Nashville has been getting some major press in the past couple of years about its growing food scene. As the locals know, we have a pretty good thing going on here, and people are starting to take notice. One of the businesses generating all of this greatness is Nashville’s bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Olive & Sinclair. These chocolate bars are a delight from start to finish, from the gorgeous packaging to the decadent chocolate sweetness wrapped inside. You know how Charlie felt unwrapping his Willy Wonka chocolate bar? Yeah, it’s a little like that for us….every single time.
Olive & Sinclair – Their Story
Chocolatier Scott Witherow has always loved food, with a particular penchant for sweets. He began working in the food industry at an early age and has spent his time in and around quite a few kitchens. After graduating from MTSU he went on to study at Le Cordon Blue London, a culinary school with an impressive reputation for the chefs it produces. But it was after Scott returned to Nashville and was working as a head chef that he began researching how chocolate was made. A chance encounter with a bean-to-bar maker in Canada solidified his interest, and from there a business plan was hatched.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, some help from his business savvy dad, and an outpouring of support from the community, Scott can now officially call Olive & Sinclair a successful dream come true. Voted “America’s Best Chocolate” by Southern Living Magazine and a sofi Awards 2013 finalist, the accolades just keep piling up.
What You Will Love
- Olive & Sinclair stone grinds the cacao beans and uses brown sugar in their batches to give a full, robust tone to each bar. This is part of what separates them from the rest of the pack.
- No fillers, no additives, they are 100% natural. Go ahead, feel good now about that chocolate addiction.
- Best sellers include Mexican Style Cinnamon Chili, Sea Salt Bar and the Bourbon Nib Brittle. Oh, and Gwyneth Paltrow ordered about 500 bars for friends and family based on her love for the Mexican Style Cinnamon Chili, and she is a true foodie in her own right. You know, just saying.
- They are currently working on a new factory in an old HG Hill grocery store in East Nashville. They plan to have a store there and provide tours on Saturdays for people who want to see the whole process.
Community
Just like East Side Story, Olive & Sinclair have nothing but love for their East Nashville neighbors. In fact, Scott loves them so much that he’s worked with quite a few on collaborations for chocolate bars. Prichard’s Distillery, Terrapin Brewery, and Allen Benton have all had their own hand in creating a unique bar. They even released a special bar to coincide with the Nashville band The Features back in 2011. Olive & Sinclair are also proud to be served in a great deal of the local restaurants and retail shops as those are the same places where they shop and eat themselves. Look for their bars at various distributors in the area. We buy them at our Whole Foods location in Cool Springs.
Social Media
In addition to their swanky website, you can find Olive & Sinclair on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, They use all 3 as a way to get communications out about the business and to stay in touch with their existing customers. Their Facebook page reveals not only a large number of likes (4, 827) but a pretty steady stream of recommendations and posts by others, which shows the loyalty and support from their satisfied customers.
So, are you ready to wow your friends, family and colleagues with a truly unique and delicious chocolately treat? Order up a batch of Olive & Sinclair bars by getting in touch with them through their website (here) or Facebook business page (here) to show your local love for them. And let me know your favorite bar at: Email Jenn.
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