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Dr. Robert Steinberg's dream of creating a small chocolate manufacturing
plant to produce fine quality chocolate began when his love of fine
food landed him an internship at Bernachon Chocolatier in Lyon,
France. Returning to San Francisco, he approached his friend John
Scharffenberger with the idea. John had recently sold his successful
winery and his industry experience seemed like the perfect fit for
a new venture focused on another very popular gourmet food product,
so in 1996, Steinberg and Scharffenberger founded Scharffen Berger
Chocolate Maker, Inc. in a small warehouse in South San Francisco.
After a lot of experimentation and testing, the partners were finally
able to produce a chocolate on the same high level as the chocolate
Robert had experienced in France. Business grew and they soon ran
out of room, prompting a move in 2001 to Berkeley, California where
their current factory, a renovated 1906 brick and mortar building
with thick walls that provide a cooler environment for chocolate
production, is open to the public for tours.
In 2005, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, along with Joseph Schmidt
Confections, became Hershey’s new luxury division, Artisan
Confections Company.
Essence of Chocolate: Recipes for Baking and Cooking with Fine Chocolate
by Robert Steinberg and John Scharffenberger
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