7 Chocolatiers You Should Be Following on Instagram
Of course National Chocolate Day falls three days before Halloween — it would practically be an injustice for it land at any other time of year, especially for all the amazing chocolatiers around the world who are getting their treats ready. We've compiled a list of the seven best chocolatiers on Instagram — with amazing images to prove it. Chocolate-makers stay busy all year round, and this glimpse into their profession is a feast for the eyes. But be careful when scrolling through: You might want to indulge immediately, but be sure to save some room for chocolatey sweets on All Hallow's Eve.
1. @richiepratadaja
The chocolatier: Richie Budiharto Pratadaja's motto is "chocolate is the art I live" and based off his Instagram, I believe it. He works in New York City at FIKA NYC bakery as the sous chocolatier. Pratadaja was born in Indonesia and came to the US in 2004 to pursue a career in industrial design, but he said after watching Food Network for hours a day, he realized his dream was in the kitchen and attended Le Cordon Bleu's Baking and Pastry program.
Signature creation: His Instagram is filled with chocolate sculptures as well as ornately decorated bonbons. He's even recreated famous pieces of art and dips his hand in complex movements like surrealism.
2. @maggielouiseconfections
The chocolatier: Maggie Louise Callahan makes "chocolate with charisma," and one look at her Instagram proves why. It's filled with every color of the rainbow on beautifully made pieces of chocolate. Maggie didn't intend to become the creative chocolatier she is today. In her past life, she was a prestigious lawyer for several years before she felt a creative void and enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu where she began an empire of making chocolates that are as decadently designed as they are delicious.
Signature creation: Maggie transforms chocolate into art. She has reinvented the classic chocolate sampler box into colorful (and customizable) boxes of playful designs. She has a passion for creating elaborate sweets and loves sharing her talent at her storefront in Austin, TX.
3. @hakanmartensson
The chocolatier: Hakan Martensson's Instagram page proclaims: "Don't let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big." His chocolate creations indicate that he didn't let anyone get in his way as he is known for creating larger than life sculptures as well as busts of anyone from a scary clown to Yoda. Today, Hakan is the Master Chocolatier at NYC's FIKA; he previously worked at Sweden's top chocolate house and has won many awards for his work with chocolate.
Signature creation: At FIKA, Hakan has created a line of exclusive hand-rolled truffles, pralines and chocolate bars. His mission is to create an extraordinary experience and take you on a sweet journey. And as noted above, he creates out-of-this-world chocolate sculptures and busts.
4. @kateweiserchocolate
The chocolatier: Kate Weiser specializes in chocolate magic, according to her Instagram bio. Her passion for chocolate and all things sweet began as a kid and later, she attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and worked in several restaurants as a pastry chef until she moved to Dallas and opened her own storefront.
Signature creation: Kate's goal is to create new and unexpected ways to enjoy chocolate. Every piece she makes is a unique piece of art splashed with bright colors and unique designs.
5. @giorgiodemarini
The chocolatier: Giorgio Demarini is from Peru and has a chocolate storefront in his home country. Demarini attended the Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts in Vancouver and while in school, his mom helped him opened the shop. Focusing on making traditional fine chocolates, he's since landed on several top-10 lists for best chocolatiers in the world.
Signature creation: Giorgio studied graphic design before becoming a chocolatier. Once he turned to the culinary arts, though, he combined his two passions. His love for graphic design is evidenced on his unique chocolate creations. He makes traditional pieces of chocolate shine bright with his designs — every piece is made with precision and care.
6. @melissacoppel
The chocolatier: Melissa Coppel was born in Colombia and went to The French Pastry School in Chicago. Shortly after graduating, she worked in Las Vegas for hotels like Caesar's and The Bellagio where she only worked with chocolate. She has opened her own chocolate workshop in Las Vegas where she regularly leads workshops. In 2016, she was voted as one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.
Signature creation: When Melissa opened her store in Las Vegas, she pledged to use the same imagination and artisanship of those who taught her her craft. She also vowed to use techniques, flavors and compositions from everything she learned around the world. She is quoted as saying, "I admire French pastry, but I feel much more identified with the Spanish style."
7. @jacquestorres
The chocolatier: Jacques Torres, aka Mr. Chocolate, is known in the confectionary community as the authority on all things chocolate. Born in France, Jacques opened his first chocolate shop in America in 2000. Since then, he has become the artisan pioneer of chocolatiers around the globe.
Signature creation: Jacques prides himself on using premium ingredients and specializing in fresh, hand-crafted chocolates. He was the first artisan chocolatier to perfect the cocoa (bean) to bar technique to make his own chocolate, so you know every piece he makes is crafted with precision and care. He now owns eight storefronts in Manhattan, including two ice cream locations, as well as a chocolate museum located at his flagship store.
All images courtesy of Instagram.
Who are your favorite chocolatiers? Let us know in the comments below.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.