The Palms West Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 12th annual Taste of the West and Chocolate Lovers' Festival from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

More than 40 restaurants from the western communities will have the opportunity to showcase their food to the more than 1,500 people that are expected to attend.

A people's choice award will be given to whomever makes the best chocolate dessert. Also back again this year will be a pie-eating contest involving the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Students from the Florida Culinary Institute have also been invited back again to compete in a chocolate cake-decorating contest. Last year they created an original chocolate dessert.

New this year is a kid's cooking corner where a chef will help children make their own chocolate dessert. There will also be a "Science of Chocolate" booth from the Science Museum so children can learn about where chocolate comes from and how it's made.

The cakes, pies and ingredients for the kid's corner is being supplied by the recently opened Whole Foods Market.

"We're really looking forward to being involved. We heard its been growing every year and we wanted to sponsor a few of their events," said Whole Foods Community Specialist Lauren Belinsky.

"We also wanted to our new and current customers to taste our desserts that are made from our high quality, organic and natural ingredients."

Visit www.palmswest.com or call 561-791-6200 for more information.