Machiavelli - How to Make a Mean Chocolate

Machiavelli Chocolatier is a new name in the business, but it has plans to become big in no time. Raul Matias, the chocolatier and the company’s founder, is a determined man with a passion for chocolate and a keenness for unusual combinations. Hailing from Philippines, he was supposed to take over the family business together with his siblings, but he chose to come to the United States at a young age in order to practice his degree in physical therapy. Although he’s worked in this field for more than ten years, he has always been convinced that he’ll turn to chocolate someday.

And so he did when he took the classes of the online chocolate school Ecole Chocolat a while ago. This school offered him a chance to enroll in Master Chocolatier programs in Vancouver, Canada and Valhrona, France, after which he interned in various shops in New York and Florida. But since he confesses he finds chocolate "a very interesting and intriguing subject," a universal food, he chose to study it and research it in more depth on his own.

Thus came about the Eurasian fusion chocolates that aim to dazzle your senses with their unique mixes. Mr. Matias’s Asian background also contributed to his desire to combine the best of both worlds – European chocolate techniques and Asian herbs, spices, root crops and fruits. Among the current products, one can find such delectable bonbons as Mango Lait, Guava Asia, Purple Yam Yum, Jasmine Blossom, Ivoire Jack and Lychee Noir. Their shape is just as Asian as their content, very sharp and to the point and you just sense that there’s a whole new world of taste to be discovered within them. Don’t you feel your sugar level dropping already?

I was very curious to find out more on the choice of name for this company, since it does nothing to suggest the Asian-themed flavors, but one may actually confuse it with an Italian brand. Or with a very diabolical chocolatier. Apparently Mr. Matias is an avid reader of Nicolo Machiavelli’s books and thinks that there are similarities between his oeuvres and chocolate. His books have been misunderstood for a very long time as being rather evil and cynical and not practical as it is believed now, and so has chocolate, its beneficial effects being unknown until recently. There are even cute quotes about chocolate paraphrasing Machiavelli’s sayings on the company’s website. I asked him if he wants to be the next Kenneth Cole, and he said he just wants to become known for his unique recipes.

The Machiavellian chocolates aim to have intelligent, adventurous buyers. Like Raul Matias says himself, "I want my products (and clients) to be passionate, impulsive, but at the same time practical and pragmatic; sexy and fashionable but at the same time smart and sensible!! I want them to be risk takers. I want them to be worldly. This is why I am not afraid to try and introduce these new recipes!" With 6 new flavors ready to be brought into the world, we are sure Machiavelli will take the world by storm.

Obviously the man loves his chocolates. We hope to love them too very soon, but unfortunately, so far they are only sold through two gourmet stores, caterers and to private orders in New York and Florida. There’s also a tasting facility in Westchester, New York. For upcoming information, please visit the website at www.mach-chocolatier.com