The competition, which was established six years ago, consisted of 12 professional chocolatiers from throughout Oregon who were judged on taste, creativity, presentation and professionalism.

Practical Gourmet's chocolate hazelnut harmony dessert won the “People’s Choice” and the “Judge’s Choice” awards.

“Those are the only two categories, and they have never had the same dessert and company take both awards,” said business owner Carrie Wong.

“It’s a really fun competition and, I think, each year the level of the competition increases. People are getting more creative each year.”

Practical Gourmet is a wholesale pastry and confectionary shop located in a 7,000-square-foot facility in Aurora that makes about 25 different types of cakes, six truffles, 12 molded chocolates, four non-chocolate confections and other dessert delicacies, including a variety of individual plated desserts such as cheesecakes, fruit tarts and chocolate mousse, Wong said. The 21287 Highway 99E-based company has five full-time employees.

Inspired by the movie “Chocolat,” Wong said she spent two months experimenting with tastes and flavors before developing delectable delicacies.

About three years after establishing the business, first in Salem and then in Aurora, Practical Gourmet is now an award-winning confectioner.

“As it is the first time in the history of the event that the same company won both awards, I am extremely proud of my staff,” Wong said.

One of the local company’s specialty chocolates is handmade European butter toffee with almonds dipped in dark chocolate, which is sold at Parsons Canby Pharmacy in Canby, Lamb’s Thriftway in Wilsonville and New Seasons Markets in Portland. Five of the company’s desserts — including a Madagascar vanilla creme brule — are also offered on the Jarboe’s Steak & Grill menu in Canby.

...Wong, whose late mother Wilma Swenson was a chef, said she has always loved to cook. She started her dessert business three-and-a-half-years ago in the Salem-Keizer area. With the fledgling business growing, she relocated the company to Aurora in November 2003.

“We needed more room,” she said. “Things have been going absolutely fabulous; it’s just been growing crazy. when you’ve got a crew with an incredible work ethic and good sense of humor, what more can you ask for?”

...After retiring from a high-tech sales and marketing job that involved a lot of travel and a fair amount of stress, Wong said she employed all of her business acumen and know-how to get Practical Gourmet to hit the ground running.

“I’ve learned first-hand that it doesn’t matter if you’re selling high-tech networks or white chocolate tiramisu, good marketing strategies and hard work pay off — no matter what the product line,” she said.

“I knew that Oregonians would love my culinary creations if they were given the opportunity to try them, so I created a business plan and hit the streets with my key lime pies and host of samples.

‘‘A few tastes later and a dream business was born.”

Some good local press and event publicity, including an article in the February 2004 issue of Inc. magazine, “helped to get the word out,” Wong said, and her client list now includes such establishments as the Benson Hotel in Portland, Morton’s Bistro in Salem and The Silver Grille in Silverton.

“I guess I could be considered a guerilla marketer, but I believe that small business success is not only based on what you deliver, but reliability and consistency,” she said.

“I am also proud to say that my products are made with the finest ingredients available. Although I import baking supplies from all over the world, Oregon fruits, nuts and local dairy products are essential to the success of my products.”

One of Practical Gourmet’s goals is to create desserts which compliment a restaurant’s menu each season.

In doing so, Wong said the business is always creating new varieties of desserts from quality ingredients, and the atmosphere in the shop is fun and exciting.

In its current Aurora location, Practical Gourmet has room to expand, and Wong said in the future she would like to include a “Chef’s Kitchen” to teach cooking classes to interested local people.

...In establishing Practical Gourmet, she said she received a lot of help from her family, including husband Ron, who has spent hours shredding chocolate for the delicacies.

Though Practical Gourmet’s primary business is catering to high-end restaurants and stores, Wong said they take special orders as long as they are called in ahead of time and picked up at the Aurora bakery.

“Being an Oregon dreamer, I plan to continue designing, creating and marketing superior Oregon pastry confections and chocolate creations, such as ‘Extreme Chocolates,’” Wong said.

“Plans are also in the works to share products of my Oregon dreams with those who aren’t fortunate enough to live here. But, if you do, stop in and taste a sample.