The art of crafting the perfect chocolate truffles.
Born in Roanne, France, Yvan Valentin has been immersed in the chocolate industry since early childhood thanks to his uncle’s chocolate shop that also sold handmade chocolate gifts. With a degree from France’s premier pastry school, he returned to Roanne to work at the 3 Michelin-starred Maison Troisgros. A worldwide tour to discover different pastry arts followed. Yvan Valentin explored places as diverse as Italy, Israel, Malaysia, and Tahiti. After years of traveling, the chef found a new home, as lead pâtissier at the iconic L’Orangerie in Los Angeles. The glamorous environment brought the French pastry chef close to the world of Hollywood, leading him to create an imposing croquembouche cake for Jane Fonda and Ted Turner’s wedding, or crème brûlée for Elizabeth Taylor.
During his time at L’Orangerie, Yvan Valentin received accolades from leading publications as well as two Pastry Chef of the Year awards. At the height of his career, the talented pastry chef left the celebrity chef lifestyle and began pursuing his passion of chocolate, founding Yvan Valentine Chocolate. In a quest to re-invent the classic French truffles, the chocolatier spent years perfecting his recipes. His company uses only the finest ingredients and simple recipes that make the most of the premium chocolate. The all-natural, handmade chocolate gifts and truffles explore a range of rich flavors as well as complementing textures.
The most popular product is the chef’s signature dark chocolate truffle, crafted using a creamy dark chocolate ganache, a dark chocolate shell, and a dusting of cocoa powder. Other options include hazelnut praline, cappuccino, and dark chocolate yuzu. The minimal line-up also includes a white truffle. Made with white chocolate, Cointreau liquor and orange zest, it features a white chocolate shell rolled in confectioner’s sugar.
All handmade chocolate gifts come in 100% eco-friendly packaging that reduces the products’ carbon footprint. Finally, the hand-stamped red wax seal gives a nod to 17th-century French chocolate shops. Chocolate lovers can now finally buy Yvan Valentin truffles directly from the chef’s Los Angeles workshop and online. The brand also plans to launch a collection of signature dark chocolate squares in the near future. Photographs© Yvan Valentin Chocolate.
