Our Story
Most “About Us” pages begin with a nostalgic tale – stories of childhood baking, or how a long-time hobby transformed into a business.
That isn’t my story.
I never worked with chocolate growing up. It wasn't a passion or even a hobby. But some way, somehow... I ended up opening a chocolate-inspired store. How does that even happen?
I've always been passionate about food and how it brings people together. I've long dreamed of opening up a food business; it wasn't just for the love of food itself, but how awe-inspiring it was that food could create connection and give me the challenge of building something meaningful. There were different avenues I could have taken, but chocolate turned out to be the perfect vehicle for what I wanted. Let's be honest – very few people don't love chocolate. Chocolate is fun, happy and always a real treat. It just so happened that everywhere I turned there were chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-stuffed pretzels, and all sorts of chocolate-dipped goodies. So, the concept was born, transforming quickly into a full-blown idea.
But, my problem was that chocolate is very nuanced, temperamental ,and not the easiest to work with. How can I open a store without the background? Well, that's when I met an extraordinary master chocolatier who took a chance on me. She taught me all that I needed to know, from tempering, dipping, and decorating, to how to work with chocolate creatively. To say she’s incredible is an understatement.
The journey hasn't been easy. There have existed countless of learning moments and trial and error. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Today, I get to create products by hand. I'm able to use only the finest ingredients. But best of all, I'm able to share my creations with people who truly appreciate them. It brings me so much joy to have been able to connect with such a wonderful, vibrant community, full of lovely people. Whether it’s at the store in Larchmont, NY or the people I've met along the way, each interaction reminds me why I started this in the first place.
So no, I didn't start with technical skills or a passion for chocolate. But I had a passion for creating something special, something high-quality, thoughtful, and full of joy. And that's exactly what The Dressed Pretzel and Co. is all about.
Thanks for being here. Thanks for giving my wonderful products a try. I truly hope you love what we've made.
– Sophia
