11: A Chocolate Tourist, with Jack Epstein of Chocolate Covered

You don’t need passion to start a business, but you do need it to keep one going for a quarter century. Life-long entrepreneur Jack Epstein of Chocolate Covered sells over a thousand artisan chocolates from his store in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Learn how Jack built his unique business, and hear valuable advice from a shopkeeper who’s been in business for 25 years. Plus, Jack shares dozens of chocolate and San Francisco restaurant recommendations!
Links and Show Notes
Ocean Front Walkers (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Front-Walkers/155581997815782)
Liberal arts education - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts_education)
Tai chi - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi)
Tai chi: A gentle way to fight stress - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/tai-chi/art-20045184)
Bar and Bat Mitzvah - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_and_Bat_Mitzvah)
Bodysurfing - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodysurfing)
“health benefits of cacao” - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?q=health+benefits+of+cacao)
Black and White cookies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_white_cookie)
Black and White Cookies Recipe (https://www.browneyedbaker.com/black-and-white-cookies-recipe/)
All 25 Oreos Flavors, Ranked, Tested and Reviewed - Best Oreo Flavors (https://www.delish.com/food-news/g26783387/best-oreo-flavors/)
Oreo | Home (https://www.oreo.com/)
“Ice Cold Milk and an Oreo Cookie” (https://www.theretrosite.com/ice-cold-milk-and-an-oreo-cookie_e4232085f.html) commercial
Cyanotype - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanotype)
Cyanotypes - Super Easy Photo Prints at Home.: 6 Steps (with Pictures) (https://www.instructables.com/id/Cyanotypes---super-easy-photo-prints-at-home./)
Cocoa bean - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean#Varieties)
The Different Varieties of Cocoa Beans: Criollo, Trinitario & Foraster – The Chocolate Society (https://www.chocolate.co.uk/blogs/news/the-different-varieties-of-cocoa-beans-criollo-trinitario-and-forastero)
Terroir - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terroir) — “Some artisanal crops for which terroir is studied include wine, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, chili peppers, hops, agave (for making tequila and mezcal), tomatoes, heritage wheat, maple syrup, tea, and cannabis.”
Chuao, Venuzuela - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuao)
Rare Cacao Beans Discovered in Peru - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/dining/12chocolate.html)
“Two Buck Chuck” Charles Shaw wine - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Shaw_wine)
Mouton Cadet - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouton_Cadet)
White chocolate - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_chocolate)
Chocolate tempering machine (Amazon.com) (https://amzn.to/2WsCuha)
Chocolates & Chocolatiers
Dandelion Chocolate (https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/)
Michael Mischer (http://www.michaelmischerchocolates.com/)
L’Amourette Chocolatier (http://www.lamourettechocolat.com/)
NeoCocoa (https://neococoastore.com/)
Jade Chocolates (https://www.jadechocolates.com/)
9th & Larkin (https://www.9thandlarkin.com/)
Maison Bouche (https://maison-bouche.myshopify.com/)
Poco Dolce Chocolates (https://pocodolce.com/)
Charles Chocolate (https://www.charleschocolates.com/)
Feve Chocolates (https://fevechocolates.com/collections/truffles)
Valrhona Le Noir Amer 71% Cacao Dark Bittersweet Chocolate (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00DHTF71I/lettucewrap-20) (Amazon)
Chile Pistachio Chocolate (https://www.senormurphy.com/store/detail/chocolate_bars/chile_pistachio_chocolate_bars_3_pack) from Señor Murphy's (https://www.senormurphy.com/)
Shrimp & Bonito Dark Chocolate (https://www.fossachocolate.com/shop/shrimpbonito) from Fossa Chocolate (https://www.fossachocolate.com/)
KitKat (https://www.kitkat.com/)
Mounds (https://www.hersheys.com/almondjoy-mounds/en_us/products/mounds-candy-bar.html)
Nestlé Milk Chocolate - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_Milk_Chocolate)
Hershey’s Chocolate & Candy (https://www.hersheys.com/en_us/home.html)
Scharffen Berger (https://www.scharffenberger.com/en_us/home.html)
Dagoba (https://www.dagobachocolate.com/en_us/home.html)
Joseph Schmidt Confections - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schmidt_Confections)
Joseph Schmidt chocolates will be missed - SFGate (https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Joseph-Schmidt-chocolates-will-be-missed-3164996.php)
Cadbury Chocolate (https://www.cadbury.co.uk/)
Amedei Porcelana (https://www.amedei.it/it/prodotto2/5927/QPALVXTM/porcelana-(limited))
Lindt Chocolate World (https://www.chocolate.lindt.com/)
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (https://www.ghirardelli.com/)
Stone Grindz (https://www.stonegrindz.com/)
Hogarth Chocolate (https://www.hogarthchocolate.co.nz/wp/author/webeditor-karl/)
Lattenero Chocolate Bar by Slitti (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0084B8NB0/lettucewrap-20) (Amazon)
Cioccolato Slitti – Gran Bouquet Caffè Latte (https://www.slittishop.it/prodotti/dettaglio-prodotto.asp?id=34&Prodotto=Gran%20Bouquet%20Caff%C3%A8%20Latte%20-%20100g)
Kopper’s Chocolate (https://kopperschocolate.com/)
San Francisco Restaurants & Locations
Noe Valley, San Francisco - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noe_Valley,_San_Francisco)
TheEndUpSF.com – San Francisco’s Legendary Indoor/Outdoor Nightclub (https://theendupsf.com/)
Zuni Café (https://zunicafe.com/)
Griddle Fresh/Aha Fresh (http://griddlefreshsf.com/)
Toast Eatery (http://www.toasteatery.com/)
NoVY (https://www.novysf.com/)
Patxi’s (https://patxispizza.com/)
Hamano Sushi (https://www.hamanosushi.com/)
Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers (http://www.barneyshamburgers.com/)
Thai Cafe (http://www.thaicafesf.com/)
Lands End - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm)
Stow Lake Boathouse - San Francisco (https://stowlakeboathouse.com/)
Crissy Field Center | Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (https://www.parksconservancy.org/programs/crissy-field-center)
North Beach — San Francisco Travel (https://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/northbeach/)
Golden Boy Pizza (http://goldenboypizza.com/)
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana (https://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/)
Sunrise Deli (https://www.sunrisedelisf.com/)
Ferry Building Marketplace (https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/)
The Embarcadero, SF. — Highlights to check out | hiddenSF.com (http://www.hiddensf.com/106-the-embarcadero-san-francisco.html)
Ultra Rainbow Ice Cream (https://www.doublerainbow.com/)
Toy Boat Dessert Cafe (https://www.facebook.com/toyboatdessertcafe/)
Noe Valley Bakery (https://noevalleybakery.com/)
Our thanks to Jack for joining us. You can find Chocolate Covered at 4069 24th Street, between Noe and Castro in San Francisco, CA, on Twitter @ChocoCoveredSF (https://twitter.com/ChocoCoveredSF), and at http://www.chocolatecoveredsf.com.
Thank you for listening. You can follow us on Twitter:
Lettuce Wrap (@lettucewrappod (https://twitter.com/lettucewrappod))
Christine Doerr (@christinedoerr (https://twitter.com/christinedoerr))
Tammy Tan (@spicehound (http://twitter.com/spicehound))
or email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).
That’s a wrap!
Amazon (https://amzn.to/2DBzg5j) and other links may be affiliates. Purchases help support the show. Special Guest: Jack Epstein, Chocolate Covered.

You don’t need passion to start a business, but you do need it to keep one going for a quarter century. Life-long entrepreneur Jack Epstein of Chocolate Covered sells over a thousand artisan chocolates from his store in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Learn how Jack built his unique business, and hear valuable advice from a shopkeeper who’s been in business for 25 years. Plus, Jack shares dozens of chocolate and San Francisco restaurant recommendations!

Links and Show Notes

Ocean Front Walkers
Liberal arts education - Wikipedia
Tai chi - Wikipedia
Tai chi: A gentle way to fight stress - Mayo Clinic
Bar and Bat Mitzvah - Wikipedia
Bodysurfing - Wikipedia
“health benefits of cacao” - Google Search
Black and White cookies
Black and White Cookies Recipe
All 25 Oreos Flavors, Ranked, Tested and Reviewed - Best Oreo Flavors
Oreo | Home
“Ice Cold Milk and an Oreo Cookie” commercial
Cyanotype - Wikipedia
Cyanotypes - Super Easy Photo Prints at Home.: 6 Steps (with Pictures)
Cocoa bean - Wikipedia
The Different Varieties of Cocoa Beans: Criollo, Trinitario & Foraster – The Chocolate Society
Terroir - Wikipedia — “Some artisanal crops for which terroir is studied include wine, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, chili peppers, hops, agave (for making tequila and mezcal), tomatoes, heritage wheat, maple syrup, tea, and cannabis.”
Chuao, Venuzuela - Wikipedia
Rare Cacao Beans Discovered in Peru - The New York Times
“Two Buck Chuck” Charles Shaw wine - Wikipedia
Mouton Cadet - Wikipedia
White chocolate - Wikipedia
Chocolate tempering machine (Amazon.com)

Chocolates & Chocolatiers

Dandelion Chocolate
Michael Mischer
L’Amourette Chocolatier
NeoCocoa
Jade Chocolates
9th & Larkin
Maison Bouche
Poco Dolce Chocolates
Charles Chocolate
Feve Chocolates
Valrhona Le Noir Amer 71% Cacao Dark Bittersweet Chocolate (Amazon)
Chile Pistachio Chocolate from Señor Murphy's
Shrimp & Bonito Dark Chocolate from Fossa Chocolate
KitKat
Mounds
Nestlé Milk Chocolate - Wikipedia
Hershey’s Chocolate & Candy
Scharffen Berger
Dagoba
Joseph Schmidt Confections - Wikipedia
Joseph Schmidt chocolates will be missed - SFGate
Cadbury Chocolate
Amedei Porcelana
Lindt Chocolate World
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Stone Grindz
Hogarth Chocolate
Lattenero Chocolate Bar by Slitti (Amazon)
Cioccolato Slitti – Gran Bouquet Caffè Latte
Kopper’s Chocolate

San Francisco Restaurants & Locations

Noe Valley, San Francisco - Wikipedia
TheEndUpSF.com – San Francisco’s Legendary Indoor/Outdoor Nightclub
Zuni Café
Griddle Fresh/Aha Fresh
Toast Eatery
NoVY
Patxi’s
Hamano Sushi
Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers
Thai Cafe
Lands End - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
Stow Lake Boathouse - San Francisco
Crissy Field Center | Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
North Beach — San Francisco Travel
Golden Boy Pizza
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Sunrise Deli
Ferry Building Marketplace
The Embarcadero, SF. — Highlights to check out | hiddenSF.com
Ultra Rainbow Ice Cream
Toy Boat Dessert Cafe
Noe Valley Bakery

Our thanks to Jack for joining us. You can find Chocolate Covered at 4069 24th Street, between Noe and Castro in San Francisco, CA, on Twitter @ChocoCoveredSF, and at http://www.chocolatecoveredsf.com.

Thank you for listening. You can follow us on Twitter:

Lettuce Wrap (@lettucewrappod)
Christine Doerr (@christinedoerr)
Tammy Tan (@spicehound)

or email us at [email protected].

That’s a wrap!

Amazon and other links may be affiliates. Purchases help support the show.

Special Guest: Jack Epstein, Chocolate Covered.