Tag Archives: bean-to-bar

Meet the Maker: Bertil Akesson of Akesson’s

Bertil Akesson of Akesson's Chocolate
Bertil Akesson is a household name within chocolate circles. If you’ve tasted a single-origin bar from Madagascar, especially from a US bean-to-bar chocolate maker, chances are good that it was made with Bertil’s beans. (Those in the biz call him Bert, but it seems an overly chummy name for such...

Meet the Maker: Hodie Rondeau of Xoxolat

Hodie Rondeau of Xoxolat
Vancouverites may know Xoxolat as the source for fine chocolate from around the world, but they might not know Hodie, the brain and heart of it all. I’ve had the honour of working with Hodie for the last few years. Where I’m spreadsheets and to-do lists, Hodie is creative vision...

The Case for Specialty Chocolate Shops
On Market Street in San Francisco’s financial district, a yellow sign outside Fog City News proclaims, “Yes really: 200 amazing chocolate bars to choose from!” Beneath it, a clipart finger points into the store. Follow it and you’ll find yourself in another world. “We’re like a wine store for chocolate....

Meet the Maker: Art Pollard of Amano Chocolate

Art Pollard of Amano Chocolate
I can’t imagine the American craft chocolate scene without Art Pollard, nor can I remember the first time I met him. All I know is, if there’s fine chocolate in the vicinity, Art is there. Art is a tinkerer, a rambling speaker, and was arguably the one to put American...