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Meet Ricardo Trillos of Cao Chocolates in Pinecrest

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Trillos.

Ricardo, Chocolate maker and Chocolatier, has traveled continuously throughout the years to learn how to make chocolate from scratch and how to turn this delicious cocoa liquor into the finest chocolate confections.

“Cao”, as Ricardo is also known, decided to change his life career as accountant and turned this love for chocolate into a business establishing Cao Chocolates in 2009, to offer a wide variety of options to our customers, including Miami Bean-to-bar chocolate bars made using cacao beans sourced from small farmers around the world, and chocolate truffles and bonbons using 100% fine Venezuelan cacao, and other origins with premium quality ingredients, and fine liquors.

In 2012, they opened our first retail/factory location in Pinecrest, FL. Since then, Cao Chocolates has become a place-to-go to get fresh and unique chocolate confections with a friendly atmosphere and outstanding customer service.

During this sweet journey, Cao Chocolates have received several recognitions, including “Diamond of the rough” and “Rising Star Award” from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Also, have been featured on different media channels as NBC, WSVN, Miami New Times, Telemundo, Miami local magazines and more. In 2015, AP Agency used Cao Chocolates image for St. Valentine’s Day coverage around the world.

In 2013, Cao Chocolates was featured as the only Florida business to be part of the American Express Shop Small campaign, and since then they became Neighborhood Champion for American Express Small Business Saturday Campaign of 2013, 2014 & 2015. They can proudly say that they are changing Miami’s mindset about growing and supporting local businesses focusing on explaining the importance of shopping local.

On February 10th, 2017, Ricardo was invited by Food Network to participate as a contestant at Guy’s Groceries Games “Chocolate games” episode. He used his experience to cook savory dishes using chocolate as main ingredient.

A unique experience sharing knowledge with other chefs that won’t be the last one.

Cao Chocolates is pioneering the process of growing cacao trees in South Florida in partnership with Patch of Heaven Gardens and they’ve become the first plantation in the Continental US which according to experts was almost impossible years ago due to their climate and demographics. Their main goal is to put Miami on the map for this accomplishment and made a chocolate bar using 100% local ingredients.

But the journey continues because it is only the beginning and they are committed to keep learning, experimenting with beans of new origins, creating new recipes, and making Miami proud as they represent their city in different festivals and conventions nationwide. But most important, they will continue to teach their customers about the importance of enjoying a real chocolate. Let’s enjoy this sweet journey together!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Miami was not the easiest place to start a chocolate business. The climate and the little appreciation by the masses about chocolate forced us to go work very hard to spread the knowledge about this power food and manage ways to control heat, shipping etc.

At the beginning also we did not have a retail location and most of the sales were online. However, we decided to get out name out and became the first chocolate business participating in artisan farmers market as well and also creating a local delivery service for our customer’s convenience to avoid local shipping.

Please tell us about Cao Chocolates.
We are a family owned business. My wife is my partner and my two daughters are always hands-on when it comes to help and make things happen.

As we always explain we are chocolate makers which means we make the chocolate that bakers, pastry chefs and anybody who uses chocolate need. We start from the cacao bean itself and were the first “bean to bar” chocolate makers in this city when every single other chocolate company was using confectionery chocolate.

We are proud of placing South Florida on the chocolate industry map as chocolate makers when nobody thought there was a business making their own chocolate. Also, right now, we’ve gone even further planting cacao trees and making chocolate from the local fruits.

Also, what sets us apart is the time and passion for educating people about what we do and explain the difference in flavors, note profiles within a single piece of chocolate.

We have become the go-to chocolate people in the city for our knowledge and community engagement.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My mom taking me to the park with a big plastic bag full of balls (soccer, basketball, volleyball etc.) and once we got there the park was empty. She looked at me and said “We don’t need anybody else. We will play together until we leave” it was a moment that has become more and more special throughout the years.

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Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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