Curating Taste

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Phoenix, AZ
Curating Taste

I am a pastry chef and a chocolate sommelier providing custom chocolate tasting events.

10/26/2026

In 2026 I have judged over 800 samples of chocolate. Let me say that again. 800 🤯 I don't eat the entire sample that I judge. Sometimes we have to come back to a sample because it was in the wrong category and rejudge it or there can be a few other reasons why we don't assume all of it as we judge. The happy consequence of that is that I have a lot of leftover samples of chocolate. I'm often looking for things to do with that chocolate. I had a girl that I needed to make some birthday cookies for and I decided to put in some of the best chocolate in the world to make these cookies and I will tell you, they turned out to be some of the best cookies in the world! 😅 Gotta love good ingredients!

10/09/2026

Guess what time it is?!?! It's time for me to start judging the WORLD competition for . I have been judging North and South American for 4 years and this year I was invited to judge worlds.

This is such an honor for me. There is the part of me that just loves eating all this incredible chocolate. However, mostly, I honor those who work so hard to produce something of this quality. My gratitude starts with this beautiful earth that grows the amazing plant, to the farmers who handle these beans with so much care. And onto the chocolate makers who spend so much time and effort to perfect this art, season after season, restarting each time they get a new batch of beans. The art and skill of this is never lost on me.

I will spend hours each day at my desk, thoughtfully evaluating each sample, giving it the time it needs to tell me it's story. I will some times yell out loud, stand up and applaud, and bang my fist on the desk, in honor of each amazing chocolate that sweeps me off my feet and takes me on a journey!

Thank you everyone, for allowing me to be a part of this!

10/04/2026

I was laying on the couch trying out a new toe brand of chocolate. Turns out, Zimmy really wanted to try Durći Chocolate. Though he didn't have much to say, I will say I am a fan. Thank you Projet Chocolat for introducing me to them! This was a 70% bar with beans from Venezuela topped with cookie crumbs and salt. Super tasty!

09/27/2026

Judge for the state fair? Yup, I get to add that to my list of things I've judged! For two hours I ate bread, pastries and layered cakes. Now, I need some protein and a very long walk.

07/06/2026

At the top of Passo Giau, sits a little hotel and restaurant that served some really good hot chocolate! You could taste the chocolate and it was a great thickness!

07/03/2026

Oh boy, did I find a fun hot chocolate option out here in the Dolomites!!! I have no idea what chocolate they are using to make this. They advertise it as house made but usually that means they are melting down someone else's chocolate and then making it into their product. So no, this is not likely craft chocolate, but my goodness, it's to die for. It's basically hot pudding? Oddly enough, I like my pudding hot anyway so this was pure magic! I will be coming back to try more of their flavors. I loved that they asked if I wanted to drink it or eat it with a spoon! I chose spoon. 😂 I'm fascinated with how they are doing this though. It's delicious! Thank you Cioccolateria Villa Eden for a magical treat. Please tell me how it's made!

☕️

07/03/2026

Staying at Hotel Recort has been a dream. I've never stayed at a spa and knowing we would be here, I joked that I plan to dip croissants in hot chocolate every day. Yesterday morning I did just that! The croissant may have been the flakiest, best croissant of my life. They also had pistacio cream or hazelnut cream that you could fill your croissant with. The hot chocolate was fine but the experience? 5 stars all the way! Ultimately, I slathered hazelnut chocolate spread onto each bite, then dipped it in the hot chocolate!

☕️

07/01/2026

I found some hot chocolate on the top of Mount Baldo in the Italian Alps. It was fantastic! A storm was rolling in and we wanted to get down the mountain or I would have taken the time to figure out exactly what I was drinking, but it was thick and warm and served with a packet of sugar if it wasn't sweet enough. I will let you guess which one of us added the sugar packet!

06/24/2026

I'm so excited! The last few trips have been a bust for me when it comes to chocolate. Nothing on my quick trip to Australia or San Carlos, Mexico. That ends now!!!

H. Schwartzenbach did not disappoint with their amazing bean to bar chocolate selections. So many bars I can't get in the US! And had a fabulous cold chocolate orange drink as well.

05/22/2026

This is my first time to Australia and before I get a chance to get some craft bean to bar chocolate, I'm trying what the city has to offer! The two bars from were both nice with the lemon myrtle one being extra nice! My husband really enjoyed the bonbons but they weren't quite my jam.

Drinking chocolate at was a lovely experience! They used Vahlrona and I appreciated that it was listed as such. So often they don't tell you! Thanks
for your compelling reel.

I'm saving the rest of my chocolate consumption for the craft bars I'm getting in a few days!

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Phoenix, AZ

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https://curatingtaste.com/

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