The making of gourmet chocolates is a finely guarded industry secret, but Charles Chocolates in Emeryville is willing to let the public in on at least part of the process.
Enter into the store and you are surrounded by product – and samples! Just inside the door were the Triple Chocolate Almonds and Hazelnuts, pictured above, that are made with organic nuts. A tasting plate on the counter held both Lemon and Orange Chocolate covered Marzipans and Chocolate Truffles. There was also a box of individually wrapped Chocolate Covered Oreos for tasting.
Unlike a chocolate maker that starts with raw cacao, Charles Chocolates is a chocolatier, which means that he purchases fine chocolate from a chocolate maker, and uses his own secret recipes to create his handmade gourmet pieces of edible art. The chocolates here are made in small batches using traditional chocolate making techniques.
The tour of the kitchen is a visual one. Next to the kitchen is a viewing area that has a room-length window with a counter running along it. Everyone on the tour is offered a seat, while the tour manager explains the process of making fine chocolate. Like all good production kitchens there is an order to the process that moves from the left of the kitchen to the right. The actual weighing and ingredient area is hidden from view on the left – that’s where the secrets are kept! But the rest of the process, from the cooking to the molding to the enrobing is open for viewing and the asking of questions.
During the tour we tasted pieces like Lychee Tea Truffle, Orange Marzipan Chocolate, and a Passionfruit Pate de Fruit. But my favorite of the day was one that was bought for the trip home – a Mojito Truffle that was so obviously made with organic fresh mint.
Charles Chocolates is owned and operated by chocolatier Chuck Siegal who has been has been a part of the San Francisco chocolate scene since 1987 when he started his first premium chocolate company, Attivo Confections, at the age of 25. He started out by redesigning some of our childhood favorites like Caramel Covered Apples and his S’mores that were made with his gourmet chocolate and homemade marshmallows.
Yum!
Tours happen twice daily at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
6529 Hollis Street (between 65th & 66th Streets)
T: 510.652.4412
T: 888.652.4412
store AT charleschocolates DOT com
Hours
Open daily 10 am – 6 pm
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Tags: berkeley, chocolate, east, emeryville, fun factory tour
