Tastebuds ran wild during Safe Passage’s fifth annual Evening of Chocolate on Saturday.

The event, which benefits the organization’s work against domestic violence, featured unique chocolate dishes submitted by residents and local businesses.

Attendees were able to sample the dishes, which ranged from chocolate chili and Oreo cream cheesecake bites to cookie-dough truffles and chocolate banana bread.

“It’s every girl’s dream come true,” said Sycamore resident Brianna Kness. “It’s a great night to come out with your friends and eat chocolate for two hours.”

The highlight of the evening was the Chocolatier’s Challenge. People of all levels of cooking ability were invited to participate. The challenge consisted of two divisions: Community Chocolatiers and Youth Chocolatiers, which was open to high school ages or younger.

Kness, who also received second place last year for her peanut butter cups, won first place in the community Cakes category this year for her double-chocolate mint brownies.

“I actually made the same dish for my daughter’s second birthday this past spring,” Kness said. “And I tweaked it a little bit for this. I had remembered how good it was last spring.”

Fifteen judges awarded first-, second- and third-place plaques and ribbons to winners in three different categories. The categories were Cakes, Cookies/Brownies/Bars and Other Chocolate Desserts.

“They judge based on taste,” said Cynthia Folgate, community resource director for Safe Passage. “Basically, they judge on how any of us judge anything – on what they like the best.”

Among the judges were State Rep. Bob Pritchard, State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis, Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy, DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer and various other community leaders.

“We have a lot of people who have done this year after year,” Folgate said. “And they come, and they force themselves to eat chocolate.”

A People’s Choice Award was also given.

“That person wins what looks like a big chocolate chip,” Folgate said. “It’s hand-carved. They also get a large ribbon.”

Christina Ballano, an NIU senior corporate communications major and Safe Passage volunteer, has helped out with the event for two years.

“My favorite was a white- and dark-chocolate cookie,” Ballano said. “I also had the triple-chocolate cake. I took a bite of everything.”