Lauren Adler is excited about chocolate
The owner of Upper Queen Anne’s Chocolopolis is so infectious in her love of the vaunted cacao creations that line her store shelves that a visitor to her shop can’t help but be intrigued by her knowledge and the sheer array of products that Adler has to offer.
Such devotion to the craft has helped Adler thrive during the past three years and become, according to her, home to the largest curated selection of artisan chocolate in the country.
In fact, July is Chocolopolis’ third anniversary month. To celebrate the event, Adler has planned a number of fun events that no chocophile would want to miss.
Throughout this month there have been special tastings, giveaways and visits from guest chocolatiers, such as this past Saturday when Christopher Elbow, a Kansas City-based artisan known for his truffles and caramels, arrived to make a special batch of magic for the occasion.
More events are planned, including the annual “Golden Bar Giveaway.” Adler will release three special golden bars of chocolate in her store. Find one of those special golden bars and win a free bar of chocolate a week for one year.
She has already placed two golden bars of chocolate on her shelves and the third will be placed on the shelves on July 25.
But unlike many chocolatiers, Adler is interested in more than just selling or tasting the wonderful creations. She wants to educate her customers about the fine points of eating chocolate and the often difficult and complex political world in which cacao is grown.
If you like your chocolate mixed with a little political intrigue, this may be the ultimate outlet. Just take a gander at the name of her July 19 event which was called “Focus on Chocolate: Did a slave make my chocolate bar?” Dr. Kristy Leissie discussed what life is like on the West African cacao farms. No light after-dinner truffle there.
A self-proclaimed “foodie” from the East Coast, Adler grew up in Washington, D.C. Her father was in the retail business and she learned the trade. After moving to New York in the 1990s, Adler remained restless. Eventually, she met up with some friends at a wedding who convinced her to move to Seattle. After 13 years, she and her husband have found a home.
“ I love food, retail and chocolate,” Adler said. “ I wanted to run a retail store so I began learning about chocolate.”
Like most people, Adler grew up eating Hershey’s milk chocolate and loved it. But then her life changed in 2006 when she ate a bar of Bonnatt chocolate from Madagascar. She had no idea chocolate could be so complex, interesting and, well, good.
“I said, ‘Wow, this is amazing,’ ” Adler said. “I didn’t think I liked dark chocolate, but this chocolate was just amazing.”
She ended up developing a chocolate store that delves into the artisans who make the chocolate and also the places where the product comes from. The chocolate here is treated like fine wine and the comparisons are made often.
You can buy chocolate from Ecuador, Madagascar, Venezuela and many other exotic locales from around the world. You can also buy the latest type of chocolate bar from the world’s top artisans.
Adler gives classes in appreciating chocolate and special tastings throughout the year.
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