An artisan chocolatier creates handcrafted chocolates in small batches. Mass-produced, factory-made chocolates contain flavor extracts and artificial preservatives. Chef Brulée uses natural ingredients and adorns each chocolate with beautiful artistic flourishes that are impossible to produce on an assembly line. An artisan chocolatier is creating a work of art. We are proud of every chocolate we make.

Exquisite chocolates are not limited by geography, formulation or taste. The world of chocolate has many stars -- sweet milk chocolates, intense dark chocolates, creamy white chocolates, chocolates graced with fruit or nut fillings. The best chocolate is the one that tastes best to you. Chef Brulée believes the very best chocolates use fresh, natural ingredients and are not only delicious to eat but beautiful to look at.

Actually, chocolates were introduced to Europe from the Americas. The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word “xocolatl." The Mayans had the world’s first cocoa plantations. Columbus took cacao beans back from the New World, introducing chocolate to Europe.

When it comes to making fine chocolates, the most important location is the kitchen where the chocolates are created. In the Chef Brulée kitchen, we use mouth-watering formulations of chocolates and fillings, the finest, freshest natural ingredients, and stunning artistic designs to create chocolates that are a delight to behold and to taste.

Chef Brulée uses fresh, natural ingredients. We use organic milk and cream and real nuts. We never use flavor extracts or artificial preservatives. Creating natural, flavorful, fresh-made chocolates is one of Chef Brulée’s most important values.

Yes, we make all of our chocolates, cakes and other products in our own kitchen. Every chocolate we make is a personal expression of our genuine love for chocolate and our love for creating delicious tastes and dazzling designs.

Natalya and Art Shapiro began making chocolates several years ago as a hobby. What began as a family pastime turned into a thriving business. In 2013, Natalya studied at Ecol Chocolat in Vancouver, Canada, where she was trained and certified as a professional chocolatier.

Our artisan chocolates cost $2.00 to $3.00 each. A personalized box of 20 exquisite chocolates is around $50. A gift box of two or four chocolates makes a superb favor for guests at special events and parties.

Absolutely. We serve chocolate lovers from throughout the United States through our online store. If you are ever in the Atlanta area, we would love to meet you. Just stop by our store in suburban Roswell. Our address and business hours are on our Contact Us page.

No. At the present time, Chef Brulée online orders are limited to domestic shipments within the United States.

Gâteaux is French for “cakes,” especially referring to elaborate decorated cakes that are not only culinary treats but works of art. When we first established Chef Brulée, our main product was beautiful cakes. Today, artisan chocolates have become our No. 1 product, but we continue to make beautiful cakes, as well.

Most chocolates are a combination of four ingredients: cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, milk (milk fat and milk solids) and sugar. Different kinds of chocolate are mainly due to the varying levels of these four ingredients.

Cocoa liquor and cocoa butter come from the cocoa bean. Cocoa liquor is the ground or melted nib of the bean and contains both solids and fat; cocoa butter is the fatty part of the bean. By the way, “cocoa” and “cacao” are alternate, interchangeable spellings.

Unsweetened chocolate, also called baking chocolate, bitter chocolate or cooking chocolate, is primarily cocoa liquor. Some fat may be added, but no sugar. Unsweetened chocolate has a strong chocolate flavor and is used in baking, but is not desirable as an eating chocolate.

Semisweet chocolate and bittersweet chocolate contain little or no milk solids and less sugar than eating chocolates. These chocolates are used primarily in baking. Dark chocolate is a form of semisweet chocolate.

Dark chocolate is enjoyed as an eating chocolate, but it is higher in cocoa solids and lower in sugar and milk than other eating chocolates. “Dark” chocolate is often used as a synonym for “semisweet” and “extra dark” for “bittersweet.”

Milk chocolate contains more milk and sugar than other chocolates, which gives it a sweeter, creamier taste, making it the most popular eating chocolate. It is the chocolate used in most candy bars.

White chocolate contains no chocolate solids and is therefore technically not a chocolate. However, white chocolate contains cocoa butter. It typically contains enough sugar to make it sweet and is primarily used in baking and in candies.

Couverture is semisweet or bittersweet chocolate that is used to coat truffles and other chocolate candies. “Couverture” is French for “covering.”

Ganache is a delectable combination of chocolate and cream that is used as a filling in many Chef Brulée artisan chocolates. Warmed cream is poured over chopped chocolate and blended to a smooth texture; liqueurs and other natural flavors are sometimes added.

Ganache can also be used as a filling, glaze, icing or sauce, but at Chef Brulée, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate ganaches are used as fillings for our delicious chocolate candies.

Many health benefits have been attributed to dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is loaded with vitamins (A, B1, C, D and E) and minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper) and also has soluble fiber.

Dark chocolate has been credited with slowing the aging process, preventing cancer, preventing heart disease, lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, improving brain function and hardening tooth enamel. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a kind of antioxidant, which repair cell damage. The darker the chocolate, the greater the antioxidant level.

Dark chocolate is also a mood booster. It is a natural stimulant (containing a mild amount of caffeine). It prompts the release of endorphins and serotonin, both of which cause feelings of well-being. That is why people often turn to chocolate when they are depressed or sad.

Dark chocolate has a greater association with good health than some other kinds of chocolate because it contains a higher cocoa content and less sugar.

A primary distinction among various kinds of chocolates is the percentage of cocoa solids they contain. In the U.S., a chocolate must contain at least 35% chocolate liquor to be labeled dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate’s cocoa content is often prominently displayed on its labeling. The more cocoa solids, the richer and stronger the chocolate flavor and the greater the health benefits. Also, the higher the percentage of cocoa solids, the lower the percentage of milk and sugar.

Chef Brulée proudly creates artisan chocolates which contain fresh, natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives. Our chocolates look and taste their best when consumed within a few weeks. We recommend that you order our chocolates in moderate amounts on a regular basis.

It all depends on the ingredients. Some of our chocolates will have a shelf life of several months. However, many of our chocolates contain fruit and other perishable ingredients will not hold up as long.

It is best to keep Chef Brulée chocolates in their original packaging or in a tightly sealed container and store them in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or cabinet. Avoid extended exposure to heat, light and strong odors.

Refrigeration is not recommended; the refrigerator’s humidity may affect the texture of appearance of some chocolates. Freezing will also compromise the quality of an artisan chocolate.

We want our delicious, fresh-made artisan chocolates to arrive looking as beautiful as when we crafted them in the Chef Brulée kitchen. Each chocolate candy is hand-placed in a decorative gift box, which is then placed inside a protective, crush-proof tray. Your order is then packed in an insulated shipping box accompanied by a gel ice pack.

When you open your order, you will find an assortment of beautiful, handcrafted chocolates waiting to be admired and enjoyed.

Chef Brulée ships via FedEx. Shipments must be to a street address in the United States; we cannot ship to P.O. boxes and we do not ship online orders outside the United States.

We provide next-day delivery for most orders. However, if your chocolates are for a gift or special occasion, we encourage you to place your order several days in advance to ensure timely delivery. Our artisan chocolates are made with fresh ingredients and do not contain artificial preservatives. Shelf life for optimum taste and appearance is about three weeks.

Orders received by 2 p.m. Eastern are shipped out for next-day delivery. Orders received on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday are shipped on Monday for Tuesday arrival.

Please make sure to provide accurate information. An error in shipping address, billing address or method of payment may cause a delay. Chef Brulée is not responsible for delays or extra costs that result from incorrect information, nor are we responsible for any FedEx delay caused by weather, mechanical failure, etc.

Obviously, we cannot accept the return of food items. However, we love knowing that you are 100% satisfied with your Chef Brulée experience. Every order is packed with loving care and carefully inspected to ensure quality before it is shipped.

If you receive chocolates which you believe are defective or damaged, please contact us immediately. Take digital photos of the defective or damaged candies and of the inside and outside of the shipping carton. Email the photos to info@chefbrulee.com.