A Little Introduction
French Broad Chocolates was the showcase “maker” for Pinehurst Resort’s Chef and Maker weekend for July 2018. Their business has been voted one of the “USA’s 12 Best Chocolatiers and Chocolate Shop” by Forbes Magazine. Travel and Leisure Magazine has deemed French Broad Chocolates “America’s Best Hot Chocolate.” Having their company as part of the Chef and Maker Series was a sweet treat.
French Broad Chocolates is a labor of love born from the dream team of Dan and Jael Rattigan. This husband and wife duo has quite the story to tell.
The couple met in 2003, while living in Minneapolis. They traveled to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, and fell in love with the people, the land and, of course, chocolate. They decided to move to Costa Rica to set down new roots.
Short on cash they purchased an old school bus and continued converting the interior to a homemade RV of sorts. They scrounged the local restaurants for used vegetable oil, which served as fuel for the bus.
Road Trip, Anyone?
After the lengthy journey from Minnesota to Costa Rica, through Mexico and Central America, they arrived at their new home. With little money to work with, they made a deal to rent a restaurant space, turning this into Bread and Chocolate. Everything in this café/bakery was made from scratch, from products provided by local farmers.
They created a colorful sign to bring people into their new business. The bus that had been at the forefront of their journey to this new place sat front and center. Their slogan “huele bien” (Spanish for “It smells good”) brought people in from far and wide. Jael shares that everyone “bonded over a shared love of food.” This spilled into what would become their next venture.
A Turning Point
Working closely with the farmers in Costa Rica, Dan and Jael felt a connection to what they did at Bread and Chocolate. Knowing where everything came from and who made these crops and products made it personal. They took this personal connection and began to focus more on the chocolate side of their business.
The couple had a son while living in Costa Rica. This began to change their future plans, as they wanted to continue to work toward expanding their business and raising their family. Dan and Jael spoke to numerous people about an opportune place to make this happen. Asheville, North Carolina sprang to the top of the list.
A New Home
After moving to Asheville, Jael and Dan started selling their chocolates at local farmers’ markets. The connection they made to the public and the farmers continued as they sought out ways to expand.
Fast forward to 2008. French Broad Chocolate Lounge opened up in the center of downtown Asheville. French Broad Chocolates was so popular that the lines stretched around the block. Dan and Jael had so much business that they expanded into the top two floors of this building.
The couple then expanded to a factory and tasting room (21 Buxton Avenue, (828) 505-4996) opened in 2012. They continued to travel out of the country to support and utilize the farmers’ cacao for their chocolate production. You can taste the beans that have been processed from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Peru.
Expansion, Expansion, Expansion
Business has continued to prosper for French Broad Chocolates. They opened a new French Broad Chocolate Lounge (10 South Pack Square, (828) 252-4181) in 2014. In September, 2018, they will anchor the south end of a factory in the River Arts District. The 12,000 square foot space will allow them to make 200 tons of chocolate a year. The plan is to have a bigger chocolate factory with the production in the center for tours. The old chocolate factory on Buxton Avenue will be converted into an ice cream parlor.
Dan and Jael Rattigan show no signs of slowing down. Starting with just the two them, they now employ almost 80 workers and plan on having more. Whether you are a milk, dark or somewhere in the middle chocolate lover, French Broad Chocolates has something for you.
Take a road trip to Asheville and check them out. You’ll get a taste of the Americas without the the trip out of the country. To tide you over, here’s a liquid truffle recipe, straight from the chocolate-makers of French Broad Chocolates.
If you’re looking for something sweet to try with French Broad Chocolates, click here for their very own Chocolate Liquid Truffle recipe. Made with chocolate and cream, this drink will satisfy anyone’s chocolate sweet tooth.
