Ruth’s Resources
The Resource List
Places to Shop
Locally in Los Angeles
Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market
Online Retailers
Caputo’s Market and Deli A hand-selected collection of fine chocolate with free shipping.
Chocolate Covered in San Francisco. Jack Epstein has amassed one of largest collections of craft chocolate in the world.
Chocolate Maya in Santa Barbara. In addition to Maya’s delicious bon bons and confections, she has bundles of craft chocolate bars. These are curated by Maya herself, one of the best palates in the business.
Bar and Cocoa Another wonderful website where you can find an excellent curated selection of craft chocolate.
Make Mine Fine An online marketplace with chocolates from FCIA members. These chocolate makers and chocolatiers craft extraordinary products from premium chocolate and other natural ingredients from around the world.
Where to buy cacao beans and nibs
Get Smarter
Santa Monica Chocolate Society
Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA)
Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute (FCCI)
Heirloom Cacao Preservation (HCP)
Education
International Institute of Cacao and Chocolate Tasting
Community
Smarter Consumer
Visit my ethical Halloween candy page
In The News
Important current articles in the chocolate world
Supreme Court weighs child-slavery case against Nestlé USA, Cargill
Read + Listen
On My Shelf
Bean to Bar
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate. America’s Craft Chocolate Revolution by Megan Giller. The quintessential book about the emerging bean-to-bar craft movement.
Making Chocolate: From Bean to Bar to S'more: A Cookbook by Dandelion Chocolate. The first and best book on how to make bean-to-bar chocolate at home. Bonus: amazing recipes!
In the Kitchen
Chocolates and Confections: At Home with the Culinary Institute of America by Peter Greweling. Every aspiring chocolatier must have this book.
Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme and Dorie Greenspan. Two of the greats teach you everything about chocolate desserts.
Chocolate Obsession: Confections and Treats to Create and Savor by Michael Recchiuti and Fran Gage. When I first started making chocolate confections I practically wore out the pages of this book!
Couture Chocolate: A Masterclass in Chocolate by William Curley and Jose Lasheras. Beautiful. Will instantly advance your chocolate game.
History and Science
Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet by Carol Off
Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan. A YA novel that will appeal to adults as well. An account of modern day slavery in the Ivory Coast.
Bread, Wine, Chocolate by Simran Sethi
Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light by Mort Rosenblum
The Chocolate Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide by Chantal Coady
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao by Allen M. Young
The New Taste of Chocolate: A Cultural and Natural History of Cacao with Recipes by Maricel E. Presilla. Few people in the world know as much about chocolate as Maricel. This is her iconic book.
Raising the Bar: The Future of Fine Chocolate by Pamela Williams and Jim Eber. This book should be one of your first reads when you begin your chocolate journey.
The Science of Chocolate by S. T. Beckett. When you are ready to geek on the science of chocolate making.
The True History of Chocolate by Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe. In it’s third edition, this is a beautifully written book with great pics.
Podcasts
Ruth’s Favorite Chocolate
Top Picks
The world’s finest craft chocolate bars may cost more but higher prices support better beans, fair wages for farmers and transparent production practices. When in doubt, read the label. Check for very few ingredients and the maker’s story.
Couverture
Used by pastry chefs and chocolatiers for baking and confections, couverture chocolate is usually bought in bulk and contains more cocoa butter for smoother coating.
Tcho *
*Available at The Gourmandise School
Craft makers making couverture with no soy:
Buy Local
For my students in Los Angeles, here are the best craft chocolate makers and chocolatiers in Southern California.
Los Angeles
Bean-to-Bar Makers
Chocolatiers
Santa Barbara
Redlands
A Visit to Bahia
In 2019, I had the honor and joy of traveling to Brazil to present at a chocolate festival in Sâo Paulo. Following a week in the city I visited the beautiful region of Bahia and Vale Putomuju, the cacao farm of my dear friends Juliana and Tuta. Over ten days, we saw many farms in that area and I wanted to make a little film to give you a taste of this unforgettable experience.