L
ove chocolate? Yep, me, too. Imagine having to choose the top ten best chocolate makers in the world. National Geographic recently featured a survey of the top ten bestchocolatiers. When I came across this list (below) during my research for my novel, The Chocolatier, which begins in the shadow of the Ghirardelli sign of San Francisco and continues in Italy, I knew I had to share it with you. This list is like a Willy Wonka checklist for adults. And if you want to check out my bestselling novel, visit my online shop here. It's also available from your favorite retailers here.
So, what's your favorite chocolate? Vosges Haut-Chocolat, Teuscher, or Valrhona? Or maybe you're a fan of Ghirardelli
from San Francisco or Godiva from France. Some of my readers have recommended Christophe Morel in Quebec, William Curley of London, and the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company, which offers vegan and organic chocolate. Or maybe you've discovered the rich, dark chocolate of Peru and Ecuador, where I visited cacao farms in the name of research.
One thing is for sure, these founders are probably among the best-loved entrepreneurs in the world.
Want to spread happiness? Want people to love you? Become a chocolate maker.
I've been lucky enough to have tasted eight of out the top ten, so I've added Norman Love Confectionsand Puccini Bombonito my list.What's a few more workouts anyway?
To me, chocolate is an important art form and ranks right up there with perfume and wine on my list of rich indulgences.
Artisan Chocolate Makers
If you're more interested in artisan chocolates, you might ask what's one of my all-time favorites?Chuao Chocolatier, which has its headquarters in Carlsbad, California. Chuao was recently voted the best chocolate in the U.S. for Food & Wine magazine. I visited with Chuao's Chef Michael while doing research for The Chocolatier, and he also contributed an astounding chocolate truffle recipe included in the book.
So, belly on up to thechocolatebar and check out thisNationalGeographic list for your favorites.
10 Best Chocolatiers
1.Teuscher(Zurich, Switzerland)
2.Vosges Haut-Chocolat(Chicago, Illinois, USA)
3.Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Inc.(Berkeley, California, USA)
4.Jacques Torres Chocolate(New York, New York, USA)
5.Norman Love Confections(Ft. Myers, Florida, USA)
6.Valrhona(France)
7.Godiva Chocolatier(Brussels, Belgium and worldwide)
8.Richard Donnelly Fine Chocolates(Santa Cruz, California, USA)
9.Richart(Paris, France)
10.Puccini Bomboni(Amsterdam, Netherlands)
While you're sampling these sweets, why not line up the chocolate boxes for a taste test while reading or listening to my novel, The Chocolatier. Chocolate, love, and secrets entwine in a saga that will whisk you away to the gorgeous Amalfi coastline of Italy and the mountains of Peru and Ecuador. Among my fondest memories is visiting a village where cacao is still roasted and ground by hand. I find that writing about places I've visited brings really to story to life.
For a magical chocolate story, stream one of my favorite movies, Chocolat, written by Joanne Harris, and escape to France. Fingers crossed The Chocolatier will also find its home on the screen someday.
From Valentine's Day to Mother's Day, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, chocolate is part of many celebrations and memory-making. It's part of our olfactory heritage and is a strong memory trigger. That's why I still buy chocolate oranges to this day–my mother and grandmother always did.
And don't forget, chocolate is now considered a healthy food. So if you're still yearning for chocolate, try this fabulous chocolate truffle recipe from Chuao Chocolatier.
