About
Finding Fine Chocolate
Finding Fine Chocolate is an exploration of fine, craft, artisan chocolate around the world.
It is all about digging into tasting and pairing. Savoring, slowing down, relaxing, and focusing on your sense of taste to discover the diverse aromas, flavors, and textures found in craft chocolate.
Find your favorite chocolate origins, textures and makers. Get to know yourself and your palate a little better with each tasting or pairing.
Meet the people behind all phases of chocolate from the cacao tree to the chocolate bar.
Join me for fun and beautiful experiences with fine, craft, & artisan chocolate.
Barbie Van Horn
"You've ruined me, I just can't eat bulk grocery store chocolate anymore. I must have the good chocolate now" That's the most common comment I receive from people who have tasted with me. I take it as a compliment. I'm actually a little proud of it.
Bringing people together over artisan chocolate is what I do to feed my soul.
I'm the founder of Finding Fine Chocolate, co-founder of the Pacific Northwest Chocolate Society, and a judge on the grand jury for the International Chocolate Awards, the largest craft chocolate competition worldwide.
I taste and evaluate chocolate daily. Most of the time alone and very focused, sometimes leading groups through large or small bespoke tastings and pairings, occasionally one on one palate training. By creating fun and delightful events I help people learn more about chocolate and themselves as they find their palate while learning to analyze aroma, flavor, texture and melt through tasting and pairing fine chocolate.
Travel keeps me constantly exploring new aromas and flavors and meeting new people. I'm always on the hunt for bean to bar chocolate and travel companions are well warned that I will stop at ALL chocolate shops. I travel often and almost always with my charming husband, who fills my life with mischief and delight, and many hiking trails.
Art continues to intrigue me as I am an artist at heart.
Contact: barbie@vanhorn.com
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| Barbie Van Horn at origin with a fresh cacao pod. |
