by James Rada, Jr.
It may have been that Pete Truby’s hike in the Utah mountains in 2009 inspired his creativity or the exercise got his neurons firing or he may have been hungry for something more than trail mix. Whatever the reason, Truby came away from the hike with an idea to create salted chocolate.
“I knew I liked chocolate, but that’s not an idea,” Truby said. “There was salted caramel at the time, but no one was making salted chocolate.”
The idea was simple, but developing just the right mix of dark chocolate and sea salt took nine months to perfect. He finally came up with the idea to add just a touch of salt on top of the chocolate. The final product tastes delicious, has a better texture, and uses less salt.
“It’s really all about highlighting the flavor of the chocolate,” Truby said.
Just as his new ideas for chocolate so has his idea of what a tavern can be. Salazon Chocolate has moved to a new location on Main Street in Sykesville. It gives Truby about 2 ½ times more space. He has added some chairs and tables and is now selling wine and beer by the glass along with his chocolates and other local foods.
The new concept also came with a new name: Market Tavern.
Business Bits
- Salazon is Spanish for “salted.” It was chosen as a way to pay homage to the Spanish-speaking areas that helped develop cacao into the chocolate we love.
- Just a little bit of sea salt bring out the flavor of dark chocolate, balancing the sweetness of sugar with the bitterness of cocoa.
- Both kosher and organic.
- Products are fair-trade, certified, meaning the company deals with farmers abroad who are guaranteed a minimum price for their products.
- Made from organic Hispaniola cacao beans from the Dominican Republic.
- Won silver and bronze Taste TV Top Chocolate Bar Awards and an award from the 19th Annual Chocolate Affair in Hershey, Pa.
- Uses water from Southern Atlantic that is solar evaporated and has nothing added to it.
- The Salazon Chocolate is dark chocolate and sea salt. Other chocolate products include: sea salt and caramel, sea salt and coffee, sea salt and sugar, sea salt and pepper, sea salt and almonds, sea salt and coconut, and sea salt and cayenne.
- Market Tavern is just two doors down the street from the old Salazon Chocolate location.
- Along with Salazon Chocolate, the Market Tavern sells locally produced cheeses, granola, wine, and more.
