“Ethical living is the indispensable condition of all that is most worthwhile in the world.”

— Ernest Caldecott

My Code of Ethics:

  1. Give credit for inspiration and ask permission to share.

  2. Be responsible for accuracy of information and continually gather, update, and correct information where needed.

  3. When reviewing chocolate be transparent up front of any bias such as close friendship with the maker or when given as a gift.

  4. Be willing to site sources with links so consumers can further educate themselves.

  5. Allow experts such as scientists, anthropologists, and professional colleagues to offer new information.

  6. Always be a good steward of chocolate. Remembering to be conscientious of representing the farmer, chocolate maker, and chocolatier.

Photo: @angeleaphoto

Photo: @angeleaphoto

I believe in transparency so you know as a client and customer all my sources & inspiration. You deserve taste, truth, transparency, and trust.

Sources and Inspiration

All designs for Projet Chocolat by creative director Heather Baker.

LES ARÔMES DU CHOCOLAT

Inspiration for this kit came from previous aroma kits for wine, coffee, and beer. The first prototype was made in collaboration as a mentorship with now food writer, Shaan Merchant, for his 8th grade project on the history of chocolate. When we first created Les Arômes du Chocolat there were no other olfactory training tools for chocolate. The Projet Chocolat team had a goal of making the entire kit eco-friendly and recyclable, which would set it apart from every other aroma kit on the market. Aromatics director Erin Fraser, a natural perfumer with Curioso Perfumes, took great care to ensure all aromas were as close to realistic as possible. Svend Thomsen, Danish embosser extraordinaire, embossed each lid with precision. Heather Baker, Projet Chocolat’s creative director, took inspiration from St. Germaine, my Greek heritage, the victrola in my home, and classic chocolate boxes. It took three years to create, and the Projet Chocolat team is proud that the design is both beautiful and timeless.

CONTENTS:

Paper - Registered with the Forest Stewardship Council

Ink - Vegetable die

Aromas - Eden Botanicals , Frontier Co-op , French Concentrated Natural Flavor

Glass Bottles: SKS Bottle & Packaging

Assembly & Printing - Lithographics Nashville

Embossing - Impress Embossing

CHOCOLATE TASTING GUIDE

In 2014 I saw a vintage book on color theory at The Natural History Museum in Washington DC. This visually inspired me to create discernible order for aromas. Conversations with clinical psychologists, Projet Chocolat’s aromatics director Erin Fraser with Curioso Perfumes, and research with real world chocolate tasters inspired the ever expanding lexicon for learning.

CHOCOLATE STASH BOX

After a conversation with a salesman at Debauve & Gallais I knew we had to create a chocolate stash box! Over the phone, he stated that the bars I wanted for a tasting were no longer available but that he might possibly have a few in his chocolate stash box. I could visually imagine the box and how it would be both practical and historical. In addition, I was inspired by the keepsake bonbon boxes of 19th century France and specifically a 1940s wooden chocolate box with triangle hinges and pyrography in my personal chocolate museum collection. Hand-assembled and laser printed in the absolute best detail by Bryce McCloud of Isle of Printing and designed by Projet Chocolat’s creative director, artist Heather Baker. Heather was inspired by the ceilings of cathedrals from a recent trip to Italy and the victrola inside is a nod to not only my childhood love of 1920s music but to Music City where the box is made.

CONTENTS:

Wood: Birch

Nails: Steel

CHOCOLATE ENVELOPES

Inspired by vintage early 20th century Parisian glassine bonbon bags in my private museum collection. I wanted a version that would be large enough to fit an average size chocolate bar and stickers that could be written on to label and organize easily. Heather designed the logo to be hand embossed by Danish embosser Svend Thomsen and the Greek goddess on the stickers to reference my Greek heritage.

CONTENTS:

Glassine: JMB Packaging

Pencil: General Pencil Company

CHOCOLATE TASTING PAPERS

After hosting many chocolate tastings, I gave Heather a template on our son’s watercolor paper. She immediately said we will use this paper! Our tasting papers are set apart from others with the intention of being seamless in both modern and traditional settings. Our visual guide uses lexicon specifically so that the taster can close their eyes and imagine the exact color. We were the first to put a vintage cacao engraving on a tasting sheet. Always thinking of the guest, I wanted a visual guide while bringing in the art of botanical engravings.

Printing:  Lithographics

BOTANICAL ENGRAVINGS

All botanical engravings are taken from originals in my private collection. They are printed at Lithographics.

POSTERS

All posters are printed locally at Shortrun Posters.

STICKERS & NOTECARDS

All stickers and notecards are printed and letterpressed locally at Midtown Printing.

GIFT WRAPPING

I use kraft paper from Paper Source and Hester & Cook, twine from Knot & Bow, and wax along with my wax stamp seals at Back To Zero.

BUSINESS CARDS

Letterpress extraordinaire Kevin Bradley at Church of Type. Heather Baker design.