If you love the artisanal chocolate trend, grab a mouthwatering bite of the chocolate truffles and sea salt dark chocolate caramels by Sheila Kleinschmidt, owner of Oh Sheila! Chocolates. Kleinschmidt launched her biz this spring, making small-batch, hand-dipped sweets using the Hollyberry Catering kitchen in Webster Groves.
Kleinschmidt began her baking career while working for St. Louis catering company Something Elegant. “Bored by cake, I shifted my focus to chocolate and started making truffles and other sinfully chocolate treats for my family and friends,” she explains on her website. Three years later, Kleinschmidt decided to concentrate on chocolatier-ing and Oh Sheila! Chocolates was born.
To make her decadent desserts, Kleinschmidt uses liqueurs and rich reductions of Guinness, port or red wine. This summer, herbs such as lavender, rosemary, basil and thyme lend sweet seasonality to her specialty chocolates. Her sugary delights are available as trays and gift boxes.
Kleinschmidt said that, while business is brisk, she wants to remain a small operation geared toward customized service. “I want to work one-on-one with people and custom-do everything.” To make your chocolate order, visit the Oh, Sheila! website and fill out an online order form.
This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2011.