Twin Cities Gourmet Chocolatiers

You won’t believe how many options you’ve got for a locally produced chocolate fix. With Valentine’s Day on the brain, how about letting your sweetie get in on some that action with these hometown treats?

Rogue Chocolatier is a one-man shop owned and operated by Colin Gasko, the only bean-to-bar producer in the Upper Midwest. Make no mistake; it’s only for the love of the art that you would start with the bean. Upfront investment can run as much as $10,000 at a crack for a batch of beans, plus equipment, and the many intricate steps in production are scientifically complex and mechanically intensive.

Gasko got his start making truffles at Whole Foods and experimenting in his own kitchen before he secured a factory space in southeast Minneapolis. His chocolate bars can be found at Surdyk’s, Kopplin’s Coffee, Kitchen Window, France 44, Black Sheep Coffee Café, Mississippi Market, Golden Fig and online at roguechocolatier.com.

Corporate professional by day, chocolate-maker by night (and weekend), Kathy Kohout first started making candy in high school. She turned that pastime into a career with Savage-based Sweet Goddess Chocolates, using a fine German-imported chocolate and only the simplest ingredients like butter, cream and sugar.

The butter almond toffee squares are far and away the best-selling Sw