And whether it was covering strawberries or rhubarb, sculpted into mechanical shapes or decorated with nuts and sprinkles, chocolate was the star of the second annual Indulge Chocolate and Coffee Expo on Saturday.

Nearly half the 29 stalls at the National Convention Centre had some take on the beloved confection, but it was Malcolm Ryan from Tasmania who had travelled the furthest to display his signature product, chocolate coated dry-frozen rhubarb.

After a childhood outside Burnie eating the tart red vegetable with everything from custard to stews, the former miner, plumber and alderman had the idea six years ago of combining it with chocolate, leading to an extensive effort to perfect the powdering and coating method.

Unsuccessful attempts by other chocolatiers to coat the treat led him to buy his own special Italian machine and do it himself, finally beginning to sell commercially as Rhuby Delights in May last year.

"No one else in the world has made this product before, and the most common reaction is 'wow'," Mr Ryan said.

"People today are like bees crowding a honeypot."

Mr Ryan said visiting Canberra this week felt like coming home, with Foodlovers in Belconnen and Deli Planet in Fyshwick among those to sign up to supply his wares.

Megan Bone, from Harrison, was a quick convert when she had her first taste.

"It was amazing, I absolutely loved it and that's my favourite thing here," she said.

Chocolate-covered waffles with marshmallow and caramel respectively also filled a sweet spot.

While there was a disappointing lack of chocolate samples for those who paid their $11 entry fee, eating options extended to pastries as well as the occasional gourmet meat product. The weather-defying Frugi also had a small stand with their popular ice-cream creations.

Gabrielle O'Reilly, from Waramanga, and three of her friends enjoyed some impressive scrolls, with flavours ranging from Nutella to fig and almond and her first choice, cookies and cream. She said they picked the store, Mr Scroll, with the longest queue.

"It's really good, worth the wait," she said.

Event director Steph Hodge said there was a single stallholder from Bathurst and one from Orange, with the others from Canberra and Queanbeyan expect for Mr Ryan.

"It has been amazing, we were smashed right from the word go again, and stallholders were very happy," she said.