Long hours go into chocolate holiday for Guinness Record chef in Geneva
While many will enjoy the romance of Valentine's Day, others will enjoy the holiday for one thing — chocolate! And Chef Alain Roby, owner of the All Chocolate Kitchen in downtown Geneva, enjoys the holiday like no other.
But it's a lot more work than most customers realize.
Roby recently ordered more than 1,500 pounds of chocolate, which he will transform into more than 200 plated desserts and nearly 3,000 truffles. Along with the chocolate, he uses about 200 pounds of butter and 120 pounds of sugar. He plans to prepare his signature truffles, a new Eros candy line, and other treats for customers in the store.
“You don't want to run out of chocolate,” said Roby, 60.
No, we don't want him to either.
Roby has already broken three Guinness World Records for his chocolate and sugar masterpieces. He recently created a 948-pound, all white chocolate, life-size God of Love sculpture called Eros for The Food Network's Outrageous Chocolate Special, which is on display at the store alongside his other creations, including a 650-pound chocolate Blackhawk and a 23-foot-tall, all-chocolate enchanted tree.
He said specialty flavors were big sellers last year, including honey lavender, chocolate and basil, balsamic vinegar and chocolate and other uniquely flavored truffles.
Roby also has specialty lines called Aroma and Eros that have high-end ingredients, such as criollo chocolate from the Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Ghana and Madagascar.
He also has opened a new small restaurant called Primo next door that has 12 tables. The restaurant had a soft opening last week and a grand opening is set for Feb. 24. He'll be using many recipes from his grandmother that he found one day while going through some family items.
“I always had a dream of having a restaurant,” he said.
But such dreams take a lot of time. Already he has been working seven days a week preparing for Valentine's Day.
“But Valentine's isn't the busiest. Just wait for Easter,” he said.
Another merger of CPAs
Jeff Mowery, managing partner of Mowery & Schoenfeld, a certified public accounting firm in Lincolnshire, said his firm merged with Gary Hart & Associates Ltd. This is Mowery & Schoenfeld's fifth in a series of mergers over the last seven years. The firm has grown from three professionals to almost 60 since its origination in November 1996.
Rising fun, funds
David J. Nissen, managing partner of CPA firm Mueller & Co. LLP in Elgin, partnered with longtime client Dan Plote, president of Hoffman Estates-based Plote Construction Inc. to organize “Bowling for Wishes” in South Barrington and worked closely with Make-A-Wish Illinois to establish website. They helped raise about $60,000 with more than 200 participants and supporters.
FastTracks
Joseph Fahrenbach is the new project manager at J.C. Anderson Inc. in Elmhurst. ... Jane Hove, executive director of the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce, is being honored on Thursday at Medinah Shrine Center. ... Ying Stoller, owner of Ying's Kitchen Inc. in Gurnee, was on WGN TV last week doing a food demonstration for the Chinese New Year.
Lake Forest resident Philip G. Franklin, executive vice president and chief financial officer, at Chicago-based Littlefuse Inc., will retire after 17 years with the company, which also has operations in Mount Prospect. Vernon Hills resident Meenal A. Sethna, senior vice president of finance, will succeed Franklin as CFO by late March. ... John Gorzak of Naperville has been named vice president of commercial banking with Old Second National Bank in Aurora.
Patent attorney Brad Wilson of Carol Stream has been promoted to income partner at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago. ... Vice President of Manufacturing Bill Baraglia has been promoted to chief operating officer at Chicago White Metal Casting Inc., a manufacturer of custom die cast components in Bensenville. ... Corrine Perritano is the new president of Beltone North America, based in Glenview. ... Suzan Joyce has been named chief operating officer for Global Parts Network in Crystal Lake.
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