About Us

As a chocolate sommelier, my goal is to show people that what they think of chocolate is just the tip of the iceberg. I offer an event designed to inspire the audience to continue their exploration of chocolate. I give them the tools to know where and how to do that.

My name is Michelle Zimmerman and I have been in the culinary industry for 25 years. I graduated from Scottsdale Culinary Institute in 1999 with an emphasis on pastries. After working in restaurants and bakeries, I started my own wedding cake business that I successfully ran for 18 years. The last several years, I have turned my focus to chocolate. After receiving two certificates from the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting, I have begun teaching others everything I can about the most loved treat out there. I have held tastings nationally and internationally. I have also been a judge for the International Chocolate Awards for 2021, by tasting and evaluating hundreds of chocolates. I am a member of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association and have been featured on their website.

 KARLA SCHADE  of Opening Chocolate is a botanist, a chocolate sommelier, an IICCT Certified Level 2 chocolate taster, an Ecole Chocolat Mastering Chocolate Flavour graduate, and an international chocolate judge. She has been educating and leading chocolate tastings all over the world since 2007.   Not only can she help people develop their palates and abilities to taste fine foods, but she can also discuss the science and history behind the Theobroma cacao plant and its human uses. All while having fun enjoying some of the best craft chocolate in the world! She is located in Utah. Please visit her Instagram or Youtube pages.