Small batch bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers are uncommon, as are artisan bonbon makers. So when you integrate these two crafts under one roof, the combination is rare indeed. This is the case for Piety and Desire Chocolate, a vertically integrated bean-to-bonbon operation that has been quietly turning out its kaleidoscopic jewel boxes of New Orleans-inspired chocolates for the past few years at its location in Broadmoor.
For owner Christopher Nobles it was a serendipitous encounter that set him on this path. A musician and savory chef by trade, Nobles never had much of a sweet tooth. But when a colleague asked him if he’d ever worked with chocolate before and he said no, Nobles got curious and set out to learn about it. He viewed it through the lens of other craft approaches to items like beer and cheese that have gained traction over the years. “As soon as I started going down the rabbit hole and learned more, I moved on to taking classes and going to cocoa farms and fermentation centers,” Nobles said. “After a year or so of that I said, you know this is something I can do.” Piety and Desire Chocolate was born.
Nobles’ offerings are twofold – glossy varietal bars that highlight the nuances of the specific beans (for example, the complex fruit-forward flavors of Tanzania) as well as collections of exquisite hand-painted molded bonbons. These compositions lean heavily on local influence – in particular cocktail culture, such as with his Sazerac bonbon – as well as surprising forays into savory territory (Duck Fat and Caramel with Five Spice ganache, for example). Going into Christmas, expect to see intelligent spins on flavors of the season, like Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh as well as Milk and Cookies. “We also do a traditional peppermint bark and two different kinds of drinking chocolates,” Nobles said.
Order online at PietyandDesireChocolate.com. His bars can also be found in select shops around town. At press time Nobles was in the process of seeking to open a new brick and mortar store – follow him on Instagram for the latest details.
