{"id":10846,"date":"2018-05-01T13:25:57","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T20:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/?p=10846"},"modified":"2024-11-30T17:16:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-01T01:16:10","slug":"chocolate-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/local-chocolate\/chocolate-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate community"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2018 International Chocolate Salon was a noisy, bustling scene at the San Francisco County Fair Building in SF\u2019s Golden Gate Park, March 11. A scene that signified to me that artisan chocolate in SFBA is a real community. The Salon has been an annual event for over 10 years now, a lot of the vendors are local and repeat exhibitors, and there is a real camaraderie among the chocolatiers themselves, the public, and the event staff.<\/p>\n

This year, local chocolatiers ranged from a new-to-the-Salon Swiss-trained chocolatier from Half Moon Bay to the woman who started the artisan chocolate scene<\/a> here back in the 1970\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Local artisan chocolate pioneer<\/h2>\n
\"Alice
Alice Medrich, local artisan chocolate legend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alice Medrich brought the recipe for chocolate truffles to SFBA from Paris in 1973. She made such an impression locally that she opened her own shop, Cocolat, in 1976. She was a successful pioneer in American artisan chocolate, proving its viability.<\/p>\n

She no longer sells chocolate, instead focusing on writing cookbooks, teaching classes, giving talks, and doing demonstrations. She was at the Salon discussing and signing her latest books, plus receiving an award as one of the leading SF Women in Chocolate.<\/p>\n

Other chocolatiers were able to create successful businesses here too due to her trailblazing, such as Joseph Schmidt, who in turn influenced today\u2019s generation of chocolatiers, like Basel\u00a0Bazlamit of Basel B Inc.<\/a>,<\/strong> who credits Joseph Schmidt as his mentor.<\/p>\n

Holiday bling<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Basel B, bling, and bunnies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We first met Basel 4 Salons ago when he blew us away with his ornately sculpted giant truffles. At this salon, he had his range of 85% dark truffles that look like brooches packed individually in black boxes that reinforce their jewelry look. In addition to the serious eye-candy truffles, he had square mini-truffles of the same flavors (which I prefer because I like the ratio of filling to shell more), plus holiday-themed chocolates.<\/p>\n

He had molded dogs filled with a \u201cless sweet\u201d matcha green tea & black sesame seed ganache for Chinese New Year. He also had Valentine hearts filled with black cherry ganache & roses flavored with lavender (huh?). And for Easter, he had big truffle bunnies. Almost everything was gluten- and dairy-free. And 7 of his truffle flavors are vegan.<\/p>\n

Fluffy ganache in a fluffy bunny<\/h3>\n

The bunnies came in 3 flavors \u2014 matcha green tea\/sesame, black cherry, and peanut butter \u2014 and 2 surface textures \u2014glossy and furry. The furry bunnies were certainly unique. Basel told us he used white chocolate to create the \u201cvelvet look\u201d of the bunnies. As someone who is drawn to clothes that just need ping pong ball eyes added to look like a Muppet, I had to buy a fluffy bunny. And if you know anything about my tastes, you know I got a peanut butter one.<\/p>\n

Like his big, ornate truffles, the bunny is too big to eat in one bite. And like the rest of the Basel B line, the bunny had a hard 85% shell, which shattered when I cut it open, so it\u2019s not really a piece you can nibble away at over time like a traditional Easter bunny. It\u2019s big enough to share, which is what we did, and that worked out just fine.<\/p>\n

While the shell was hard, the peanut butter ganache inside was super soft. It had a subtle peanut flavor, which was nice, but I would have preferred a denser, more peanut-buttery ganache.<\/p>\n

New to the show were Basel B\u2019s chocolate dipped orange twigs, which he candied himself using fresh organic oranges. They got good marks from us CBTB-ers with their soft chewy peels that balanced the chocolate with a strong, not bitter orange flavor. The twigs also come in lemon.<\/p>\n

You can buy Basel B Inc. chocolates at the Velvet Raven caf\u00e9<\/a> and at special events.<\/p>\n

Basel B Inc received 1 Gold and 2 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon.<\/p>\n

\"Basel
Basel B Candied Peels\u2019 packaging stood out; so did the peels themselves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Something\u2019s missing<\/h2>\n

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and there were a few people noticeably missing this year. Flying noir<\/strong><\/a> was a no-show, which was sad because Karen Urbanek wowed us with her Out-of-Country collection last year<\/a>, and we were anticipating something equally cool at this Salon.<\/p>\n

And when we arrived at CocoTutti\u2019s booth, there was no Elyce! We always look forward to catching up with\u00a0CocoTutti<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\"4-cup<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0founder and master chocolatier, but she was away at the 2-day Oregon Chocolate Festival<\/a> in Ashland, OR, along with a couple of our other favorite Salon vendors. Her husband and the rest of her team were very efficiently doling out a greatest hits collection: Whiskey, Raspberry, Ginger Caramel & Spicy Chili Peanut, Orange Florentine, and Strawberry.<\/p>\n

While we missed Elyce, her business didn\u2019t seem to suffer in her absence. CocoTutti was very popular; it seemed like they were having to constantly restock the sample plates. It\u2019s nice to know her chocolate is so wonderful, it sells itself; but I hope next year the festivals don\u2019t land on the same weekend, so we can find out what Elyce has been doing in the interim.<\/p>\n

CocoTutti is available online, at special events like the Salon, and at select stores. Check their website<\/a> for locations and events. Flying noir chocolates are also available online and at special events. Check their website<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n

CocoTutti received 2 Golds, 2 Silvers, and 4 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 2 Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

\"Raphio
Raphio Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Chocolate uses lemon-infused olive oil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Extended community<\/h2>\n

Fresno-based Raphio Chocolate<\/a><\/strong> stretches my definition of local, but they are worth it. And since they have made several appearances at the Chocolate Salons, they are definitely part of the community.<\/p>\n

This time they brought a couple of new flavored bars: Coffee and Meyer Lemon Olive Oil.\u00a0 The Meyer Lemon bar is similar to their award-winning Clementine Olive Oil bar, but brighter and fruitier than the Clementine. Yohanes Makmur, who is, I think, Raphio\u2019s official cheerleader (and husband to head chocolatier,\u00a0Elisia Otavi-Makmur), explained it as, \u201cThe lemon hits first, then the chocolate brings out the olive oil all the way to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

We loved this bar and shared it with a lot of people. It was popular, but a bit polarizing too \u2014 people who didn\u2019t like it really didn\u2019t like it and thought it left a bitter aftertaste. People who loved it, liked the slippery texture from the olive oil and the lingering lemon end-note. If you don\u2019t like citrus\/chocolate combos, steer clear of this one. If you do like a good orange chocolate, give this twist a try. Meyer lemons are sweeter than other lemons, so it really isn\u2019t bitter, and olive oil chocolates are just fun to experience.<\/p>\n

\"Raphio
Raphio Coffee Chocolate bar has a surprising crunchy texture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Traditional, nostalgic, & surprising<\/h3>\n

The other new bar, Coffee, was a real crowd-pleaser. If you like coffee \u2014 or coffee candies \u2014 I think you will love this bar. It\u2019s a strong-flavored bar; you really taste both the chocolate and the coffee. One person described it as \u201clike the coffee candies my Grandma has.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also has a nutty flavor with crunchy bits that give it a coffee toffee candy vibe. Everybody who tried it said they loved it. One person claimed, \u201cI was disappointed at first: \u2018Why can\u2019t they make up their minds?\u2019 But it\u2019s perfect. The perfect combo.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t even know what the crunchy bits are: Cacao nibs? Toffee? Really coarse coffee grounds? But I loved this bar. The tastes and textures go together well. If you know a coffee and chocolate lover, this would make an excellent gift.<\/p>\n

Raphio Chocolate recently opened a store in Fresno, but if that\u2019s too far to trek, Chocolate Covered<\/strong> carries their bars, as do some other local stores (check their website<\/a> for locations). Or order online.<\/p>\n

Raphio Chocolates received 2 Silvers and a Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a Gold, 3 Silvers, and 4 Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Aspirational chocolate<\/h2>\n
\"Michaels
Michael\u2019s Spring Assortment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After being thoroughly wowed at the last Salon by this new chocolatier<\/a>, we practically skipped over to Michael\u2019s Chocolates\u2019<\/a><\/strong> booth to see what amazing-ness awaited. We were not disappointed.<\/p>\n

Curtis Wallis, Michael Benner\u2019s husband and business partner, showed us the box of their early spring seasonal bonbons, which included the award-winning Lemon Burst and 2 new bonbons.<\/p>\n

The first one we tried, Chai, was a gorgeous deep purple splotched with bright yellow drips. It\u2019s a 61% dark shell surrounding a ganache flavored with chai from local tea merchant, Samovar<\/a>. It\u2019s a very tasty blend, with different notes of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and pepper popping up as it melts in your mouth. It made me think all chai should have chocolate in it.<\/p>\n

Curtis told us the piece came about because their friend, Anamika Khanna, the owner of Kasa Indian Eatery<\/a>,\u00a0 asked them to do a chai truffle. They picked the colors because in India, \u201cpurple is all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The piece was so new, it debuted at the Salon. Anamika hadn\u2019t even seen it yet, but Curtis assured us that after this salon, they would be taking her the new truffle. I hope she enjoyed it as much as we did.<\/p>\n

The other new piece, a half-green\/half-pink dome sounded intriguing: Pistachio Cardamom. It\u2019s another delicious bonbon with a bit of crunch and a hint of citrus and an end note of cardamom. Curtis said the reaction to this one has been amazing. And I heard someone say, \u201cI might like this better than the lemon,\u201d which is high praise if you\u2019ve tried the Lemon Burst.<\/p>\n

\"Michael
Michael Benner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Learn from a master<\/h3>\n

Curtis told us they have been busy since we saw them in the fall with special events and truffle-making classes, in addition to making chocolates. They do the truffle-making class at Olive This, Olive That<\/a>, in Noe Valley. It\u2019s a regular event, tied to the holidays, at which you make 6 truffles to take home. Check their website for more info.<\/p>\n

They are also excited about doing chocolate events. \u201cWe did the Sacramento Chocolate Salon,\u201d Curtis told us. \u201cIt was small, but it was great. We won awards \u2014 more golds than the Fall Salon, including Best in Show \u2014 and got really great feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the new flavors for spring at the Salon, Curtis said Michael was planning a late spring collection in time for Mother\u2019s Day, plus making salted caramels. At which point, Michael came over and told us, \u201cMy mother-in-law won\u2019t let me stop making them. She\u2019s my best customer.\u201d<\/p>\n

We congratulated Michael on winning the confection category in the 2018 Good Food Awards for the Lemon Burst bonbon on his first try. He told us he was surprised at how picky the judges were. They asked things like, \u201cIs your glucose non-GMO?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know. I had to check,\u201d Michael said. \u201cAnd it is. It\u2019s a French product.\u201d<\/p>\n

The experience set him on a new path. \u201cNow I\u2019ve switched to natural pigments using marigolds,\u201d which presents new challenges: \u201cEverything turns yellow gold when I spray it,\u201d not just the chocolate he intended to color.<\/p>\n

Things have been busy for Michael\u2019s Chocolates since last fall\u2019s Salon with production ramping up and new retail partners in SFBA. Michael also told us something surprising: They offer free delivery in SFBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I have it, I will bring it to you,\u201d he said. \u201cI got a last-minute request for a box of salted caramels. The person told me, \u2018If it helps, I am taking the red-eye to Philadelphia to give these to my mother. They are her favorite.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does she even know?\u201d Michael asked, since they are so new. Regardless, he got the box to the person because, \u201cI have a fan in Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s Chocolates are available in some local shops in SFBA. Check their website<\/a> for locations. And check their events page for chances to meet the maker as well as buy the bonbons.<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s Chocolates received 4 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 4 Golds, 2 Silvers, and 2 Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Aging well<\/h2>\n
\"Tombo
Tombo Bourbon Toffee: Get the big bag, it\u2019s nice to share<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tombo Toffee<\/strong>, another recent, but regular Salon vendor, has settled on a system, it seems, for these events. Three flavors of toffee in 2 sizes keeps it simple for sampling and deciding what to buy. I\u2019m sure it makes it easier on the production side too.<\/p>\n

This time it was Orange, Cayenne, and Bourbon toffees. We\u2019d tried the first 2 previously, but hadn\u2019t seen the Bourbon before. Lisa Grantham, Tombo\u2019s founder and candy maker, told us that the Bourbon isn\u2019t new but it\u2019s been getting more popular, so she decided to bring it to the Salon for the first time.<\/p>\n

As with all Tombo Toffee, there\u2019s a lot that goes into making this new-to-us toffee. Lisa explained just part of the process to us: \u201cI soak the almonds in bourbon for 72 hours, then roast and grind them.\u201d<\/p>\n

This marinade technique makes for a non-boozy flavor. The toffee has a good chocolate smell and a nice burn on the tongue, with just a subtle buzz. It doesn\u2019t scream bourbon, it\u2019s well balanced. All of us CBTB-ers loved it.<\/p>\n

Lisa told us she has recently started selling a select line of her toffees in Market Hall, in addition to other local markets. For the larger Tombo Toffee selection and other locations, visit their website.<\/p>\n

Tombo Toffee received a Gold Judges Award at the Salon, plus a\u00a0 Silver People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

Stop the presses<\/h2>\n

When we stopped by Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s Artisan Chocolates<\/a> \"4-cup<\/a><\/strong> this time, we noticed Joanna Whittingham was not in the booth. Her husband and fellow chocolatier, David, told us she had gone to the Chocolate Festival in Ashland with Elyce\u00a0 (CocoTutti) and Sam (Cowboy Toffee Co.), while the husbands were manning the booths at the SF Chocolate Salon. \u201cThe little chocolate community,\u201d he said, giving me a title for this article. Thx, David.<\/p>\n

My usual \u201cWhat\u2019s new?\u201d opening got a typical answer at first. David told us they have a Rocky Road candy, in both dark and milk chocolates. We tried it and found that it is not your typical Rocky Road: In addition to the expected marshmallows, chocolate and nuts, there were also freeze-dried raspberries and some kind of jellied fruit. It\u2019s fun, with unexpected flavors and textures, but the dark chocolate was too hard. I\u2019d recommend the milk chocolate version.<\/p>\n

\"Ferawyn
Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s Spring Assortment featured Irish Coffee and a vegan Merlot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the bonbons, David was featuring their Irish Coffee chocolate. \u201cIt\u2019s a milk chocolate that we add dark chocolate to the shells; so a dark milk,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd not an overly strong coffee flavor \u2014 I\u2019m not a coffee drinker, and I like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

I am a coffee drinker, but I liked it too. It\u2019s smooth: coffee flavored enough while not overly buzzy from the whiskey. It\u2019s popular too: David told us it had just won Best Bonbon<\/a> in Ashland that same day.<\/p>\n

Suddenly Southern<\/h3>\n

But the real news at their booth was that they had just moved to North Carolina. David explained:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bay Area is really busy and expensive. It took me a minimum 3 hours driving to work and back \u2014 and that\u2019s starting at 6am. Now my commute is 10 seconds. I get up, walk upstairs, and work remotely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like the small town feel [of where we moved]. We plan to open a shop. We want to buy an older home and convert it \u2014 like a tea house: live upstairs, make chocolate in the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHolly Springs [near the Research Triangle in NC] has an area where we want to buy \u2014 convincing someone to sell, that\u2019s the problem. Nobody wants to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want a space where we can build a kitchen. When we have a space, Johanna\u2019s going to stop working and do chocolate full-time. She will have time to do wholesale, and we will find local retailers.\u201d<\/p>\n

David said they hope to keep coming back to West Coast to do shows, and until they get their own space set up, \u201cWe are renting a kitchen as needed. We did it at Christmas for our corporate accounts. And we just spent a week heads-down in our old space making chocolate for today.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SFBA\u2019s high cost of living has squeezed another chocolatier out. I hope North Carolina welcomes Joanna & David with the enthusiasm we have always felt for them and their wonderful chocolate. We are sorry to see them leave, but we hope they do keep coming back and sharing their chocolate and adventures with us.<\/p>\n

Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s Artisan Chocolates are available online<\/a> and at special events. Check their website for the latest info.<\/p>\n

Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s Artisan Chocolates received 2 Silvers and 3 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a\u00a0 Silver People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

\"Endorfin
Endorfin Caramelized Coconut Mylk Chocolate bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Endorfin\u2019s endorphins<\/h2>\n

After that bit of sad news, we needed something to cheer us up. Luckily, we were in the middle of a sea of chocolate at the Salon, so we didn\u2019t have to search far: We were cheered up at the next booth we visited by Brian Wallace and his Endorfin Foods.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Brian told us that they have new cacao sources in Columbia and Ecuador, which he said better match with Endorfin\u2019s flavored chocolates. I tasted the new Columbian bar, Coconut Dream, and I think Brian is right. This is the best Endorphin bar yet \u2014 it\u2019s the closest to what I expect a chocolate bar to taste like.<\/p>\n

Endorfin chocolate is unroasted, so it\u2019s always going to taste different from traditional chocolate. Different isn\u2019t bad, and by minimally processing the cacao, Endorfin is preserving more of its health benefits. But I prefer the deeper flavor roasting gives chocolate and the harder snap a traditional bar has, so I\u2019m not going to choose the \u201chealthy\u201d bar first with its more raw taste and soft-yet-grainy texture.<\/p>\n

The Coconut Dream bar could tempt me though. Brian explained the difference is not only the new chocolate, \u201cWe toasted the chips, caramelizing the coconut.\u201d<\/p>\n

The caramelizing makes the bar sweeter, which I think makes the bar taste more traditional. The caramelizing also disguises the coconut origin. If you didn\u2019t know it had coconut in it, you probably couldn\u2019t tell it was coconut.<\/p>\n

The new cacao is better too. It\u2019s extra tangy, and tastes like a dark chocolate, but it\u2019s not bitter.<\/p>\n

Supporting local business… eventually<\/h3>\n

The other good news Brian told us was that they are in Berkeley now and have a new retailer:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got our own spot right next to Berkeley Bowl West, and they are carrying our bars \u2014 finally. It only took 4 years,\u201d he half-joked. \u201cWe are the most local chocolate company to their store \u2014 2 blocks from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s turned out just fine. \u201cThey are selling a lot of chocolate, and we are doing a lot of tastings there,\u201d Brian explained.<\/p>\n

In addition to Berkley Bowl West, you can purchase Endorfin bars at other locations across the country. Check their website<\/a> for current locations. You can also ppurchase Endorfin chocolate online, including monthly subscriptions, which include limited edition chocolates you can\u2019t buy otherwise.<\/p>\n

Endorfin Foods received 2 Silvers and 2 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a Silver and 3 Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

\"Garth
Dan McGinnis, AKA Cowboy Toffee\u2019s Lone Ranger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lone Cowboy<\/h2>\n

Another husband handling chocolate-selling duties solo at the Salon was Dan McGinnis of Cowboy Toffee Company.<\/a><\/strong> If you know Dan at all, you know he\u2019s pretty witty, so this made for plenty of jokes riffing on the lonesome cowboy\/Lone Ranger line.<\/p>\n

Even though he was pretty funny, we still missed Samantha, who was in Ashland with the other wives for the competing Chocolate Festival It seemed especially disappointing because the new flavor Cowboy Toffee introduced at the Salon is called \u201cMissus Boss,\u201d which Dan told us was made to celebrate the Women in Chocolate awards at the Salon, and was a toffee that\u2019s all Sam.<\/p>\n

\"Missus
The pretty Missus Boss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Showing us who\u2019s boss<\/h3>\n

Dan told us that this limited-edition toffee is flavored with Lady Grey tea for when Sam stayed in Australia for a year. Combined with the Tahitian vanilla, the toffee tastes like a Dreamsicle, he said, and \u201cthe cornflower is for your enjoyment, it doesn\u2019t add flavor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agreed, the blue petals didn\u2019t add their own flavor, but they did show taste: They were very pretty strewn across the white chocolate layer.<\/p>\n

I know I always say I don\u2019t like white chocolate, and lately it seems like it\u2019s always in the context of something I like that includes white chocolate. Same case here. Missus Boss is a very tasty toffee. The Lady Grey tea (with an extra shot of bergamot oil) gives it a subtle citrus flavor that pairs well with the strong Tahitian vanilla. The white chocolate and the toffee add a buttery flavor, there\u2019s nothing extraneous here and it\u2019s all just enough.<\/p>\n

Well done, Sam.<\/p>\n

One more thing: The toffee texture was unique. Not hard, not chewy, not soft; I guess I would call it crystal-y, kind of like spun sugar was added in. As toffee has become a bigger part of the Salon each time, it\u2019s interesting how everybody seems to have a different take on how long to cook sugar\/butter combo.<\/p>\n

Cowboy Toffee is available online and at special events. Check their website<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n

Cowboy Toffee Company received 2 Silver Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 2 Gold and a Silver People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Sunshine on a rainy day<\/h2>\n

When we visited Rainy Day Chocolate,<\/strong><\/a> Jennifer had laryngitis, so her husband, Chris, was making his first appearance at a Salon and doing most of the talking. He told us that April would mark one year of marriage, and they\u2019d been working together in chocolate for 3 years. More proof that chocolate builds community, and did you notice how many of these local businesses are husband-and-wife ventures?<\/p>\n

\"Rainy
Rainy Day Toffee will brighten your day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with their truffles and bars (I recommend the award-winning 69% Dark Belgian + Cacao Nibs Bar), they debuted 2 toffees at the Salon, which Chris seemed as proud of as their marriage. One was a pretty traditional English toffee. The other a milk chocolate toffee with what seemed at first minor ingredient changes, but a totally different experience.<\/p>\n

We tried the Milk Chocolate Macadamia Nut & Toasted Coconut Toffee first and loved it. Rainy Day toffees are chewy \u2014 I like how everyone doing toffee seems to have their own texture. I know a lot of people worry about chewy toffees vs. their dental work, but this toffee is satisfyingly chewy, so if you\u2019re brave, this one is worth a try.<\/p>\n

We liked the toasted coconut, and overall it has a nice range of flavors that keeps it interesting the whole way through. We think it\u2019s the best thing they\u2019ve done so far, with one of my tasters declaring, \u201cI would seek that one out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dark Chocolate & Salted Almonds\u00a0 was more classic, but smokey and chewy. I liked it, but not as much as the milk chocolate toffee.<\/p>\n

Rainy Day chocolate is available online<\/a>, at events, and in some markets and caf\u00e9s in the North Bay. Check their website for locations.<\/p>\n

Rainy Day Chocolate received a Silver and 2 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a\u00a0 Bronze People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

\"Cacoco
Cacoco Golden Dark changed my mind about maca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cuckoo for Cacoco<\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t drink a lot of hot chocolate. Traditional European style chocolate drinks are so rich that they are a definite once-in-a-while treat for me. But Cacoco<\/a><\/strong> has been slowly changing my drinking habits.<\/p>\n

It started with their Firewalker drinking chocolate, which has a mild burn that soothes my throat when I have a cough. It\u2019s one of my go-to treatments now when I have a cold.<\/p>\n

And after this latest Salon, I have another favorite. It\u2019s not new, but I\u2019m wondering if it\u2019s been tweaked because I didn\u2019t care for it before, but this time I practically craved it.<\/p>\n

The 65% Golden Dark, AKA Global Warrior, has an herbal\/spice blend of tumeric, maca, and cardamom. To me, maca usually tastes too earthy and ruins the taste of good chocolate. But it\u2019s supposed to be good for improving your energy and endurance, so maybe this is a case of food as medicine and I need an energy boost, so suddenly I like it.<\/p>\n

\"Cacoco
Rob hands out samples of the oh-so-refreshing mint Cacoco drinking chocolate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whatever the case, I now pronounce Golden Dark as good. The blend tricks my mouth to say it tastes vaguely minty \u2014 because what part of\u00a0tumeric, maca, and cardamom tastes like mint? But I stand by that description now. It also ends with a distinctly cardamom aftertaste, which I enjoy.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s surprising<\/h3>\n

Another nice drinking chocolate to try, is the new one Cacoco\u2019s Rob Blume was sampling at the Salon: 75% Mint Dark Chocolate. This is not your traditional mint chocolate; instead it\u2019s flavored with spearmint essential oils.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ve had spearmint in chocolate before, and it was a bit of a shock. This is a dark chocolate, but the spearmint is strong. Rob recommended putting your own fresh mint on top and serving it cold, which sounds like a nice summer drink. I\u2019m looking forward to trying it that way when temperatures are higher than the drink\u2019s cacao percentage.<\/p>\n

You can order Cacoco products online<\/a> or find them locally in grocery & specialty food stores, like Farm Fresh to You, Rainbow Grocery and Real Food Company. Check their website for locations \u2014 including some across the country.<\/p>\n

Cacoco received a Silver and a Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 2 Bronze People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

\"Kindred
Kindred Cooks\u2019 Jeri Vasquez, her caramels, and latest award<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kindred candy<\/h2>\n

We always like to stop by the booth of Salon veteran and local candymaker,\u00a0Kindred Cooks Caramels<\/a>, <\/strong>to catch up with its founder, Jeri Vasquez, and try something new and non-chocolate. Let\u2019s call it a palate refresher.<\/p>\n

Jeri told us they had just won a top award again at the Bacon & Beer Classic for their Spicy Bacon Caramels, which is pretty special when you think of how many treats are bacon flavored these days. Of course, if you\u2019ve tried these caramels yourself, you know it\u2019s well deserved.<\/p>\n

Kindred Cooks make soft caramels in a wide range of flavors, and they are always coming up with new ones. This time it was Lavender and Meyer Lemon. Jeri said that her challenge in making new flavors is not so much coming up with new ideas but, \u201cI still want it to taste like caramel.\u201d<\/p>\n

This new one succeeds in that respect, and also in being a wonderful addition to her line. It\u2019s a bright, smooth, lemon-y caramel with lemon taste building as the caramel dissolves in your mouth. It\u2019s also not particularly floral tasting, which would be a turn-off to me. Instead the lavender is very quiet, slightly tempering the lemon, but not pronounced tasting in any way. We love it.<\/p>\n

Kindred Cooks Caramels are available online<\/a> and in some SFBA locations like Draeger\u2019s<\/a>. They are often at special events like the Chocolate Salons.<\/p>\n

Kindred Cooks Caramels received a Gold and a Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a\u00a0 Bronze People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

Channeling childhood<\/h2>\n

Second-time Salon vendor, fudge-maker Z. Cioccolato<\/a><\/strong> had some new flavors to sample, which gave us a chance to talk with owner Mike Zwiefelhofer and get to know him and his business a little better.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Z. Cioccolato\u2019s fudge comes in a wide variety of flavors. If you need help choosing, I recommend looking for the ones featuring peanuts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last time we were introduced to the elaborate 7-layer peanut butter pie fudge<\/a>. This time, he had some cheesecake flavors and a childhood throwback he wanted us to try.<\/p>\n

Mike uses a vanilla fudge as the base for the cheesecake fudges. The Raspberry Cheesecake Fudge had a strong raspberry flavor but zero chocolate, so it\u2019s a no for me. I prefer chocolate in my fudge.\u00a0Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Fudge had some\u00a0added chocolate, but not enough to sway me.<\/p>\n

Mike told us he\u2019s always thinking of new creative flavors and likes to challenge ideas of what fudge can be. I like that attitude; it can make for some happy discoveries, like the\u00a0Snickers fudge that was the other new flavor he had at the Salon.<\/p>\n

He added peanuts and caramel to milk chocolate fudge to make this new flavor, and it\u2019s a winner. It smells like a Snickers bar, and tastes even more peanut-y than a Snickers bar. We liked it a lot. It\u2019d a good fudge; the caramel and roasted peanuts give it more substance\u00a0than the other fudge. As one of my tasters said, \u201cChasing after a model helps. Trying to be Snickers sets the bar higher.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talking shop<\/h3>\n

We also talked with Mike about the whole Salon experience, and he told us, \u201cIt\u2019s good exposure, plus a chance to make some money. It\u2019s a\u00a0win-win for us, because one sample sells it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike contrasted that with the other ways they market their fudge. He said they get get hit up for charities a lot, which is exposure but not direct sales. And they have the store in North Beach, which requires \u201cStaffing, retail hours, advertising \u2014 it\u2019s a whole different beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

He plans on keeping the store, even though they also sell online, because of the shopping experience. Z. Cioccolato is 15 years old with a storefront in an expensive part of town. Mike bought it 3 years ago and thinks the timing was right. \u201cPeople are leaning toward experiences, instead of just buying things, which is what we try to do ourselves. We provide lots of sampling and make sure it smells good in the store.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t do that online,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cPlus online is a race to the bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can buy Z. Cioccolato fudge at their store (474 Columbus Ave, SF), online<\/a>, and at special events.<\/p>\n

Z. Cioccolato received a Silver and 2 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a Bronze People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n

\"Socola
Socola Sisters and their well-stocked booth \u2014 unless you wanted a matcha green tea bar; those sold out in a couple of hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Family reunion<\/h2>\n

At the\u00a0Socola Chocolatier<\/a><\/strong>\"3-5\u00a0booth, we spotted a familiar face that\u2019s been MIA for a few years: Wendy Lieu\u2019s sister and Socola co-founder,\u00a0Susan, was at the Salon!<\/p>\n

She told us she lives in Seattle now, working as a senior management consultant and a performance artist doing stand-up. If you know anything about her,<\/a> you know this makes perfect sense.<\/p>\n

In addition to the surprise of Susan manning the booth again, Socola also had a new flavor: dehydrated blood orange with lapsang souchong tea, but that\u2019s a smoky tea that I don\u2019t like, so I passed.<\/p>\n

Wendy Lieu told us about the new Walter White chocolate (wait, what?!) and how the flavor came about. \u00a0When they did a Kickstarter campaign for their store, a backer donated a certain amount to get a chocolate made especially for himself. He picked blood orange and white pepper \u2014 and his name is Walter White (so not that Walter White<\/a>). Hence, the new Walter White flavor that debuted at the Salon. You can try it for yourself, but it\u2019s available at their store only.<\/p>\n

\"Socola
Socola Matcha Almond Dragees: maybe better than the crunchy matcha bar?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Killing it with the snacks<\/h3>\n

Socola had their full line of chocolates at the Salon: truffles, bars, confections, and some non-chocolate things too. Wendy said they were still offering 5 bars for $40, which is a good value, and you pick the bars you want (unless they\u2019ve run out of the Matcha Green Tea bar, grrr…). But this time around we decided to explore their confections, and OMG, what a find.<\/p>\n

We tried 3: Blind Dates, Salty Chewy Caramels, and Matcha Almond Dragees. We loved them all.<\/p>\n

The first reason we like these so much: They are not overly sweet. I tend to avoid confections because they are usually too sweet for me. I\u2019d rather stick to dark chocolate than risk getting nauseous from too much sugar. But I trust Wendy\u2019s recommendations \u2014 and her restraint in sweetening her recipes.<\/p>\n

Secondly, her combos are tasty, which is a given,\u00a0 but the experience is important too. For example, the Salty Chewy Caramel is a big enough piece to fill your mouth, just shy of overwhelming. It\u2019s like being a kid again, that kind of ecstatic candy experience, but short of gluttony. And in the middle of chewing this\u00a0nice dense \u2014 but not too dense \u2014 caramel, there are little pops of salt crystals, which add another, more adult dimension to the experience. About the salt, one of my tasters said, \u201cSalty is in the name, so I was worried it would be too salty. It\u2019s not at all!\u201d<\/p>\n

Another thing about Socola I like is that they often use more unusual ingredients and get it right. For example. the Blind Dates are chocolate-covered Medjool dates stuffed with almonds. Each not-too-sweet piece is a big, soft date with a crunchy nut inside, covered with dark chocolate. Really nice.<\/p>\n

After trying these, I\u2019m surprised that not every local chocolatier is making something like this: the dates and almonds are both California grown, and the combination with dark chocolate is delicious. You will have to come up with your own name though; Socola has already nailed it with the best funny name.<\/p>\n

\"Socola
Socola has the best non-edible goods for sale, like these Harriet-decorated Sox<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, these confections come in a simple-but-attractive, just-right gifty-sized package. Although in the case of the Matcha Almond Dragees, which we all found addictive with the pronounced matcha flavor and crunchy almond, the only problem we had is that the bag is too small. Our advice: Buy 2.<\/p>\n

Showing off<\/h3>\n

I also have to mention Socola\u2019s super-cute merchandise. I love wearing my Socola T-shirt, and it does get people asking (or telling) me about Socola.<\/p>\n

It seems to me that all the vendors with attractive logos (I\u2019m looking at you especially, Tombo Toffee) should consider this way of marketing and building brand loyalty. Yes, I do reuse the branded paper bags I get, but a cloth bag would last longer and look nicer.<\/p>\n

Socola\u2019s chocolates and candies are available\u00a0online, but for the full line including pastries, coffee and hot chocolate drinks, visit\u00a0Socola Chocolatier + Barista<\/a> on Folsom in SF. It\u2019s also where you can pick up non-edible Socola items, like their cute T-shirts, socks, and jewelry.<\/p>\n

Socola received 2 Silver Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a Gold and 3 Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Sweet!<\/h2>\n

The last booth we visited was new-to-the-Salon, Sweet55<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> We first encountered Sweet55 chocolates in a caramels competition last year<\/a> and loved their entry. So we were excited to see that they would be at the Salon and looked forward to meeting their maker and trying more of their offerings.<\/p>\n

\"Sweet
The impressive selection at the Sweet55 booth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Their booth was definitely eye catching with a big bold banner of their logo and the Swiss Alps, plus a large display of an impressive variety of chocolates in their distinctive black, white and red packaging. I wanted to try everything just on looks alone.<\/p>\n

They were sampling a couple of truffles: a coffee pecan caramel, which had a smooth caramel ganache with a crunchy pecan layer on the bottom, very nice; and a single-origin Ecuador 72% dark chocolate, which was equally nice. I was sold, and there was still a whole booth of treats to check out and the chocolatier to meet.<\/p>\n

Ursula Schnyder, Sweet55\u2019s founder and Chief Chocolate Officer is a Swiss-trained chocolatier who started in corporate gifts business 6 years ago and opened her shop in 2016. The shop is open Thursdays\u2013Sundays, and in addition to a wide range of chocolates and confections, they also sell Swiss coffee and tarts. (Ursula is also a graduate of the San Francisco Baking Institute<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\"Ursula
Ursula Schnyder, Sweet55 founder and chocolatier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sounds like a good excuse for a road trip. Sealing the deal is that while you can buy their chocolates online, you can\u2019t choose what\u2019s in the box. At the store, you can make your own box.<\/p>\n

After having tried a range of Sweet55 chocolates, I can say that personally, I don\u2019t care which ones are in the box; I liked\/loved everything I tried.<\/p>\n

Classy chocolate<\/h3>\n

She has a whole range of single origin truffles. They all have nice dense ganaches and distinct flavors. I liked the 74% Dominican best with its very raisin-y ganache.<\/p>\n

Her flavored ganaches are just as nice. They are mostly what I\u2019d call traditional European flavors, such as a crunchy hazelnut praline; a fruity Earl Grey praline that had that distinctive bergamot scent and aftertaste; whole hazelnuts in dark chocolate there were just yummy; and a gianduja & orange in a cute mountain mold, that in addition to the expected orange and Nutella flavors also had nice crunch.<\/p>\n

\"Sweet55
Sweet55 wafers in their stretch-limo packaging<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sweet55 also has some more American-sounding flavors, such as a milk chocolate ganache with vanilla & sea salt; and the California Republic, an Olive Oil truffle with Meyer Lemon and Rosemary that has a bright citrusy flavor and smooth texture from the oil, which Ursula told us used all California-sourced ingredients.<\/p>\n

Sweet55 truffle are uniformly good with dense ganaches in shells that are the perfect thickness. They are a real treat.<\/p>\n

But Sweet55 also have fruit pat\u00e9s (at the Salon they were blood orange, blackberry, raspberry, and pear), chocolate lollipops, mendiants, bars, and other treats, including an intriguing item in a stand-out box: Mini wafers with cacao nibs.<\/p>\n

A little goes a long way<\/h3>\n

The box has the same black\/white\/red Swiss-evoking design, but what makes it stand out is its shape: It\u2019s at least 15″ long and about 1-1\/2″ tall and wide. In talking about both the wafers and the packaging, Ursula said, \u201cIt\u2019s unique. Nobody makes it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

I agree, I\u2019ve never seen this type of packaging for chocolate before. It makes you so curious as to what\u2019s inside. Which in this case are these densely packed square wafers of chocolate.<\/p>\n

Ursula described the wafers as \u201cspecial; no one else is making them. They are hand-cut, in white, dark and milk with nibs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thin, little wafers (about 1″ square) are a nice treat \u2014 just a small shot of chocolate each, a variety of chocolate strengths, and lots to share. I found myself liking the white chocolate wafers because the nibs help cut the sweetness of the white chocolate. And the box makes a nice presentation.<\/p>\n

\"Sweet55
The Sweet55 \u201cNoblesse Oblige\u201d assortment includes a small chocolate replica of a Swiss Alp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI had the box made just for this,\u201d Ursula explained. \u201cI thought a long time about packaging. And I use the same box for caramels and wafers. The caramels get extra padding to bring them level with the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also uses the boxes for her corporate clients: \u201cI did custom molds for Google that spelled out \u2018Google Loves You\u2019 in the box. The long box can have 14 slots for messages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beating a path to her door<\/h3>\n

Because her corporate business includes a lot of clients in Silicon Valley, her Half Moon Bay location makes sense. She told us they moved there for the kitchen. But even people in Half Moon Bay were confused as to why she set up shop in such a remote place. \u201cPeople said, \u2018what are you doing here?\u2019 \u201d she told us. \u201cSix months later, they stop in, \u201coh, you\u2019re still here?\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to her corporate base and other loyal clientele, both online and in the area, she is doing fine there with no plans to leave. She has found, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter where we are. If they want the product, they will come; they will drive as long as it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Considering the reception Sweet55 got at the Salon, she has reason to be confident. She said it\u2019s been a \u201ccompletely overwhelming response,\u201d and she was selling out of items fast. She also racked up some solid recognition: Sweet55 received 2 Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 2 Gold and a Silver in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

You can buy Sweet55 online<\/a>, but a weekend road trip to Half Moon Bay to visit the store for pastries and coffee \u2014 and the ability to choose your chocolates \u2014 sounds like the best way to go.<\/p>\n

Welcome back<\/h2>\n

It was good to see that San Jose-based R & J Toffees<\/a><\/strong> returned to the Salon with their classic English toffee. Nothing new to show, but their toffee is still at the top of its form and a good choice if you are looking for traditional toffee. You can buy R&J Toffees online, at SFBA Whole Foods, and some specialty stores. Check their website<\/a> for locations.<\/p>\n

R & J Toffees received 2\u00a0 Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus a Gold and a Bronze in the People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

What does the outdoors taste like?<\/h2>\n
\"Into
Into the Forest: Most unusual chocolate at the Salon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While not a local chocolatier, I had to give a nod to La Chatelaine Chocolat Co<\/strong>.<\/a> for most unusual flavor at the Salon. The Montana-based chocolatier brought their Into The Forest truffle, described as a dark chocolate flavored with Douglas fir, topped with red pepper corn and a goji berry.<\/p>\n

While I feared it might taste reminiscent of those pine-shaped air fresheners, I didn\u2019t really get the pine flavor as much as the goji berry taste, which to me is a weird, medicinal flavor. But it was definitely buzzed about at the show and got the notice of the judges: La Chatelaine Chocolat Co. received a Gold, 4 Silvers and a Bronze Judges Awards at the Salon, plus 3 Bronze People\u2019s Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Women in Chocolate<\/h2>\n

New at the Salon this year was an acknowledgement awards ceremony for some of the hardest working artisans in the business: the women! Too bad some of those honored were out of town and couldn\u2019t attend. Luckily, we had David Whittingham of Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s Artisan Chocolates to accept awards for the trio in Ashland. He even let his hair down while accepting the awards, but stopped short of standing in for the official photo. Instead, those of us passing out awards to the San Francisco Women in Chocolate helped out by posing with our MIA awardees\u2019 certificates.<\/p>\n

\"Women
International Chocolate Salon Women in Chocolate awardees and stand-ins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congrats to the Chocolate Salon\u2019s Women in Chocolate:<\/h3>\n

CHOCOLATIERS AWARD<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Wendy Lieu, Socola Chocolatier<\/li>\n
  • Jeri Vasquez, Kindred Cooks Caramels<\/li>\n
  • Jessica Ferraro, Bar Cacao<\/li>\n
  • Elyce Zahn, CocoTutti Chocolates<\/li>\n
  • Mindy Fong, Jade Chocolates<\/li>\n
  • Karen Urbanek, Flying Noir<\/li>\n
  • Kathy Wiley, Poco Dolce<\/li>\n
  • Samantha McGinnis, Cowboy Toffee Co.<\/li>\n
  • Nancy Nadel, The Oakland Chocolate Company<\/li>\n
  • Bridget Labus, Sixth Course Artisan Confections<\/li>\n
  • Gianina Serrano, Sixth Course Artisan Confections<\/li>\n
  • Christine Doerr, NeoCocoa<\/li>\n
  • Joana Whittingham, Fera\u2019wyn\u2019s<\/li>\n
  • Alice Medrich, Author & Chocolate Entrepreneur<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Honorable Mention<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Lisa Grantham, Tombo Toffee<\/li>\n
    • Jennifer Daly, Rainy Day Chocolate<\/li>\n
    • Shannon Hughes Grochowski, La Chatelaine Chocolat Co.<\/li>\n
    • Karen Bryant, Fine Chocolate Industry Association<\/li>\n
    • Cindy Straub, 3D Candies<\/li>\n
    • Karla McNeil-Rueda, Cru Chocolate<\/li>\n
    • Brittany Maki, Starchild Chocolate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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