Articles by author: Jean-Michel Carre

The perfect chocolate for Valentine's day

“Welcome!” Jill Marie says as I sit down at the mahogany tables at the back of the Santa Barbara shop.
“Make yourself at home!” I feel especially welcome because I am looking at the beautiful new

I can admit that when I see a candy wrapped in gold foil, my inner child gets excited and I remember Christmas treats given as gifts, that delight of unwrapping something unknown, but hoping most of all to find chocolate inside. And Jean-Michel’s curry coconut truffle, wrapped in gold foil, will not disappoint you on that count

If you are like me, you saw Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a child and dreamed of one day being given that golden ticket to witness the magic of chocolate making. Well, today is the day. I’ve been given the golden ticket. Jean-Michel has welcomed me to his shop in Carpinteria to witness the making of his sublime chocolates.