Neighbors: Leo Rojas

The whir of air conditioning units and wafting aroma of melting chocolate are the only indicators of what lies inside an otherwise unsuspecting house in Gillespie Park. Here, local chocolatier and entrepreneur, Leo Rojas, operates his chocolate company: Porcelana Artisan Chocolate.

“You’ve heard of microbreweries,” he jokes as he surveys his home office, which is packed with various tools of the trade. “This is my micro-chocolate factory.”

Rojas is following the age-old tradition of chocolate-making that is synonymous with his native country of Venezuela. Rojas has more than 15 years of experience in the culinary world, and he discovered his sweet tooth at a young age.

“My mom would make these cakes, and I would take her ingredients and try to make my own chocolates,” says Rojas. “It was so bitter that you couldn’t even eat it, but I was always wondering how to make my own candy.”

Rojas moved to the U.S. eight years ago to open a restaurant with a friend, but, after a while, he was ready for a change of pace from the high-stress nature of restaurant work.

“I wanted to find something that would be related to the kitchen but more peaceful,” he says. “I still wanted it to be something joyful that I could be passionate about.”

He discovered that chocolate-making was a perfect way to continue his passion on his own terms. He found a friend who owned a chocolate company and who was willing to show him the ropes, which allowed him to save money on the startup end.

“Its one of those trades that’s actually a very simple process, but there’s a lot more to it than it would seem,” says Rojas. “Everything has to be just perfect; the temperature, the humidity — it’s very meticulous.”

After learning the art four years ago, Rojas started crafting his own gourmet chocolates out of his home and has been building a loyal following ever since.

Rojas maintains an eye for the artistic nature of his work. His hand-filled delicacies are made with only the highest-quality ingredients, all from Venezuela.

“It’s a high-quality product,” says Rojas, “but it also has a sentimental factor.”

Rojas is continuing to build a client base, reaching out to the community with chocolate-tasting classes and charity-based events, where he thinks he’s finding his niche. He hopes to eventually sell his chocolate from a more visible storefront, but, for now, he’s just enjoying the opportunity.

“I wish people would get back to their neighborhood store roots,” says Rojas. “I’ve been getting a lot of support from the community, and hopefully I continue to grow. Right now, I’m just happy to be able to do this.”