Skip to main content

François of Maison François and his chocolates at his store in the City Mall.

August 12 2018

Source

With a dream of becoming Guyana’s own Willy Wonka, a French-born Guyanese chocolatier has opened the country’s first artisanal chocolate shop.

Located on the second floor of the City Mall on Camp Street, Georgetown, Maison François, which bears the name of its owner, officially opened its doors on August 2nd, with affordable yet savory options for chocolate lovers.

Chocolate made with 18 carat edible gold as seen in Maison François

In an interview with Sunday Stabroek, François, 30, said that he was born in France to Guyanese parents and lived in Guyana for three years before returning home to France. He would eventually pursue studies in the culinary arts after switching from history.

Commenting on his culinary skills, François noted that he is versed in pastry making and would have had filled the position of Head Chef at several restaurants in Europe.

“I was Head Chef in a lot of places, like France, London and Dubai, so I have experience working in very classy places where one night there, a room would cost you £5,000. I eventually got into chocolate making and started making for the hotel in London then I made for Dubai,” the chocolatier shared.

François offering a sample of his chocolate to a customer.

According to François, he fell in love with chocolate and chocolate making about nine years ago after it was introduced to a class he was taking. “One day I was in class and the head chef decided to teach us chocolate that day and I was like okay. He said to us, ‘Let’s try green tea,’ the green tea we would usually drink, and when we finished making this thing it was so different, so fresh, because you could actually taste the green tea inside and from since then I fell in love with chocolate,” he related.

Several more years would pass before the young chocolatier considered opening a high end restaurant in Guyana. However, after further consideration, he decided that it would be a somewhat financially risky endeavour.

Having gone back to the drawing board, François decided to try something different with the introduction of the first artisanal chocolate shop in Guyana, which has taken an investment totalling $3.4 million.

“Chocolate is something that leaves a smile on everyone’s faces, so I decided why not try bring something new to Guyana… I always wanted to open my own business and so I decided to try Guyana… It’s working good, being the first chocolate shop in Guyana. I have so many bookings already for weddings, so it’s working well, I cannot complain. The response has been really good. It’s something new, the flavours are fresh and people are just loving it,” he shared.

“This will not be my only location, I hope to have many more locations in Guyana because I want to be the Willy Wonka of Guyana,” the entrepreneur added.

As if his idea to open a chocolate shop were not ambitious enough, François has taken the decision to specialise in dark chocolate, which can be eaten by anyone, including diabetics and those who are lactose intolerant.

“I do natural stuff. There are no chemicals or extra sugars added and all the chocolate is 70% dark chocolate,” he noted. “I am the first to arrive in Guyana with this quality of chocolate. You cannot find this in any other store because this isn’t industrial.

This is artisanal chocolate, just come down and taste for yourself,” the chocolatier added.

When this newspaper visited François’ shop last Monday, his display included a mix of lemon curd, orange marmalade, granola tablet, hazelnut, saffron truffles, peppermint, and even pieces of chocolate made with 18 carat edible gold, among countless others.

Chocolate fountains and sculptures on display in Maison François.

The art of producing these savory pieces of chocolate, however, is not an easy one and often results in the young man retiring to bed in the wee hours of the morning. “Every night I go home I create new stuff, so sometimes I go to bed at 3 in the morning. Chocolate is not something you can just snap your finger and it is there, it is a process.

Guyana is a very hot place and working here with chocolate on my very first try I thought it would be very difficult and it is but I still try my best to make my stuff at the quality just like I’m back home in France,” he explained. “I experiment a lot with flavor and taste and what imagination comes to my head and I say, ‘Okay, let’s try this and see how it goes,” François added.

A challenge to the chocolate making process has also presented itself in him not being able to readily locate ingredients he would usually use, thus resulting in him sourcing a lot of ingredients from Europe.  

Notwithstanding this, François hopes that he will be able to overcome this challenge and use local ingredients to continue making his chocolates.

Going forward, the chocolatier has his eyes set on opening his own chocolate factory and school, where he can share his knowledge with Guyanese. “Everything will be right here, they won’t have to go anywhere else,” he said.  

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Prashad posted:

This guy will do good.

I hope you're not implying that any black man will do good in Granger Guyana.

Seriously, François is onto something original and appealing in the local context. He is a trailblazing businessman. I wish him success.

FM

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

FM
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

FM
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

And you are that  famous NJ  donkey that shits out gold coins.

Mitwah
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

“I do natural stuff. There are no chemicals or extra sugars added and all the chocolate is 70% dark chocolate,” he noted. “I am the first to arrive in Guyana with this quality of chocolate. You cannot find this in any other store because this isn’t industrial"


 

That is not what is said in the article.

Is there any one you don't try to knock down ?

What's up with the "slopcan boy" ? you may pay a penalty for the continuous usage.

Django
Last edited by Django
Mitwah posted:
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

And you are that  famous NJ  donkey that shits out gold coins.

Jackass, tell me that I am wrong, does this man make chocolate from any local product? Where is his chocolate refining plant?

Come on jackass tell us if he does all this processing:

Step #1: Roasting and Winnowing the Cocoa

The first thing that chocolate manufacturers do with cocoa beans is roast them. This develops the colour and flavour of the beans into what our modern palates expect from fine chocolate. The outer shell of the beans is removed, and the inner cocoa bean meat is broken into small pieces called "cocoa nibs."

The roasting process makes the shells of the cocoa brittle, and cocoa nibs pass through a series of sieves, which strain and sort the nibs according to size in a process called "winnowing".

 

 

roasting  a small roaster

Step #2: Grinding the Cocoa Nibs

Grinding is the process by which cocoa nibs are ground into " cocoa liquor", which is also known as unsweetened chocolate or cocoa mass. The grinding process generates heat and the dry granular consistency of the cocoa nib is then turned into a liquid as the high amount of fat contained in the nib melts. The cocoa liquor is mixed with cocoa butter and sugar. In the case of milk chocolate, fresh, sweetened condensed or roller-dry low-heat powdered whole milk is added, depending on the individual manufacturer's formula and manufacturing methods.

 

Step #3: Blending Cocoa liquor and molding Chocolate

After the mixing process, the blend is further refined to bring the particle size of the added milk and sugar down to the desired fineness. The Cocoa powder or 'mass' is blended back with the butter and liquor in varying quantities to make different types of chocolate or couverture. The basic blends with ingredients roughly in order of highest quantity first are as follows:

Milk Chocolate - sugar, milk or milk powder, cocoa powder, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, Lethicin and Vanilla.

White Chocolate- sugar, milk or milk powder, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, Lethicin and Vanilla.

 

Plain Dark Chocolate - cocoa powder, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, Lethicin and Vanilla.

After blending is complete, molding is the final procedure for chocolate processing. This step allows cocoa liquor to cool and harden into different shapes depending on the mold. Finally the chocolate is packaged and distributed around the world.

 

mixing

FM
Django posted:

No one need a schooling about chocolate from you,dimwit.

Watch your language.

Every effort some one does,knocked down by you.

Here is the definition of a chocolatier, now tell me if this man makes his own chocolate? Clearly the man is misrepresenting the french root of the word. 

Chocolatier or Chocolate Maker. ... A chocolatier, under the French definition, is anartisan small batch producer who creates chocolate confections using the chocolate which they made themselves. There are 5 real chocolatiers in France, who have fought to protect the name.
 
FM
Drugb posted:
Django posted:

No one need a schooling about chocolate from you,dimwit.

Watch your language.

Every effort some one does,knocked down by you.

Here is the definition of a chocolatier, now tell me if this man makes his own chocolate? Clearly the man is misrepresenting the french root of the word. 

Chocolatier or Chocolate Maker. ... A chocolatier, under the French definition, is anartisan small batch producer who creates chocolate confections using the chocolate which they made themselves. There are 5 real chocolatiers in France, who have fought to protect the name.
 

Don't need no schooling from you,

he is an entrepreneur and will succeed.

Django
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

Oh rass, so what's the big fuss!!

I did tour Alproso factory in Ticino Swiss, it's a big operations requiring major investments.  But I'm sure they have smaller scale equipment.

FM
Baseman posted:
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

Oh rass, so what's the big fuss!!

I did tour Alproso factory in Ticino Swiss, it's a big operations requiring major investments.  But I'm sure they have smaller scale equipment.

Bhai,you doan have to pull out the magnifying glass fuh that.

Django

The process of making chocolate is a South American invention, done by people in their kitchen all those years ago. To suggest that it requires a big manufacturing process is a slur.

As I said before, DrugB only knows how to bad mouth Guyana.

Mr.T
Mr.T posted:

The process of making chocolate is a South American invention, done by people in their kitchen all those years ago. To suggest that it requires a big manufacturing process is a slur.

As I said before, DrugB only knows how to bad mouth Guyana.

True deh, but was not Blacks and Coolies:

Chocolate History: Who Invented Chocolate? Chocolate history starts out in Latin America, where cacao trees grow wild. The first people to use chocolate were probably the Olmec of what is today southeast Mexico. They lived in the area around 1000 BC, and their word, “kakawa,” gave us our word “cacao.”

FM
Drugb posted:
Mitwah posted:
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

And you are that  famous NJ  donkey that shits out gold coins.

Jackass, tell me that I am wrong, does this man make chocolate from any local product? Where is his chocolate refining plant?

 

I have to faaaart very loud to make an A$$hole like you understand. Before you bray again, take a good look in the mirror. Don't scare your ugly self now.

Mitwah
Last edited by Mitwah

@Former Member

First, you knocked down a house that Warrior built for some poor people. Now you knocking down a small but sharp man like François. Have an empathetic spirit, brother. Live and let live.

FM
Gilbakka posted:
Prashad posted:

This guy will do good.

I hope you're not implying that any black man will do good in Granger Guyana.

Seriously, François is onto something original and appealing in the local context. He is a trailblazing businessman. I wish him success.

I wish him the best of luck.  I hope each of the main hotels in Guyana use his services for their guests.  Banks DIH should also use his services at their restaurants.

Prashad
Baseman posted:
Mr.T posted:

The process of making chocolate is a South American invention, done by people in their kitchen all those years ago. To suggest that it requires a big manufacturing process is a slur.

As I said before, DrugB only knows how to bad mouth Guyana.

True deh, but was not Blacks and Coolies:

Chocolate History: Who Invented Chocolate? Chocolate history starts out in Latin America, where cacao trees grow wild. The first people to use chocolate were probably the Olmec of what is today southeast Mexico. They lived in the area around 1000 BC, and their word, “kakawa,” gave us our word “cacao.”

It's not important which culture first thought of it. The fundamental issue is that chocolate is coming home, as to rephrase a famous saying. Granger talked about entrepreneurship. One swallow doesn't make it summer, but it sure would help if many more young Guyanese would take a chance and go back home to help set up businesses that can export their products to the rest of the WI in years to come. It's not a pipe dream. Limacol, Guyanese rum etc can be found in shops thousands of miles away from Guyana.

Mr.T
Drugb posted:
Django posted:

No one need a schooling about chocolate from you,dimwit.

Watch your language.

Every effort some one does,knocked down by you.

Here is the definition of a chocolatier, now tell me if this man makes his own chocolate? Clearly the man is misrepresenting the french root of the word. 

Chocolatier or Chocolate Maker. ... A chocolatier, under the French definition, is anartisan small batch producer who creates chocolate confections using the chocolate which they made themselves. There are 5 real chocolatiers in France, who have fought to protect the name.
 

Get your story straight, the man ain't making chocolate like t bone claiming, he is making products derived from chocolate. Even you can do this with a little training. He is no chocolatier and you sloppily claim. 

FM
Mr.T posted:

The process of making chocolate is a South American invention, done by people in their kitchen all those years ago. To suggest that it requires a big manufacturing process is a slur.

As I said before, DrugB only knows how to bad mouth Guyana.

Now you sloppy boys change your tune, when you were badmouthing PPP investors back when they were power, you didn't seem to think you were badmouthing Guyana. Now that a PNC henchman claim to be a chocolatier falsely, you can't contain your self as you are eager to claim that he is an investor. He is not using any local products, all imports from europe and Guyana producing Caco pods.  

A challenge to the chocolate making process has also presented itself in him not being able to readily locate ingredients he would usually use, thus resulting in him sourcing a lot of ingredients from Europe.  

FM
Drugb posted:
Drugb posted:
Django posted:

No one need a schooling about chocolate from you,dimwit.

Watch your language.

Every effort some one does,knocked down by you.

Here is the definition of a chocolatier, now tell me if this man makes his own chocolate? Clearly the man is misrepresenting the french root of the word. 

Chocolatier or Chocolate Maker. ... A chocolatier, under the French definition, is anartisan small batch producer who creates chocolate confections using the chocolate which they made themselves. There are 5 real chocolatiers in France, who have fought to protect the name.
 

Get your story straight, the man ain't making chocolate like t bone claiming, he is making products derived from chocolate. Even you can do this with a little training. He is no chocolatier and you sloppily claim. 

Oh skites,this fella talking to himself.

Django
Django posted:
Drugb posted:
Drugb posted:
Django posted:

No one need a schooling about chocolate from you,dimwit.

Watch your language.

Every effort some one does,knocked down by you.

Here is the definition of a chocolatier, now tell me if this man makes his own chocolate? Clearly the man is misrepresenting the french root of the word. 

Chocolatier or Chocolate Maker. ... A chocolatier, under the French definition, is anartisan small batch producer who creates chocolate confections using the chocolate which they made themselves. There are 5 real chocolatiers in France, who have fought to protect the name.
 

Get your story straight, the man ain't making chocolate like t bone claiming, he is making products derived from chocolate. Even you can do this with a little training. He is no chocolatier and you sloppily claim. 

Oh skites,this fella talking to himself.

Sloppy drug boy gone mad. hahahahahahah! 

Mitwah
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Could I say it with chocolates what I wanted to say to you? 

Mitwah
Drugb posted:
Baseman posted:

Great, Guyana has it's own variety of cocoa and should be used to produce local chocolates and export to Caricom.  Granger should bring back some elements of the F of the FCH program.  This is the best way to bring oil wealth to the people!

This man is not making chocolate from scratch. He merely importing commercial chocolate bars and further processing it. When slop can boy posted this article about willie wonka I thought that the guy was using local cocao and processing it like willie wonka. Instead he is really willie bonka, a middle man.

Shut your narrow minded jealous ass.

GTAngler
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

GTAngler
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office.  You better start laying low.

You want to start this getting personal with people again? You forget I know a lot about you. You obviously think you're that important that I would know or care to know anything about you. You're not and I don't.

GTAngler
Last edited by GTAngler
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bhai GTAngler,spy in the camp,me thinks some folks get too personal with posters.

Django
Django posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bhai GTAngler,spy in the camp,me thinks some folks get too personal with posters.

Do you agree if posters leave personel bashing and have intelligent discussion it’s usefull to all.

I have learnt from the intelligent posters and I am sure you do. 

FM
Dave posted:
Django posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bhai GTAngler,spy in the camp,me thinks some folks get too personal with posters.

Do you agree if posters leave personel bashing and have intelligent discussion it’s usefull to all.

I have learnt from the intelligent posters and I am sure you do. 

I absolutely agree. If you notice, it's normally the posters who have no intelligent responses who resort to personal attacks. In this particular instance, I should left it at the first half of the post.

GTAngler
Last edited by GTAngler
Dave posted:
Django posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bhai GTAngler,spy in the camp,me thinks some folks get too personal with posters.

Do you agree if posters leave personel bashing and have intelligent discussion it’s usefull to all.

I have learnt from the intelligent posters and I am sure you do. 

Why are you not addressing BIBI who started the personal bashing? It would have been more appropriate or relevant. No?

Mitwah
Dave posted:
Django posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
GTAngler posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

Bonne chance a Francois.  Poor chap will be importing sugar soon for his chocolate treats like how DDL is importing molasses to make rum.

Seriously, you can't ever have a positive thought? Is your life so miserable?

You, all of people, know that my life is far from miserable.  You need to get off this site during work hours and earn an honest living.  A GNI member who you love to cuss down has a brother who works there in your office. You better start laying low.

Bhai GTAngler,spy in the camp,me thinks some folks get too personal with posters.

Do you agree if posters leave personel bashing and have intelligent discussion it’s usefull to all.

I have learnt from the intelligent posters and I am sure you do. 

Bhai Dave, 

preferably intelligent discussion,I don't care about the personal stuff about posters.

Some folks think they get an upper hand by getting personal,label,etc..

Some call it licks,ask my frenno Skelly.

Django
Last edited by Django
×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×