Fall 2012 looks to be a great time for hanging out in SF eating artisan chocolate.
Good time Charley
According to sf.eater.com, Charles Chocolates is emerging from the difficulties of last year that saw the entire operation — from online store to factory to Westfield Center shop — close. A new 7,600-sq. ft. space at 535 Florida St. will include a cafe and store in addition to the chocolate factory.
The plan is to start making chocolates in September and open the cafe/store in October. In addition to their previous offerings (remember those beautiful chocolate boxes?), they will debut a new line of “honey varietal ganaches” and bars. Choices at the cafe will include hot chocolate, both traditional and frozen, made-to-order s’mores and other chocolate-themed treats.
Maybe coolest of all, the factory will also be an incubator for other chocolatiers. As a self-taught chocolatier, CC’s owner, Chuck Siegel, appreciates the mentoring he received from people like Joseph Schmidt, so he will take on new chocolatiers each year and train them.
We wish Chuck and his crew much luck in their new endeavor.
Delicious experiments
Slated to open sooner than Charles Chocolates is Recchiutti’s Chocolate Lab at 801 22nd St. at Tennesee in SF’s Dogpatch neighborhood. More than a chocolate cafe, the space will also serve savories — like sandwiches, charcuterie and cheese plates — ice cream, pastries, coffee drinks, beer and wine. And true to its name, it will be a place for owner Michael Recchuitti to try out not only new chocolate creations, but also pastry and ice cream ideas that didn’t fit in at the flagship SF Ferry Building store.
Chocolate Lab should open in September. For more details and a nice interview with Michael and Jacky Recchiutti, the creative force driving the vision, visit indogpatch.blogspot.com and read the July 17, 2012 post.
Wait for it…
Yes, there’s more: Progress continues on Dandelion Chocolate’s chocolate factory and café at 740 Valencia St., SF. The last time one of us CBTB chocolateers passed by, they were putting up shelves. Could a Fall 2012 opening be far behind?
We heart chocolate
Finally, while there’s no physical space yet, we are happy to see that Shawn Williams, the chocolatier who formerly owned Au Coer des Chocolats, has a new online store: Feve Artisan Chocolatier, where you can purchase his chocolate bonbons and caramelized almonds.
We look forward to more chocolate developments from Shawn and his new Feve.
And we are very excited that SF continues to grow its chocolate industry with all these interesting sounding places to enjoy local chocolate.
