Anna Shea Chocolates in Katonah, New York Draws on European Influence

Like life, you never know what you're going to get from a box of chocolates but there is a certainty that can now be found in every chocolate collection that customers are coming away with at Anna Shea chocolates in Katonah, New York. "A little piece of heaven," says Lizzie Lang of the samplings she has taken since starting work there as a sales clerk.

On site at the 2nd store in the chain, Anna's husband Tim Shea can confirm that the chocolate has been a success so far and goes further because their chocolate doesn't stop at impressing the sense of taste. "Our product is an all encompassing thing. It's beautiful to look at and it's beautiful to taste," he says.

Two senses, two step process says Mr. Shea. The ingredients are all combined at specific temperatures in order to create a very silky perfect consistency. Secondly, each piece is hand painted and airbrushed using colored cocoa butter in their production facility in New Rochelle, New York

Although Anna Shea and her chocolate's point of origin extend much further back than April 4th and a half hour's drive down county. Anna came to America six years ago from Finland as a psychology student who wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to do with her life. Ultimately, he says, "She started working for a chocolatier and it just took off from there."

Art comes in as a lifelong interest and an aptitude that she has always had in her family. "Chocolate is just an artistic expression," he says, and she directly oversees the day to day operations - even though she has relinquished some of the artistic control with the hiring of a few employees at the chocolate factory.

Initially, Ms. Shea began as a wholesaler six years ago and they did well enough to open a retail store in Tarrytown, New York in 2004. Mr. Shea started out in this endeavor with his wife by helping out with branding and packaging and product design. As business picked up, he left his full time job to handle business development and the marketing.

It's a little off from where he was in the telecomunications business but having their own business was always a goal. "I never dreamed it would be in chocolate," he says, but it all still remains rooted in his wife's European upbringing.

Swiss, French and Scandinavian in style, he says, "some of the recipes are very old traditional recipes with her twist." All the better for those of us used to Snickers bars and not a 12 gram chunk of chocolate art.

As for the chocolates outer appearance, Ms. Shea envisions how the flavor might look and then designs the delight. It all adds up to a great Mother's Day gift or anniversary piece.

Unfortunately, it might not work out so well for Godiva chocolates or your next stop to the movie concession stand, according to Ms. Lang at the counter. Godivas are nice but they've lost some of their charm, she says, and as for movie mints or Goobers, "I couldn't get them last time because after eating these it's like there's no comparison."

Rich Monetti interview of Tim Shea and Lizzie Lang