BOISE, Idaho — Chocolates are a favorite to enjoy and gift this time of year and Melt Chocolate Co. is bringing European flavors and delicacies to Idaho.
Ivona Zimolag was born in Poland but moved to Canada at the age of 22. She pursued pastry work learning under baking masters in Vancouver.
“Painful learning experience because it's very unforgiving but boy, if it works out, it's quite something,” said Zimolag.
She says it took years of trial and error but now has fallen in love with both sides of making sweets.
“I was doing this always on the side as holiday gifts, chocolates, baking. I’ve been doing this as an 8-year-old child,” she said.
After some time in Canada, she and her husband took a 15-state tour through the U.S. and when she got to Idaho, she says it “Just felt right. Absolutely felt like home. We took a second trip, and we drove around the areas and figured. Yeah, this feels right.”
The pastry chef and chocolatier splits her focus throughout the year, zeroing in on baked goods in the Summer and early Fall, before transitioning to chocolate making as the cooler weather and holidays arrive.
Melt Chocolate Co. is a vendor at the Winter Wonder Market on November 29th. She is also doing preorders for the upcoming holidays. All of her work is done from home in Eagle and she's currently prepping to make thousands of chocolates for the Treasure Valley to enjoy.
