My Story...thus far
My journey to good food began in my mother’s pickle jar, continued through the professional pastry kitchen and landed me in the factory of America’s first artisanal chocolate-maker, Scharffen Berger. Since then (2002), I have had the honor of a front-row seat to America’s bean-to-bar chocolate movement, as well as the recently minted American craft food movement.
Following Scharffen Berger’s acquisition by Hershey’s, in 2005 I signed on with America’s first chocolate café featuring the work of American craftspeople, Bittersweet Café, where I worked as the General Manager and Buyer, and eventually became a limited partner.
My passion gave me many opportunities to advocate for chocolate and artisanal foods. I was the founding chairman of the chocolate division in the Good Food Awards through 2015, additionally working also as an advisor on the first pickle committee. I also created the Chocolate Pavilion for Alice Water's seminal Slow Food Nation event in 2008. I have additionally worked as an instructor at the Food Craft Institute, in Oakland, California.
In November of 2016, I moved to the Detroit area and am looking forward to exploring the food scene of SE Michigan. How interesting the journey of the dear cacao bean, from the hands of the Olmec/Maya/Aztec and into Motown, must be!
Specialties
Chocolate Tastings
Healthy Eating Education
Chocolate Pairings
Confection and Pastry Production
Cafe Operations