This week we sat down with chocolatier, Yoon Kim, a regular student at Savour School and now successful business owner, to learn more about her exciting chocolate journey.
What is your name and current occupation?
Yoon Kim. Commercial chef.
What is the name of your company and what does your company produce?
The Smooth Chocolator. We produce bean to bar chocolate made from fairly and directly traded cocoa beans.
What prompted you to begin chocolate making? What was it that motivated you to develop these skills?
I was always interested in pastry so I took some classes at Savour School. Soon I found there is a lot to learn in chocolate making. The more I do, the more there is to learn which I found fascinating. Bean to bar chocolate was new to me, but the flavours of different cocoa beans made me want to pursue that path with no hesitation.
What classes have you completed at Savour? Which class is your favourite to date?
I’ve done Entremets/Gateaux, Entremets/ Gateaux Continuing Education, Petit Gateaux, Eclairs, Chocolates & Pralines Level 1, 2, 3, 4 and Bean to Bar. My favourite is Chocolates & Pralines Level 3.
How have these classes helped you to achieve your career goals?
First of all, I knew nothing about chocolates before I took the classes. I just wanted to learn how to temper the chocolates. But as I was taking more classes at a higher level, I learnt the technical side of making chocolate, such as understanding crystals in couverture and troubleshooting as well as the aesthetic side of the products. I feel very lucky to live close to Savour School as I can always go back and seek further learning.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
I’ve only started to make and sell bean to bar chocolate but I have recently signed an exclusive contract with 2 Beans in New York and my entire range is going to be sold at 2 Beans New York which is exciting.
What’s the best advice you have been given in relation to your chocolate career, and who was the advice from?
“Be passionate and try something new all the time”. The advice was from Jean-Marie Auboine, one of the guest chefs at Savour School.
What’s next for you and your company?
Getting a bigger quantity of good quality cocoa beans and of course trying to get the best out of the beans by finding the right processes. I’m planning to approach more chocolate shops in the US, UK, Hong Kong as well as Australia once I have the secured supply of cocoa beans.
What is your favourite chocolate to make?
Although I’m focussed on bean to bar chocolate bars only, coloured, moulded bonbons with fruit jelly and creamy ganache are my favourite chocolates to make.
For more information on Yoon’s Bean to Bar chocolates visit her website
For more information on classes visit Savour Chocolate & Patisserie School
