In a San Francisco Chronicle February 2011 article on 100 trends shaping our West Coast lifestyle, artisan chocolates get a shout-out. Two local chocolatiers merited listing:
Au Coeur Des Chocolats (now Feve Artisan Chocolatiers), SF, for their air-brushed truffles (we love their S’mores kits), and Michael Mischer, Oakland, for his salted toffee single-origin bars.
We could’ve filled the list with all locals (starting with our recommended list), but since the article covers the West Coast, it includes chocolatiers in Seattle, Portland, Utah & Colorado. Most of them do not offer online sales, so they are truly local — just not SFBA-local. They all look worth a visit when you’re traveling.
UPDATE 2012: Au Coeur Des Chocolats closed, and its former owner, Shawn Williams, opened Feve Artisan Chocolatier, wholesale and online orders only.
UPDATE 2019: Feve Artisan Chocolatier now has a store in their factory kitchen.
UPDATE 2020: Shawn sold Feve Artisan Chocolatier.
UPDATE 2021: Michael Mischer retired. Michael’s Chocolates 
(different Michael) opened in the former Michael Mischer factory store.
