By Irene Muniz, News Correspondent

In the sweets heaven that was the New England Dessert Showcase, attendees had the opportunity to add some unique desserts to their list of favorites.
Anthem Entertainment, a Boston-based marketing and event agency, presented the first-ever Dessert Showcase Sunday at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel.
Exhibitors like Godiva and four-star restaurant Chart House came together to give away samples of their designer desserts, chocolates, ice cream and more.
‘It has gotten so much interest that we’re really excited to make it our annual event,’ said Emma Bisogno, an intern at Anthem Entertainment who was in charge of the event. ‘We did not expect so many people, so it was a huge success.’
Attendees enjoyed gourmet brownies, cupcakes, strawberries dipped in chocolate and’ chocolate molten cake with ice cream.
Although Bisogno described herself as a ‘vanilla person,’ she said her favorite dessert was the chocolate molten cake with ice cream on top.
But there was more at the showcase than just molten chocolate cake.
Two months ago, creators of Biga Breads Cafe 50 Terminal St. in Charlestown started a popular cupcake line which has been very successful, said Kathy Crosby, their spokesperson. She said 350 of their dark chocolate, vanilla and carrot cake cupcakes disappeared from the showcase display fast.
‘They’re not just pretty, but they taste really good too,’ she said.
Another exhibitor was The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant located in the Park Plaza Hotel off Arlington Street in Boston. Kirsten Fischer, director of marketing of The Melting Pot in Boston and Rhode Island, said the fondue can be with milk, dark or white chocolate and can even include caramel, pecan and peanut butter.
Godiva presented its limited edition fall truffles. The Pecan Pie, Cinnamon Pear and Black Raspberry truffles were the peoples’ favorites, according to the Godiva employees.
Nadine Zubenko, an attendee from New York City, said she expected more bitter flavors instead of so much chocolate.
‘There are a lot of classic chocolate desserts, but I was expecting something more unique. I would even call it a chocolate festival,’ Zubenko said.
Lisa Dahl, the owner of Simply Dahlicious, a custom catering service in Hopkinton, presented her cupcake extravaganza which featured carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, orange essence chocolate and vanilla.
‘All of the pastings [around the cupcakes] are hand-made by my daughter Samantha Dahl, and they are coordinated to whichever theme or event people are having,’ she said.
Simply Divine Brownies, which makes gourmet brownies, wedding favors and desserts in Freeport, Maine, demonstrated making its star-shaped brownies with 24-karat gold dust on top.
Bisogno said many college kids and culinary students attended the event. They even had a student from West Boylston’s Salter College exhibiting her cupcakes.
‘Since it had a great turnout, The New England Dessert Showcase will now be one of the major events [in Boston],’ Bisogno said.
Amy Rosenbaum, a senior English major at Tufts University, said she especially enjoyed the chocolate desserts.
‘All the cupcakes are really gorgeous-looking and I like eating them with my eyes. We have chocolate hangovers,’ she said, referring to herself and her friends.