The 25th Anniversary Celebrations Begin! | #PSC 206
OVERVIEW: Episode 206 of #PodSaveChocolate is the first in a series of posts this June that look back at the past 25 years and chart a path forward for TheChocolateLife community and me, personally.
Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode.
Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode!
Subscribe (free!) to the @PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel, like this video, comment, and share this episode to help grow the #PSC community.
Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn.
Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other.
Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on TheChocolateLife page on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube).
Follow TheChocolateLife on Facebook to receive notifications and catch up on other content.
Episode 206 Overview
In the beginning:
Clay Gordon
The first site snapshot by the Archive.org Wayback Machine was on June 2nd, 25 years ago.
Prologue
Before the beginning:
Everything I have done since 1996 has led, not necessarily in a straight line, to where I am today.
While June 2nd, 2001, is the oldest evidence of my debut as a professional chocolate critic, my chocolate journey began in the south of France in February 1994.
That is when I accidentally discovered Bonnat single-origin chocolate. (Coincidentally, that was ten years after Maison Bonnat introduced their original single-origin bar line for the 100th anniversary of their beginning to manufacture chocolate. The family history in pastry, cocoa, and more stretches back to the 1750s.)
About a month later, I had an entrepreneurial epiphany: I realized that while there were professional critics for just about everything you can think of, there were no professional critics whose focus was on chocolate.
So I decided to become the first. I had no idea what I needed to learn, who I could learn it from, where I could go to learn, I didn’t even know what it meant to be a professional chocolate critic. But I trusted my intuition, based on experience, that I had five to ten years to figure it out before the market caught up with my insight.
– Joining my first high-tech startup (1983)
– Writing for trade journals (1984 – present)
– Attending TED 2
– Consulting clients (IBM, Agfa, Time Warner, Silicon Graphics ...)
– Working for the first HD video company in the US (1991-1992)
– Co-founder of Enfish Technologies (1993)
– MILIA (1994-1998)
– My first book ... on HD video production (1995-96)
– My first copy of The True History of Chocolate
– Scharffen Berger launches
– Traveling to Voiron to meet Stéphane Bonnat (1998)
– Being introduced to Cluizel Nuanciers (1998)
– Working with Pierrick Chouard (1999 – 2003)
The first time I stepped out in public as a chocolate critic was at the 2001 Summer Fancy Food Show. There, I met Gary Guittard, who listened to my thoughts about where the market was going, encouraging me to continue. I also met Freddy Schilling, one of the co-founders of Dagoba Chocolate. These meetings, and others, gave me the confidence to continue.
– My last high-tech startup and full-time job (9/2001-6/2002).
– Establishing continuity with Guittard and others.
– Writing for Chocolatier Magazine
– Working the World Pastry Forum and Team Championships
– Trips to Ecuador in 2003 and 2005
Status check:
All of the above, and countless other experiences, set the foundation for what I want to do – with your help – over the next decade. (That’s right, I have set myself a goal for 2035, and am actively working to make it happen.)
To help me celebrate my 25th anniversary, I hope you will consider becoming a Lifetime Member!
This offer is only available May 25 – June 30, 2026.
Looking to the future:
Save the date: Thursday, November 5th
Coincides with the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival
Featuring Craft Chocolat Challenge winners
Future PodSaveChocolate Episodes
Most of the episodes in June will explore key moments in my journey and how they have influenced the future directions I want to take. I encourage everyone to join me for the June News/AMA episode on Tuesday, June 9th with questions for me to answer LIVE!
June News & AMA (about chocolate or cocoa)
#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives
To read an archived post and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below.
Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
Episode Hashtags
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife