Then I spotted another familiar face on the same page: Joe Bonaparte, at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Charlotte.

It turns out Bonaparte is leading a lineup of AI instructors (Walter Leible of Phoenix, Larry Maston of Dallas and Michael Nenes of Texas) to cook dinner at the James Beard House for New Year's Eve.

It isn't cheap: $200 for foundation members, $250 for nonmembers. But the menu is luxe, including foie gras, rabbit, lobster, caviar, scallops, pork belly and duck breast. What really amused me was the toast at midnight: Shelton Vineyards Blanc de Blanc with a truffle from the Secret Chocolatier here in Charlotte. Nice to see attention for local food makers.

If you're planning to be in New York and that's your kind of price and experience, go to www.jamesbeard.org for details and tickets.

Secret Chocolatier will be less secret

Fans of Bill Dietz' truffles at the Secret Chocolatier won't have to search for him just at local farmers' markets soon. Andy Cordia, Dietz' son-in-law, has announced that the family has signed a lease at Providence Plaza, at Providence and Sharon Amity, to open a retail shop this spring.

The plan is to be open in time for Easter and Passover.

Robin Cordia, Dietz' daughter and a co-owner of the business, says they won't drop their farmer's market booths.

"Our farmers market customers were a bit worried when they learned we were setting up shop, but why would we drop the markets? We love being a part of the spirit at Atherton Mills and Market, Matthews Farmers Market and the farmers market at Yorkmont."

When the shop is open, hours are expected to be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.