Maybe somebody declared October Chocolate Month and hoped that we'd all just figure it out by the trail of cacao nibs and empty Chuao boxes. The LA Chocolate Salon is coming next weekend, and this month the newly-opened Rosa Mexicano at LA Live is hosting their LA Chocolate Festival, which began last night and runs until October 25th. The Chocolate Festival is an annual event at all Rosa Mexicano restaurants–there are nine total. The downtown restaurant, which opened in August, is the first Rosa Mexicano on the West Coast.

On this month's menu are dishes, both sweet and savory, laced with chocolate, like bistec asado with chocolate-tamarind sauce, and enchiladas de pollo with a mole Chichilo. For those interested in the preparation as well as the eating of such dishes, there's a cooking demo and lunch on Saturday, October 10th; there's also a 4-course cocoa-inspired dinner with cocktail pairings on October 14th. Reservations for both events are required. For more information about the Festival and the other events, call the restaurant or check the website. If your computer still works with all those chocolate smudges on the keyboard.

Rosa Mexicano: 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles; (213) 746-0001.

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