TasteTV and the International Chocolate Salon have announced their list of 2018 winners for the title of “Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America.”
Founded in 2007 by TasteTV and TCB Cafe Publishing and Media, the International Chocolate Salon began awarding competitions focusing on various categories of chocolates and confections.
The designations are based on the combined total number of Gold and Silver Awards received by each entrant in the previous year's TasteTV Chocolate Salons in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Sacramento, and Fall (SF), as well as in the standalone Chocolate Salon Award competitions for Best Caramels, Toffees, Bars, Truffles, White Chocolate, Best Hot Cocoa and Drinking Chocolate, Vegan Chocolates, Spicy Chocolates, Top Design and Branding, and Best Bridal Chocolates.
The “Six Star Awards,” which bestow the title “Grand Master,” are the following:
- Amano Artisan Chocolate
- Chuao Chocolatier
- CocoTutti Chocolates
- CocoVaa Chocolatier
- Delysia Chocolatier
- EHChocolatier
- Flying Noir
- Seleuss
- The Chocolate Fetish
Recipients receiving the “Five Star” Awards with the title “Master Chocolatier” include:
- CaCoCo
- Cochu Chocolatier
- Cowboy Toffee
- Éclat Chocolate
- Endorfin Foods
- Ethereal Confections
- La Cascade du Chocolat
- Lagusta
- Marti Chocolatt
- Rosie Rae's Toffee
- Serena Lissy Chocolate
- Socola Chocolatier
- The Secret Chocolatier
- Ticket Chocolate
- Tombo Toffee
- William Dean Chocolates
- Zokoko
Participants receiving the “Four Star” awards or “Superior Chocolatier” title are listed below:
- Alter Eco
- Amella Caramels
- Basel B
- Bella Sophia Chocolates
- BLINK Azteca
- Chocolate Inspirations, Inc
- Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
- Co Couture
- Cocoa Republic Ltd
- Colleen Heidecker
- Creo Chocolate
- DAGOBA Organic Chocolate
- Dallas Caramel Co.
- David Bacco Chocolatier
- Firefly Chocolate
- Gem Chocolates
- Hu Products
- JARDI chocolates
- Laurie's Chocolates
- Marco Paolo Chocolates
- Michael's Chocolates
- Mignon Chocolate
- Mom Yvonne's Candy Co.
- Nuance Chocolate
- Rachel Dunn Chocolates / Michael Dunn
- Raphio Chocolate
- Romeo Chocolates
- Ruth's Toffee
- Solkiki
- SWEET55
- Tomo Toffee
- Truffles N Toffee
- Valdivian Chocolate
- Vivra Chocolate
- Xchocol'Art Gourmet Chocolate
- Zak's Chocolate
- Zazubean Organic Chocolates
Rounding out the awards listing are the “Three Star” or “Exceptional” chocolatiers, which include:
- 3D Candies
- Ava's Premium Toffee
- Cadence Chocolates
- Chip in a Bottle LLC
- Chocolat Madagascar
- ChocolaTas Vancouver
- Choquiero Chocolate
- Coover Caramels
- Coracao Chocolate
- Cru Chocolate
- Dandelion Chocolate
- Fera'wyn's Artisan Chocolates
- GerDan Chocolates
- Inspiration Chocolates
- Kindred Cooks Caramels
- Live A Lot
- Loving Earth - Raw Organic Chocolate
- Maribel Sweets Inc.
- Mel's Toffee
- Olive & Sinclair
- Quintessential Chocolates Co.
- R & J Toffees
- Rainy Day Chocolate
- Ritual Chocolate
- Sapore Della Vita LLC
- Shokolate Haven
- The Cocoa Exchange
- TinyB chocolate
- Truffles by Tiffany
- UliMana Chocolate
- Whetstone Chocolates
- Wild Sweets By Dominique & Cindy Duby
- Z. Cioccolato
