The Chocolatier
As a child, I was addicted to the greatest ingredient in the world......cacao. I couldn't get enough and because my father worked for one of top chocolate producers in the United States, I had access to copius amounts of chocolate cups with little dollops of peanut butter. I was in HEAVEN. My parents, however, created a chocolate monster. Willy Wonka was an idol of mine and I was fascinated with the chocolate production process, from bean to bar.
It wasn't until I started playing football at the PAC 10 level for Arizona State, that I began my appreciation for food. But it was the quality of food that I was forced to eat (being 238 lbs. as an Offensive Lineman in the PAC is UNACCEPTABLE) to maintain my weight that made me take a good, hard look at what it takes to work with food as a profession. "How do I create dishes that you can find at The French Laundry and is it possible for a o-lineman to cook like that?"
Halfway through Le Cordon Bleu, I was presented with a bag of "candy coated milk chocolate pieces" to pair with a Cabernet from the Rutherford District during a wine tasting class.
"He can't be serious." I thought to myself.
"I decided to create a piece of chocolate that would feel organic on the palate, like it belonged there. No right corners, no flat edges. Your tongue isn't a flat surface so you shouldn't have a flat piece of chocolate. The end result was portioned, seasoned, textured pieces of chocolate that are hand dropped and seasoned in small batches that could be used in wine tasting."
"I have found my calling, I am living my dream"
But the story doesn't end there.......
The Wine Girl
Raised on what was once hailed as one of the largest vineyards in the world, San Bernabe vineyards in Monterey county, I followed my father around the vineyards while playing in the dirt & learning about the vines. My childhood consisted of jumping into helicopters to check irrigation lines from above and skipping school during harvest because I'd been up all night helping crews sort through hundreds of clusters. I had the unique privilege of watching my father along side Bill Petrovich as they manage the vast acreage in King City.
I later moved to the Napa Valley to work beside one of the best in the wine industry, the 1976 Paris Tasting winner for his Cabernet, Warren Winiarski. During my eight year tenure, I was able to work with and learn from industry leaders such as Daniel Schuster, Steve Matthiason and Lucy Morton.
My passion is farming and to one day teach, as I was taught by my own father, the love for the vineyard and the vines.
But the story doesn't end there.......
Our Paths Cross
In early 2014, the Chocolatier and the Wine Girl's paths crossed and we instantly knew it was a match made in wine and chocolate heaven.
We are engaged to be married, we have three wonderful children and one day our dream is to use our knowledge to open a vineyard bed and breakfast to educate and entertain our family, friends and clients. Follow along as we take this journey together, we will have an extra glass and plenty of cioccolato waiting for you.
Cheers!
Chef Michael and Noelia