Norman Love
Norman Love is an American pastry chef located in Fort Myers, Florida.
Career
Love served as corporate executive pastry chef for Ritz-Carlton from 1988-2001, opening hotel pastry kitchens in such locations as Boston, Dubai and Bali. Love left Ritz-Carlton after 13 years to focus on the culinary event production company, Carymax LLC, with co-founder Michael Schneider.[1][2][3] The company's pastry competitions were a hit with viewers and became the basis for the TV series Food Network Challenge.[4] In 2001, Love founded Norman Love Confections (originally named Ganache Chocolates) with Sarasota-based pastry chef Judy Limekiller.[5][6] The co-owners began producing unique ultra-premium chocolates for hotels, resorts, and restaurants, but quickly found success with retail customers. In February 2002, USA Today named Ganache Chocolates one of the top 10 artisan chocolate companies in the country.[7] Schneider, who was editor-in-chief of Chocolatier magazine at the time, was a primary source for the story.[8] With a reputation for excellence and his network of connections in the industry, it wasn't long before Love was approached by Godiva to design limited-edition flavors for their "G" line.[9] In 2004, Love re-named the chocolate company "Norman Love Confections", and he and Limekiller parted ways.[10] Following this transformation, Love continued to build his brand and utilized product placement at charity events to generate visibility in his community.[11] In February 2005, Norman Love Confections was rated one of the top three chocolate companies in the country by Consumer Reports.
Love was one of only 26 selected to appear on Julia Child's show "Baking with Julia" on PBS, creating Banana Stuffed Cinnamon Sugar Beignets.[12] In addition, Godiva Chocolatier has Love do a limited edition line of chocolates that they label as their exclusive "G" Collection. Flavors include Lemon Drop, Tart Raspberry, Bananas Foster, Apple Pie, Tahitian Vanilla, P.B. & Jam, Salted Caramel, Caramel Macchiato.[13] Furthermore, almost every chocolatier who makes shell-molded chocolates has at least one piece that uses one of the techniques that Love has perfected.[14]
While there are only four storefronts (Naples, Estero, and two in Fort Myers, FL), Norman Love Confections can be found in other locations across the country.[15]
References
- ^ Friedman, Chloe (February 2018). "Norman Love: Falling into the Chocolate Business". Entrepreneurial Chef. 3 (20): 32–45.
- ^ Bone, Yvette Schultz (January 2017). "Feature". The Corridor.
- ^ Stevens, Muriel (July 12, 2002). "Columnist Muriel Stevens: U.S. gets just desserts at pastry championships". Las Vegas Sun.
- ^ Eha, Brian (October 2015). "Norman Love Reflects on Lifetime Spent Building Chocolate Business". Naples Illustrated.
- ^ "Hot Stuff". Sarasota Magazine. April 1, 2003.
- ^ Geary, Leslie (May 23, 2003). "High-end chocolate: worth the price?". CNN Money.
- ^ Sloan, Gene (February 8, 2002). "10 great places to dip into luscious chocolate". USA Today.
- ^ Feldman, Karen (May 5, 2002). "Chocolate Lover's Heaven on Earth". The News-Press. No. Sunday.
- ^ "History of Godiva Chocolatier, Inc". Funding Universe.
- ^ "Amendment and Name Change". sunbiz.org. Florida Division of Corporations.
- ^ Friedman, Chloe (February 2018). "Norman Love: Falling into the Chocolate Business". Entrepreneurial Chef. 3 (20): 41.
- ^ "Julia Child: Lessons with Master Chefs: Meet The Chefs: Norman Love". PBS. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "Godiva chocolate, gourmet chocolate gifts and truffles at". Godiva.com. 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "Top 10 Questions You'd Like to ... Ask Norman Love". The Chocolate Life. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach: Gourmet Shop". Ritzcarlton.com. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-02-10.