Meet the Creator of La Gourmande Chocolates

La Gourmande chocolatier Francoise

Bonjour. I’m Françoise—artist, chocolatier, and founder of La Gourmande.

Starting this business wasn’t planned. It happened after a serious car accident left me with a concussion and depression. I couldn’t think clearly, couldn’t focus. But life has a funny way of surprising us. With the help of Lion’s Mane, a natural mushroom known to support clarity and focus, I slowly found my way back. Within a week, I was making decisions again. Within a month, I started business school.

That turning point led me here: crafting beautiful, delicious, ethical chocolate with care, purpose, and passion. And one of my first products was Lion’s Mane infused chocolate.

Always ethical. Always delicious.

Every bar of La Gourmande chocolate reflects my deepest values. I use only organic, fairtrade, sustainably sourced delicious ingredients. 

My cacao comes from a cooperative in the Dominican Republic, where farmers use regenerative methods—pairing plants naturally, without chemical inputs, allowing nature to thrive.

The chocolate is made by those same farming communities. They harvest, ferment, roast, and transform the beans into the superb chocolate I use today. Supporting these farmers is my way to honour chocolate’s ancestral roots and help protect its future.

My dark chocolate has only four ingredients: cacao mass, cacao butter, cane sugar, and vanilla extract. That’s it. 

Naturally rich in antioxidants and essential trace minerals, in France, where I come from, we officially consider dark chocolate an essential food!

Find out for yourself why our handcrafted chocolates continue to grow in popularity.

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A chocolatier with an artist’s eye

Building upon my formal artistic training at  “L’École Nationale des Beaux-Arts” (France’s state fine art school), I have collected many more techniques and concepts over the years and it reflects in some of what I do today: mould designs, shimmer finishes, airbrushing, etc… I’m always exploring new ideas! And I’ve learned the patience needed for microgram measurements, cacao butter tempering to create beautiful finishes and effects, and exact technique after experimenting with chocolate for over 20 years.

I also learned, long before using YouTube tutorials and other online resources, the art of baking and cooking carefully and with love and exactitude from my own father, who like me, had a serious penchant for everything confectionery and artistic.

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La Gourmande raw chocolate

From Port Coquitlam, with care

La Gourmande chocolates are proudly handmade in small batches in Port Coquitlam, BC. If you see me around in this vibrant community please say "bonjour". I love chatting about chocolate!

Merci for supporting this journey—from my heart and hands to yours.

La Gourmande

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