Lucy Chocolate Factory, I Love Lucy, by Lucille Ball.
No matter how often I recounted the rigors of the program or how many times I showed her my diploma, “C-O-N-S-E-P-T-U-A-L P-H-O-T-O-G-R-A-P-H-Y,” I literally spelled it out; still, Lisa disagreed. My master’s degree in photography did not mean that I was over-qualified to make chocolate. Honestly, it didn’t qualify me for anything in my life.
Like petting a feral kitten, I was about to learn how difficult seemingly simple tasks can be. Lisa and I had enlisted a friend, Emily, to start the business with us and she directed me to YouTube. Three videos in I was convinced I was a chocolatier. A tempering machine and three hours in the kitchen were all that I thought I needed to start our product line. Four days later, I had produced one full box. There was more chocolate on the front of my apron than in our packaging. Heat, cold, humidity, dry air all had their way with me. Every day, I discovered a new way to create bloom (an unappetizing white coating on the surface of chocolate). It turns out that chocolate is a fickle mistress, and my love language is “can’t be bothered.” We were completely incompatible.
Stay tuned,
Heather
Co-Founder of Beato Chocolates