Two San Diego Chocolatiers: Guanni and Chuao

San Diego chocolate lovers can boast about being the home of two top-notch gourmet chocolatiers: Guanni (Goo wan ee) and Chuao (Choo wow). Both these artisan chocolatiers use the highest quality South American cocoa, fresh fruit and other all-natural ingredients. Neither includes artificial flavors nor preservatives. The results are delicious, decadent, delightful chocolates.

Guanni is truly a one-woman show. Mariella Balbi creates the flavor combinations, makes the chocolates, and sells them herself at three farmers’ markets locations in San Diego. The chocolate making lineage goes back three generations to her great-grandmother, but all of her recipes are her own. She began Guanni chocolates in July 2003 and it is named after her three sons, Gianni, Guanalvaro and Ian. Balbi, originally from Lima, Peru, specializes in South American and Peruvian flavors. Her “Criollo” chocolate takes its headlining flavors from Peru’s traditional milk desert with cinnamon and vanilla, Manjar Blanco. Another Peruvian inspiration is Balbi’s “Pisco,” named after and created with the national drink of Peru, a grape brandy. Balbi’s top seller is “Cassis,” dark chocolate enrobed raspberries and cream of cassis ganache.

Balbi’s chocolates are made fresh every week, and she exclusively uses organic ingredients. They are low in sugar and high in antioxidants but still divine, making them an indulgence you can feel good about.

Chuao chocolatiers Michael Antonorsi and Brian Vandenbroucke use Venezuelan cocoa beans, but mix styles and flavors of the actual chocolates to include a number of traditionally French flavored chocolates with those of South America, as well as other parts of the world. Chuao is named after the region in Venezuela famous for producing high-quality cocoa beans.
An Asian influenced Chuao chocolate is their “Zen,” a ginger ganache infused with green tea in a dark chocolate shell. The “Tiramisu” is inspired from the famous Italian desert, with mascarpone cheese and coffee liquor butter cream. “Le Citron” blends lemon pulp with caramel and hint of mint, all covered in milk chocolate.

Artisan chocolatiers now outnumber independent drugstores in the United States, and the number is growing as consumers learn to appreciate the difference between grocery store chocolates and the higher-quality artisan chocolates. Just as vintners choose only prize grapes for their wines, chocolatiers search the world over to obtain the highest quality cocoa for their chocolates. And much like fine wine, which has gained popularity in the past few years, so are fine chocolates gaining respect and notoriety for their distinct flavors and qualities. These two chocolatiers are highly recommended to chocophiles, and to those who claim not to be chocolate lovers: watch out, you just might be converted.


Guanni Chocolates
www.guannichocolates.com
guannichocolates@san.rr.com
858.337.6805
Sold at San Diego Farmers’ Markets and select boutiques.
They also deliver; place orders by phone or email.

Hillcrest Farmers’ Market
Corner of Normal St and Lincoln (DMV's parking lot)
Sunday from 9:00 till 1:00 pm
www.hillquest.com

Chuao Chocolatier
www.chuaochocolatier.com
Info@chuaochocolatier.com

Chuao Chocolatier
The Lumberyard, Suite C-109
937 S. Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92025
1-888-635-1444

Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday 11 am. - 6 pm.
Sunday 10 am. - 4 pm.