Meet the Maker: indi chocolate

We had the opportunity to sit down with some of the ladies of indi chocolate and learn all about what it takes to make chocolate in Seattle!

What is the story of indi chocolate and its Maker? 

Erin Andrews is the genius behind all the delectable chocolate that comes out of this Pike Place Market chocolate shop. When she opened indi chocolate four years ago she was one of the only women in the industry who was making her own chocolate from bean to bar. In those four years a lot has happened: expanded offerings, a Marketfront Expansion project, and a lot of growth within the community. 

Erin's experience in the chocolate business started with a business venture prior to indi chocolate with a bean - bar chocolate operation run out of Belize. She was visiting Belize with her family for vacation and her daughters had been curious about where chocolate came from so they included a tour of a local cacao farm. This ended up leading to Erin partnering with some local businessmen to start a new chocolate company. After a couple years doing this she decided to sell her share in the company and open up her own shop in Seattle. And so indi chocolate was born. 

In the beginning indi chocolate was not the robust store they are now. Erin started out selling her chocolate cocoa butter lotion at a small pop-up shop. This allowed her to raise money for the storefront in Pike Place Market and to buy the pricey machines you need in order to make chocolate.

Cocoa butter lotion

So why the name indi chocolate?

It pays tribute to two things. Erin’s oldest daughter is named India and because of her curiosity before that trip to Belize Erin has been making chocolate ever since. Secondly, it recognizes the nature of the business. It is an independently owned and operated small batch chocolate shop. 

Cacao beans

Roasting the bean in-store

What kind of an operation do you have here?

indi chocolate is direct trade and gluten, soy, and dairy free. Most of the chocolate has three simple ingredients to make sure the taste of the bean is front and center. indi chocolate is one of the only bean-to-bar operations in Seattle. 

All the beans are roasted in the shop, which is why it smells so heavenly. They roast about 10 pounds of beans per day and from there the beans are put into the chocolate maker. Once the beans are in the machine it takes about 3 days of refining to create the chocolate that you buy. 

They also create the lotions and lip balms you see in the shop with cocoa butter and partner with other small business owners for various other products. These partnerships have produced things like the Chocolate Chai Tea from Market Spice and cacao based spice rubs. Other products you can find out in the wild include Old Stove's cacao nib infused beer or Shug's ice cream topped with cacao nibs. 

Where do you get your beans? 

A big mission of indi chocolate is only sourcing beans from farms Erin and her team have visited to ensure good working conditions and high quality operations. At the moment they have beans from Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Ghana, Vietnam, and Panama. 

Chocolate spices

Chocolate soap

What are some staff favorites in the shop?

It's always hard to pick one thing you like above all others, but it seems the Mole spice rub and cacao nibs are the two favorites for their diversity in use.

Becca, the Marketing Director at indi chocolate is also the resident chef. She has a long list of recipes that frequently include both of these products. Every recipe will make your mouth water and there is a huge variety. Who knew you could add chocolate to so much?! 

Fun fact: Cacao nibs have one of the highest sources of antioxidants in any food on earth.

What is in the future for indi chocolate?

indi chocolate is set to open their new space in the Marketfront Expansion building by summer 2017. This will be a much larger space which will include a café and chocolate factory, along with their retail space. The chocolate factory is what everyone is buzzing about, which will have large glass windows and a completely transparent display of the chocolate-making process from beginning to end! 

They will also have a place in the new store to host classes on mixology, chocolate making, and tasting classes.

What are some of your favorite places in town to visit for chocolate?

Intrigue Chocolate in Pioneer Square is wonderful and the new Fran's shop in Georgetown is a beautiful experience, with a window where you can watch them creating the chocolates. 

Correction: We originally stated indi chocolate and Theo Chocolate were the only bean-to-bar chocolate shops in Seattle. There are in fact, two more: Fresco Chocolate, and Bellflower Chocolate Co.

Battle of Seattle Chili: Slim's Last Chance vs. Mike's Chili Parlor

Always the right time for chili

In a city where it is gloomy and rainy for 60% of the year certain businesses are going to thrive. People who have the good sense to sell rain jackets, waterproof mascara, and coffee are set for life. Certain things just go hand in hand with rain and cold. 

Which leads us to the point of today's post. 

Chili.

More specifically, where is the best chili in Seattle? Because what goes better with rainy, cold weather than hot, tasty chili? 

Now you can find chili on a lot of menus around town, but only two of those menus count for anything. Slim's Last Chance and Mike's Chili Parlor. Both of these spots have history and a killer chili recipe. Today they face off. 

Slim's Last Chance

Welcome to Slim's Last Chance

Slim's is a bar in South Seattle in the Georgetown neighborhood that is a little dive-y, but welcomes all shapes and sizes to come and enjoy the food, drinks, and atmosphere. They not only have some of the tastiest chili in the city, they have a stage for musicians and a killer patio for nice days. The staff is friendly and decor will entertain you while you wait for your food to arrive. Once it does, you'll only have eyes for one thing! 

Slim's awesome outdoor seating (with a stage!)

Slim's amazing chili loaded up with Mama Lil's!

They have 4 types of chili.

• Texas Red: traditional all meat chili made with choice beef
• Brisket n’ Bean: Pig Iron slow smoked brisket, ground choice beef, fire roasted tomatoes & red beans
• Chili Verde: New mexico green chilies, tomatillos, and slow simmered pork
• Turkey & White Bean: ground turkey, white beans, and serrano chilies simmered in a hearty broth

Slim's chili verde

We love the chili verde. It's got a strong kick to it and the pork adds a ton of flavor. Add "the works" (cheese, sour cream, chives and tomatoes) and get a side of cornbread for the full experience. Make the final decision of whether to get your chili on top of (wait for it) jalapeño mac 'n cheese or white cheddar grits. Obviously, the Texas Red is a good option if you want something more traditional..but if you are a chili traditionalist we think you'll want to stick around for our next review....

Slim's crazy outdoor mural

Mike's Chili Parlor

Mike's is an institution in Seattle. Just walk past it on the sidewalk in Ballard and you can see it has been around to see a lot of changes in the city. The old diner has literally been surrounded by development. The Ballard Blocks, a large commercial mall with an LA Fitness and Trader Joes, left them just enough room on the corner of 15th and NW Ballard Way to continue doing what they do best, make chili. 

Mike's has been serving up their famous chili recipe since 1922. The story as told by Tom Robbins for the Seattle Times is framed in the back of the bar. Four generations ago, Mike opened up his little shop in Ballard and has been going ever since. This spot feels truly authentic and hasn't become a tourist trap, even after being featured on a couple different TV shows like Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. 

Now, when you go to Mike's you get one type of chili. It's the famous recipe that has been served for almost a century and they have been in business this long for a reason. That recipe is fire. It has the perfect amount of heat. The perfect ratio of beans to meat. The cheese and chopped white onion will take you back to a simpler time. 

Mike's traditional chili

Messy but delicious - Mike's chili dog

Now, they do give you some choices. You can get a bowl of chili, or cover a burger or hotdog with chili. You can also get the chili without beans, which is sort of weird, but also awesome for non-bean lovers or people on first dates. We also supposed you could go and not get the chili (they do have a full menu), but we don't know why you would. 

So, who wins the contest? Well if you want good options and like a little southern spin on your chili, go to Slim's. If you want tradition and the feel of home cooking, go with Mike's! Let us know which one you choose!

Mike's hold its own between the fancy new buildings

Yep.

Seattle Brewery Tour: Interbay & Magnolia

Interbay/Magnolia are sister neighborhoods that have Seattle institutions like Fisherman's Terminal, Red Mill Burgers, and Palisade. In the past few years it has also gained a few new spots that add to its charm and community. And they just so happen to be our favorite kind of spots, breweries.

There are four breweries in the Interbay/Magnolia area, all with a little bit different atmosphere and flavor profiles. Today we take you on a little tour to check them all out. 

Urban Family Brewing

Urban Family Brewing is located on a quiet street close to Salmon Bay in Magnolia. They brew French and Belgium inspired beers in their taproom and often have food trucks around on the weekend. 

If you like sour beers, this is the spot to go. Their Sour Bog (currently on tap) was refreshing and tart. Want to know what will make it taste even better? Drinking it while playing Pictionary, which you can do because Urban Family totally got the memo about stocking up a games cabinet! Holla at your girls! 

The tables are long for big groups, so bring your friends and order one of everything!

Urban Family, everyone is welcome!

Figurehead Brewing Co.

New kids on the block! Figurehead is a small brewery in Interbay that opened up in 2016. Fun fact, they were officially Seattle's 60th brewery (do we live in the best city or what??), and we think they will have a nice, happy life here. The staff is friendly, the beer is diverse, and the logo is super cool. We would totally buy a t-shirt with that ship on it. These are the important things people, t-shirt design potential.

Golden and delicious

12 taps of Figurehead

Taster at Figurehead. 

Holy Mountain Brewing

Holy Mountain is the brewing child of male duo Colin Lenfesty and Mike Murphy. They opened their space in Interbay in 2014 and have become a favorite spot for beer drinkers because of the open space, large booths, and the oak-inspired beers. They have had some pretty spectacular beers on tap recently, including the Astral Projection Double IPA and the Bourbon Barrel Aged Kings's Head.

Insider tip: If it's your first time visiting we would recommend plugging the address into your GPS. The front door is actually around back of a large warehouse building on 15th Ave. 

That middle one might look like OJ, but it's was actually a juicy Double IPA

They really try to make sure you can't miss it once you find it! 

The door is clearly labeled so you don't accidentally go into the employee entrance of Dog Lounge next door. 

Rooftop Brew Co.

We saved the best for last. This is our favorite brewery in the neighborhood because of its cozy space and amazing sense of community. It's hard not to make new friends in this spot and the awesome beer on top of everything else makes for a great afternoon. 

Rooftop is located right by the Ship Canal bike path and is a great spot to ride to if you are out and about. The patio is a wonderful place to drink beer during any season (heaters are out in the colder months) or you can grab a spot inside and sit close to the popcorn machine, which is kept full of the (free) salty treat all day! If you need something more substantial then wait until after 4PM and Curbside Burgers and Brats will pull up. 

So, what beer should you drink? There is always a tap list full of great options, but we recommend always getting at least one pour of the Beer Trumps Hate IPA. All the proceeds go to non-profits that "fight hate by advocating for people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic statuses." It tastes good and helps the community. Can't do better than that. 

Our beer family. Papa, Momma, and four babies.

Nice pour.

Free popcorn, yes please! 

Seattle Neighborhoods: Georgetown

Georgetown boasts that it is Seattle's oldest neighborhood, starting up in 1851. If you do the math that means they have had 166 years to cultivate something good. Anyone that is familiar with the area will tell you they have done just that. Georgetown is a place you can wander around for an enjoyable afternoon, going from coffee shop, to antique shops, to delicious restaurants, stumbling upon art and intrigue along the way. The people are friendly and seem to talk more and life is just a little bit more quiet down in this southern Seattle neighborhood. We are big fans. Let us take you around the main drag in our neighborhood guide covering Georgetown. 

Food and Drink

Ciudad's funky seating

Ciudad

Places that are this colorful and open always draw us in! Cuidad has a diverse menu and is great if you have meat lovers and vegetarians in your group. When the weather is nice you can enjoy a drink in their sunny, outdoor seating area. Don't miss this unique addition to the Georgetown scene! 

All City Coffee

All City Coffee

This quaint coffee shop is located right in the middle of everything in central Georgetown. It's inviting with its sofas and big windows that let in loads of light. They brew Cafe Vita beans to make some seriously tasty coffee and have a great assortment of pastries and snacks to choose from. 

Smartypants

Smartypants' crazy sandwich menu is the reason people come in, but the cool vibe you get once you're here, paired with the friendly staff is why people come back again and again. They have a great outdoor area you can enjoy when the weather is nice-ish (they do have some covered tables) and don't forget they have brunch with bloodys too! 

Square Knot Diner

Sometimes you just need a giant Bloody Mary and a side of greasy breakfast. If today is that day, head over to Square Knot. They will serve you up exactly what you are looking for. They have "classic diner" down to an art. From the menus to the plates to the food presentation. You'll be reminded of that place you used to go as a kid! 

Flying Squirrel Pizza

Flying Squirrel is one of our favorites in Seattle. Full disclosure there is one located a few blocks away from our office and therefore we might be biased. Nothing tastes better than a pizza after a long days work! But let us try to convince you. Flying Squirrel has traditional and modern pizzas, they have the best roasted olives as a starter and their logo is a squirrel with balloons tied to it. So moral of the story: It's delicious and squirrels are adorable. 

THE CONSERVATORY

The Conservatory is a little cafe in GT with a real character like only Seattle can pull off. We love those places you walk into and they surprise you with their style and decor. Check this place out for a memorable espresso (we love the hazelnut latte) and if you're lucky they might be hosting one of their art events too (calendar here)! 

STELLAR PIZZA

Like any self respecting pizza parlor Stellar makes their sauce and dough fresh every day. They have a classic sign that screams, "We make good pizza!" and you can drink an ice cold Rainier or a local craft beer while you eat your pie. It also doesn't hurt that their "Georgetowner" is legit what we order anytime we create our own pizza, it's like they know us on the deepest level. Try to find something wrong with the place. We dare you!

HITCHCOCK DELI

This is a place people in the know know about in Seattle. Especially if you are a fan of a good sandwich. Because Hitchcock Deli makes a mean sandwich. They have a little bit for everyone on the menu, but they specialize in cured and smoked meats. The cuban, corned beef, and pastrami are all crowd favorites. 

MACHINE HOUSE BREWING

Machine House serves up British style cask ales at cellar temperature, which means these pours might be a little warmer than you're used to. The good news is that higher temp actually brings out some pretty awesome flavors. They also have history in their favor. The building they brew in used to be occupied by Rainier back in the day.

Insider tip: Machine House is only one of several breweries in Georgetown, look forward to our Georgetown Brewery post, coming soon to hear about the rest!

Pork tacos from Fonda La Catrina

FONDA LA CATRINA

Every neighborhood needs a delicious Mexican restaurant. Period. Fonda La Catrina is Georgetown's answer to our love of tacos. Head in and get anything on the menu, it's all full of flavor and the meat will be tender and delicious. Oh and obviously don't finish ordering without getting a Mexican Coca Cola. It's real sugar, so that makes it healthy, right? 

Found on the sidewalk of Georgetown...what does it mean?!?!

9LB HAMMER

Everyone loves this dive bar for the friendly service and the free peanuts. In addition to the free peanuts, there is free shuffleboard. Does it get better than this? Well yes, yes it does. They also have Buck Hunter, so if you like shooting digital deer (or missing them in our case) you are going to be on cloud nine. 

CORSON BUILDLING

The Corson Building is in the same family of restaurants as The London Plane and Sitka and Spruce. If they are the queen and knight of the family, The Corson Building is King. They create one-of-a-kind meals every weekend for a small number of guests. It comes with a price tag, but the experience is worth every dime. 

Shopping

The beautiful Fran's Chocolate shop and HQ

Fran's Chocolate

If you are wondering if there is a heaven, the answer is yes. It's at the old Rainier Brewery on Airport Way S. A few years ago Fran's took over the building as their headquarters and it is now where they create all their delicious chocolate goodies. When you walk in the door you are greeted with a free salted caramel. After you savor it, head over to the cafe and get a hot chocolate. Then buy one of everything from the chocolate counter. 

Insider tip: They host a "Talk and Taste" every weekday at 11AM ($10) where you can tour and hear the history. If you are there at any other time, don't worry, just head to the back of the store and up the stairs. You can watch the chocolate making from a window! 

Search for odds and ends at the Trailer Park Mall

Trailer Park Mall

If you haven't been to the Trailer Park Mall in Georgetown you are missing out on a weird and wonderful place. Picture this: Old trailers (airstreams and campers), put together in a parking lot full of artisans selling their goods. You can get crafts, food, and antiques. Definitely don't miss the Alexandra's Macarons, they are TO DIE for. 

Georgetown Records

This is a great little gem in GT. Filling an old building with vinyl and music records is never a bad idea. Stop in any day and be greeted by the friendly owner who knows all the merchandise and browse the many racks of records. Odds are you'll find something you love (we bought an old school Grateful Dead album and it's awesome)!

Insider tip: They share a space with Fantagraphics Bookstore, which has some serious street cred in the world of comics and graphic novels. Don't miss their shop, whether you are a fan of the genre or not, it's a little piece of history! 

What are your favorite spots in Georgetown? We want to hear them in the comments! 

Georgetown neighborhood art

A scooter on a roof? Why not.