Trend: Chocolate Adventurers

Not long ago, most entrepreneurs dreamed of dot-com careers. Now they want to be chocolate tycoons. In San Francisco, Timothy Childs and Rob Polevoi left their high-tech jobs and launched Cabaret Chocolates, which offers intense, diamond-shaped truffles ($15 for nine; 415-294-4492 or www.cabaretchocolates.com). The most stylish chocolatier in Chicago, Katrina Markoff of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, has opened a branch in New York City where she sells exquisite wedding cakes. Her bright pink Gatsby has dense chocolate layers and Champagne-infused ganache ($16 per person; 212-625-2929 or www.vosgeschocolate.com). Former Florida real estate developer Bill Gardner joined his wife, Becky, at her candy company, Williams & Bennett, to make Artisan Oreos, covered in dark and milk chocolate and elegantly patterned with gold ($20 for 12; 561-276-9007). Cocoa + Co., a Web-based company started by a wine-industry veteran, sells candy from around the world, including chocolates from elite Italian producer Amedei and 95 kinds of bars from masters like New York's Christopher Norman (www.cocoaandco.com).

—Kate Krader

Published December 2003