Bergen Food Artisans: Luxx Chocolat

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[photo source: Luxx Chocolat]

You don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy the work of our next artisan, but those epicures who cross its path are in for a real treat. Introducing Lisa Mecray Rogers, master chocolatier and the woman behind the award-winning Luxx Chocolat, a gourmet chocolate company based in Bergen County. With extraordinarily unique flavors such as honey pot, a honey-infused chocolate ganache with hints of lavender and fennel (and not to mention the winner of Silver in America’s Semi-Finals for the 2012 International Chocolate Awards), Luxx Chocolat sets itself apart from the typical gourmet chocolate company and will take your tastebuds where they’ve never been before.

Lisa, who learned her craft at renowned culinary institutions including the Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts in Vancouver, L’Ecole Du Grand Chocolat in France, and the French Culinary Institute in New York City, has always had an affinity for both food and artistic expression. Growing up, she could be found in the kitchen cooking inventive meals sans recipe book, and often spent time on creative endeavors such as drawing, painting, photography and jewelry design. In 2010, Lisa decided to turn her passion for creativity and cooking into a career and establish what is now known as the acclaimed Luxx Chocolat.

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[photo source: Luxx Chocolat]

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Lisa’s products are also unique from the typical gourmet chocolate as they are made for more than just taste. Alternatively, she Seeing chocolate as her canvas, Lisa uses her craft to create an experience for more than just taste. She believes that chocolate should be “a sensational and pleasurable full body experience” that awakens all of the senses in whomever may have the chance to try it. That being said, each of her original recipes is made from high quality, all natural ingredients and is decorated by hand as a form of art. Though Lisa tends to lean towards her favorite French cacao when developing her recipes, she has sourced this base ingredient from around the world, from Venezuela to Madagascar.

Inspired by a number of her foodie adventures as well as her inherent creativity, Lisa Mecray Rogers always seeks to push the envelope and venture where no chocolatier has ever been before. And her efforts seem to have worked. In 2012, Luxx Chocolat received 6 out of 6 stars for Best Ingredient Combinations, Best Taste, Most Unique, and Chef’s Choice at the Luxury Artisan Caramel Competition in San Francisco, won multiple silver awards in the International Chocolate Salon, and was declared a world finalist in America’s Semi-Finals for the International Chocolate Awards. 2013 has been another successful year for Luxx Chocolat, winning Gold for Most Unique, Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, and Bronze for Best Packaging and Best Texture at the International Chocolate Salon Best White Chocolate. It also received a 4-Star ranking in the International Chocolate Salon’s Best Chocolatiers & Confectioners in America.

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[photo source: Luxx Chocolat]

Though her website only offers boxes of assorted chocolates, Lisa has made over 80 flavors and is always willing to create more upon request from her clients. In the past, she has designed custom lines of artisan chocolates for corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions, developing conceptual themes to communicate her clients’ desired message. With a background in advertising, Lisa has a knack for integrating these themes into every aspect of the chocolate, from its ingredients, to its visual appearance, and to the name of the flavor itself.

Luxx Chocolat can be purchased on its website, www.luxxchocolat.com, at Luxx Chocolat holiday boutiques, and at Silver Birch Gourmet Cafe in Long Valley, New Jersey. The company behind these decadent desserts can also be contacted to schedule customized tastings for your next cocktail party, fundraiser, corporate event, or other special occasion. Lisa Mecray Rogers also teams up with friend and wine expert Debra Marchese of Winerium LLC for what is known as ChocoVin Chocolate and Wine Tastings. These tastings feature a selection of fine wines and artisan chocolates that are carefully paired to bring out the best flavors in every item.

Luxx Chocolat Website

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