Cover image: Chef Michael D. Poole at a Paris bistrot
© Entrée to Black Paris

Whenever the Salon du Chocolat is on in Paris, you can expect to find Chef Michael Poole here as well.

We've been writing about Chef Poole for ten years now (!) and continue to enjoy meeting up with him during his annual pilgrimage to the salon.

A few weeks prior to his arrival, Poole won yet another award at the Northwest Chocolate Festival - Best Chocolate Award in the confections category for 2023.

Northwest Chocolate Festival award
Image courtesy of Chef Michael D. Poole

He came to Paris after having traveled to Antigua to train the all-Black crew at Blue Waters Resort and Spa in the art of airbrushing chocolates. 

Airbrushed chocolates by Blue Waters Resort and Spa crew
Image courtesy of Chef Michael D. Poole

We met Chef Poole at a neighborhood café/bistrot, hoping to receive a sample of his most recent creations.  He did not disappoint us!

Chef Michael Poole shows us our package of chocolates
© Entrée to Black Paris

He gave us a sample of the following chocolates: Lemon Meringue ganache, Lina's Limoncello-infused White Chocolate ganache, Dark Chocolate ganache with Sea Salt Caramel, Cabernet-infused Dark Chocolate ganache (with a hint of blackberry), and Dark Chocolate ganache.

Though I definitely prefer dark chocolate to white chocolate, my favorites from this group were the Lemon Meringue and Lina's Limoncello-infused white chocolates!

Chef Poole explained that he has recently begun to work with wine producers to create chocolates that go beyond complementing their wines to actually incorporating wines as flavorings for the ganache fillings.

Syrah-infused dark chocolates
Image courtesy of Chef Michael D. Poole

Lina's Limoncello-infused white chocolates
Image courtesy of Chef Michael D. Poole

At this year's Salon du Chocolat, Chef Poole was inspired by the chocolate boots that were displayed there.

He wasted no time purchasing the appropriate molds in Paris and making his first batch of edible boots when he returned to Seattle.

White chocolate ankle boot
Image courtesy of Chef Michael D. Poole

Chef Poole is a wizard at posting reels of his chocolate workshops and travel experiences on Facebook. 

Find him here: https://www.facebook.com/HotChocolats

Visit his Website HERE.

Read our exclusive two-part interview with Chef Poole at the links below:

Chef Michael Poole - Firefighter and Cordon Bleu Grad

Chef Michael Poole - Artisanal "Hot Chocolat"