LUPHIA & SPIRIT Almond: Artisanal almond creations
About 80% of the world’s almond supply come from California. Being both a gourmet delicacy and a nutrient-dense food, the almond provided Michael and Jun Sanders the inspiration to create LUPHIA and SPIRIT Almond. In 2017, Jun, who was born in Japan, and Michael, who spent his teenage and early adult years there, discovered a passion for artisanal luxury sweets and launched LUPHIA, a brand based on the Omiyage culture — Japan’s unique gift-giving tradition which often involves local food specialties: “The almond was the perfect fit to create a signature California gift.” Serving celebrity and executive clients by special order, LUPHIA, whose Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee recently won the Gold Award in the International Chocolate Awards’ World Final competition, only sells their exclusive, locally crafted sweets to the general public once a year during the Winter holiday season via their online shop. In 2021, the couple decided to expand their line of artisanal almond products. On a mission to create the ultimate iterations of California almonds, they launched SPIRIT Almond, a plant-based… READ MORE Share your experience with #SPIRITAlmond
ButterLove & Hardwork: Smashing sculptures for the love of chocolate
Pastry chef Chris Ford’s ever-evolving thematic and delicious experiences have defined his successful career as a creative pioneer. With his company ButterLove&Hardwork, he delves into the art of luxury confections with famous creations like his signature chocolate breakable sculptures. While Ford’s grandmother taught him baking and cooking, his parents instilled in him the essence of hard work and perfectionism. His first job in a fine-dining kitchen was at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando. He worked in New York and Virginia before joining the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore… READ MORE Share your experience with #butterloveandhardwork
