Anyone who’s seen the intensity that Rick Jordan, Jr. puts into his chocolates won’t be surprised to find the passion he’s pouring into his new hot chocolate.
Jordan imports his own cacao for the “bean to bar” (truly made from scratch) chocolate that he makes at Rick Jordan Chocolatier in Chesterfield. The foundation for his new hot chocolate is 79 percent dark chocolate produced from a bean from the Upala region of Costa Rica. The chocolate is then blended with milk, heavy cream, and sugar in proportions which, like all of his creations, Jordan perfected through trial and error.
A cup will set you back $3, but that’s cheaper than a trip to France.
And beginning tomorrow, Jordan has take-home packs available (above, $12 for approximately 15 servings), with instructions for preparing his concoction in varying levels of decadence.
“The best I ever had was at Les Deux Magots in Paris, and I think this rivals that,” Jordan says.
Meanwhile, he’s also about to install a custom machine for the chocolate-making process that he developed in conjunction with students from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
“It’s nice because it’s them working to solve a real-world industrial problem,” Jordan says. “It will crush the beans and winnow (separate the husk) at one time, and it has clear Plexiglas on both sides so everyone will be able to see the whole process.”
And ever in motion, Jordan has yet another project in process for the summer: Leading an eco-trip to Costa Rica’s Children’s Eternal Rainforest, where he’ll also teach chocolate-making to participants. That one is $3,200 for eight days and seven nights starting July 19; more information can be had by calling 314-941-1257 or visiting here.
Rick Jordan Chocolatier
14882 Clayton
Chesterfield
636-230-9300
Mon-Fri, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat, noon-7:00 p.m.
Editor's Note: In 2012, St. Louis native Rick Jordan was named one of the "Top 10 Chocolatiers of North America." In this Q&A with SLM, learn how luck, talent--and several trips to Europe--all factored into his success.
