15 Drool-Worthy Chocolatiers to Follow on Instagram
Photos by Susanna Yoon and Erica HanWhat does Valentine’s Day mean to you? To many people it means love and kisses, bouquets of flowers, promises of never-ending affection or even jewelry (for those who know how to demand that kind of thing). But most of all, Valentines Day means chocolate. Chocolate simply never grows old or tired. It’s always beautiful and there’s always the fact that science says it’s good for you. Here are 15 chocolatiers whose Insta feeds will melt your heart. Consider this our Valentine’s Day gift to you.
1. @richiepratadaja
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If you never thought of chocolate as art before, it won’t take long for Richie Pratajada; of Fika NYC to convince you. This is world-class chocolate work at its finest.
2. @Chocolatmoderne
Personally, I love the fact that many of the best chocolatiers on the planet today happen to be women. Joan Coukos is the founder of Chocolat Moderne in NYC, and the chocolates she creates are classically elegant and incredibly delicious.
3. @hakanmartensson
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Håkan Mårtensson;, as you can surely see, is a Master Chocolatier. Originally from Sweden, and now at Fika USA, he’s also a gold medalist in the Culinary Olympics.
4. @gkchocolate
Mark Aumont is the chef responsible for Gabriel Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolates, a gem of a shop set right next to Gabriel Kreuther’s eponymous restaurant in midtown Manhattan. His chocolate work pushes the boundaries of the usual “we all look alike in this chocolate box” mentality too often seen in the world of fine chocolates, and the flavor of each piece is simply spectacular and often surprising.
5. @maggielouiseconfections
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Maggie Louise Confections; creatively combines pop culture and fashion with the world of boxed chocolates to create tiny art pieces that will delight anyone looking for either great chocolates or creative inspiration.
6. @wdchocolates
That these chocolates are made in small batches and without preservatives is only part of it. They’re also some of the most beautifully designed chocolates out there, and they can be ordered online.
7. @monde_du_chocolat
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Erica Han is the creative genius behind Toronto’s Monde du Chocolat;. Her designs clearly show a dedication to unstinting creativity and beauty. And isn’t that what love’s all about?
8. @kateweiserchocolate
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Kate Weiser’s; background as Executive Pastry Chef at Nobu shows in the chocolates she creates at her shop in Dallas in the form of stunningly beautiful designs and perfectly balanced flavor combinations.
9. @davidhchow
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In Toronto, David H. Chow; does chocolate his own way. His chocolates are clearly and recognizably “his own” in terms of design and flavor combinations. The only problem I have with David Chow is that he doesn’t have a shop in the States. Maybe he’ll think about opening one here in NYC? Pleease?
10. @taka.d.harada
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Yet another inspired chocolatier; at Fika NYC.
11. @chefsmartone
Though this Instagram feed isn’t entirely about chocolates, Salvatore Martone, Executive Pastry Chef at Joel Robuchon Las Vegas, has enough chocolates for me to add him to this list. All his work demonstrates such a startlingly high professional and technical level (as well as being gorgeous) that it’s jaw-droppingly awesome.
12. @susannayoon
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Susanna Yoon; left corporate life to work in the kitchens of Café Boulud. Her shop “Stick With Me Sweets” on Mott Street in NoLiTa is a treasure trove of handmade bonbons in always-changing flavors and colors. Each and every one of these delicious bonbons is a tiny love note written in chocolate.
13. @valrhonausa
Valrhona chocolate is used by pastry chefs and chocolatiers worldwide, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something made with Valrhona at many of the finer chocolate or pastry shops anywhere on the globe. In Brooklyn, Valrhona’s U.S. headquarters offers classes for both professionals and amateur lovers of chocolate.
14. @melissacoppel
Award-winning Melissa Coppel traveled from her home in Colombia to study and work all over the world before settling down in Las Vegas, where she creates some of the most swoon-worthy and interesting chocolates to be found anywhere.
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15. @goncharoff_1923
Japanese brand Goncharoff has been around since 1923, but it’s kept up with the times, as seen here in their just-too-adorable little chocolate animals. Could you actually eat one? (My answer is yes, but only after squeeing with joy for several minutes.)
Karen Resta is a writer, a food culturalist, and a sometimes-fashionista who mostly loves ice cream and Brooklyn.