With two locations in Exeter and Portsmouth, Curio Artisan Chocolate is a gallery, sensory delight, and passion project. At either location, owner Samantha Brown will invite you into her ever-evolving imagination, elegantly wrapped in the expertise of an artist. It's no surprise to learn “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” sparked her affinity for chocolate. The face of Wonka, the fictional father of the chocolate dream-come-true, hangs proudly in the space.
A former teacher, Brown listened years ago to a calling and journeyed into the world of chocolate making. Her entrepreneurial spirit was inspired by the film “Chocolat.” She reflects on Juliet Binoche’s character Vianne: “Here was a woman sharing beautiful chocolates and growing a business against the odds.”
For Brown, the odds would become a hidden blessing. While she was working for Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, Brown endured the devastation of a house fire. In its wake, she beheld the loss of material belongings, but found light amidst it. “That fire pushed me to start my dream of my own chocolate shop,” she said. “It also reinforced that tasting, creating, and sharing are more important than the things that fill our homes.”
Following a path trod by accomplished artists, Brown built on her experience, sought out exceptional training, and propelled her vision forward. Her education has taken her to places like France and Grenada, and she has cultivated a multi-faceted understanding of the delicacy of fine chocolate. Like wine or cheese, chocolate is complex and geographically influenced, and if it is going to play with other flavors, it should play well. Additionally, Brown explains, the presentation of a piece of chocolate is critical to the experience. She quotes a master chocolatier at Ecole Valrhona, who taught her, “you taste with your eyes first.”
Brown aims to embody these words in each of her creations at Curio’s confectionary boutiques. The shops duly represent all compulsory categories of sweets from jellies and marzipan to nougats and truffles, and an array of chocolate drinks. Each piece is created with Brown’s penchant for unique expression. “Curio reflects who I am,” she said. “Curious, innovative, full of imagination, and trying new things. I want Curio to bring more whimsy, innovation, and fun to the chocolate world.”
Innovation is only part of Curio’s mission. Brown also shares a strong awareness of the darker realities of the chocolate industry. Her experience as a teacher has made her an advocate for child safety and education. As a result, she strives to source chocolate from suppliers who do not use child labor.
Additionally, Brown is dedicated to partnering with companies that harvest their cacao from sustainably-grown trees, with respect for the environments in which they thrive. Brown wants her customers to not only find deliciousness in what they see and taste but also to take heart in knowing the goodness is rooted in ethical production.
Curio’s customer base includes travelers who flock to the Seacoast for all its wonders, but Brown also has the pleasure of meeting locals who discover her edible art. “We talk about the kinds of food they like, the places they travel to, and what they love about chocolate,” she says. “Some of our oldest customers met us exactly that way, and they’ve become good friends.” With these relationships in mind, Curio has struck a balance between exquisiteness and old-fashioned human connection. After all, the success of Brown’s product relies on its appeal to those who taste it.
Drawing from sensory experiences, like tasting flavors in a restaurant, Brown conjures ideas for beautiful, challenging recipes, an endeavor that requires risk taking. "I experiment with flavor constantly, pairing chocolate with things like mustard, wasabi, duck fat, and others," she said. "I play with tricky vegan recipes and different kinds of nut and fruit combinations.”
Every chef knows the courage required in sharing such new concoctions, but Brown enjoys that part. “There aren’t too many things better than making food and watching someone try it for the first or 21st time. Seeing the bliss on their face as they let the flavors blend on their tastebuds is an amazing experience.” And if a flavor just doesn’t seem right? Brown’s meticulousness brings her right back to her imagination, with an unwavering and adventurous spirit.
Being the curator of chocolate art is a daily commitment. Business is busy and days away are few, but the prospect of “chocolate and possibility,” as she calls it, pushes Brown to explore newness on every level. “Once you start creating with chocolate,” she muses, “you can’t stop. It becomes an expression of who you are.” In that way, Curio is a kind of grown-up playground, where all are welcome to partake in the sweet magic Brown creates.
Curio Artisan Chocolate
Exeter and Portsmouth locations
curioartisanchocolate.com
Once you start creating with chocolate, you can’t stop. It becomes an expression of who you are.
There aren’t too many things better than making food and watching someone try it for the first or 21st time...it's an amazing experience.