I thought I knew chocolate. Heck, I thought that Ghirardelli and Lindt were the be all and end all. Oh, how little I knew.

I got a gift certificate to js bonbons chocolate school. An intimate classroom built on top of Jenn Stone's handmade chocolates store at Dupont at Davenport. A white room with five large stainless steel tables and a very retro looking stove up front.

This class, an 'Introduction to Working with Chocolate' is run by the adorable Stone herself. Standing at the front of the room, she mixes chocolates fervently while students make their way in - following the sweet smells wafting down the hall.

(Photo: my own homemade almond clusters made after learning how to temper chocolate)

I take a seat at the front of the class and watch Stone as she moves around briskly to get the class ready. She cut up large chunks of dark, milk and white chocolate and places them on the countertop - my mouth salivated the entire time. I suppose most of my classmates' mouths did as well.

Stone started the class promptly. She knew her stuff down cold - she has the classes attention right from the get-go, many taking notes on what this chocolate professor has to say.

She guided the class through the history of chocolate, different types of couveture and more importantly, answering all the questions that come her way - and there were many.

One of the most important lessons I took away from class is how to properly temper chocolate. This is definitely not an easy feat. Whether it be max mixing, adding of more chocolate or timing - Stone could do this with her eyes closed...the rest of us...not so much.

At the end of the class, she gave each table some chocolate of our own to play with. Fun. The 24 or so of us in the class were immediately turned into children. Many of us licking spoons and bowls before they were to be placed in the sink. By the end, I got to take away a small box of treats.

I left the class with a whole new respect for chocolate and definitely its makers and designers.

PS. I signed up for the truffle making class, which was just as informative as the Intro Class. I am definitely looking forward to some of the other classes offered including: Chocolate Showpiece and Sculpture.

js bonbons
163 Dupont St. (at Davenport)
Toronto, ON
416.920.0274