A LIFE IN CHOCOLATE
Big Dreams, Petite Sweets
Albert Daniel | Albert's Petite Sweets
NHM Online Presents ChocoLAte: From Beans to Bliss, a video series celebrating the diversity of Los Angeles and its people through the lens of chocolate.
Chef Albert Daniel, owner and operator of Albert’s Petite Sweets, believes in the power of artfully-crafted confections to bring people together. Chef Albert sat down with NHM to talk about his journey to chocolate craftsmanship.
Watch the video below to learn more about Albert’s unique connection with Los Angeles and his approach to creating one-of-a-kind chocolates.
Albert G. Daniel
Albert Daniel was born and raised in the Philippines. His upbringing abroad impressed upon him the indelible memory of ingredients such as a coconut and guava, ingredients that he regularly incorporates into his chocolates. "When I eat guava," Albert says, "it always brings me back home. It reminds me of my grandparents." These are foods which have the potent ability to transport Chef Albert Daniel across physical and temporal borders, and it is this power of connection that Albert seeks to harness through his magisterial chocolate confections.
What I want people to experience when they have an Albert’s Petite Sweets is a fond memory of their life, something that made them happy.
Albert Daniel
Albert Daniel, owner and operator of Albert’s Petite Sweets, shows off a finished mold of his passion fruit-guava-coconut-caramel ganache bonbons. The filling flavors are an homage to the ingredients so familiar to Albert during his youth in the Philippines.
The beautifully speckled bonbons are the result of a carefully controlled process that combines artistry, chemistry, and patience.
The chocolate shells of Albert's bonbons are filled with a delectable passion fruit-guava-coconut-caramel ganache.
Albert moved to the United States as a young man and studied science at California State University, Long Beach. Equipped with a degree and the high standard of achievement foisted upon the recently-immigrated, Albert set out to establish his career. While working as a personal trainer, Albert began to experiment with making cake pops. His innate talent for baking was soon recognized, and word of his confectionary prowess spread. Albert was soon inundated with orders and requests for his bespoke creations. He channeled his skills and passion for baking into honing his chocolate-making craft. He competed and won the first episode of Hulu's Bakers' Dozen television show, and has since created unique commissions for hotels, movie and TV productions, and special events. Now, as a full-time business owner and professional chocolatier, Albert says, “I feel like I found something I don’t ever want to retire from. I love it.”
After purchasing the chocolate from his supplier, Albert uses his knowledge of chemistry and engineering to control each step of making his confections-from designing his own molds with computer software to manually piping in the filling.
Albert uses a heat gun and thermometer to carefully choreograph the dance of heating and cooling that determines the success of the finished product.
Each of Albert's Petite Sweets is hand-made with a level of creativity and artistry that makes them as beautiful as they are delicious. Here, Albert decorates the inside of one of his bonbon molds.
Albert’s Petite Sweets has a mission: to harness the power of chocolate to inspire joy and connection. The variety of chocolates, fillings, textures, and compositions of Albert’s creations ensure that there is a Petite Sweet for every palette. Fueled by an irrepressible work ethic and a preternatural ability to create beautiful things, Albert is confident in his ability to use food to make the world a more joyful place.
I strongly feel like I can build community through stimulating senses…Good food brings people together. It puts a smile on their face, it triggers memories...and that's what I know my chocolates can provide.
Albert Daniel
Albert's Petite Sweets offers an array of different chocolates in a variety of textures, shapes, sizes, and fillings.
EXPLORE MORE FROM ALBERT'S PETITE SWEETS
Feeling the love? Click here to check out Albert's chocolates and chocolate-making classes!
SPILL THE CACAO BEANS ON YOUR CHOCOLATE FAVORITES
Do you have a special connection with chocolate? Do you know another L.A. chocolate-maker who lovingly connects with their community? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation on social media and tag us @NHMLA with #chocoLAte.
Following the success of Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories and L.A. at Play: Dolls & Figurines, we're celebrating the history, heritage, and communities of Los Angeles through the lens of different cultural traditions. This year, ChocoLAte: From Beans to Bliss seeks to inspire, captivate, and tap into the deep-rooted love for chocolate that flows through the veins of this vibrant city.
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