GOOD FOOD AWARDS WINNER

Zak's Cacao Nib Caramel wins at Good Food Awards

click here to read the story in Phoenix New Times

Zak’s Chocolate Wins 2017 GOOD FOOD AWARD

San Francisco, January 20, 2017

Zak’s Chocolate was named a 2017 Good Food Awards Winner in the Confections Category for its Cacao Nib Caramel.

We are proud and honored to be the first Arizona winner in the Confections Category and only the second ever winner from Arizona. The first winner was AZ Queen Bee Honey in 2015. Zak's uses this award-winning honey in its honey truffle.

After passing the “tastes great” judging, winning entries undergo a rigorous vetting process to confirm they meet specific standards around agricultural & environmental practices, social responsibility & transparency in sourcing.

Our Award Winning entry is hand-crafted with: Zak’s House-Made Caramel, infused with in-house roasted cacao nibs, coated with Zak’s House Blend Bean-to-Bar Chocolate, and topped with a caramelized cacao nib. The cacao nibs give the caramel a depth of flavor and slight crunch. Amongst the ingredients are locally-sourced, dairy fresh Danzeisen Dairy Cream.

An Awards Ceremony was held at the historic Herbst Theater in the San Francisco War Memorial, on the same stage where the United Nations charter was signed. Environmentalist, activist and writer, Winona LaDuke gave the keynote address and medals were bestowed by renowned chef Alice Waters and organics pioneer Nell Newman. 

ABOUT Zak’s Chocolate

Zak’s Chocolate, located in Scottsdale, AZ, is a family-owned small-batch craft chocolate maker and an artisan chocolatier. Owners, Maureen & Jim Elitzak turned a long-time hobby into Zak’s Chocolate in April 2015. Maureen is a Certified Master Chocolatier.

Zak’s uses only ethically-sourced, fine flavor cocoa beans and makes 100% of their products using only their own chocolate, something rarely found in chocolate shops.

Zak’s makes single-origin and house-blend chocolate for bars, truffles, brownies, hot chocolate and other yummy confections. Everything is done by hand, from sorting cocoa beans to wrapping bars. Zak’s even presses their own single-origin cocoa butters and cocoa powders, which can be used as a culinary ingredient by local professional and at-home chefs.

Zak's Chocolate Awards:

Best Chocolate Phoenix 2015 - Phoenix New Times

Best Local Food Product - 2016 - Phoenix Magazine

Finalist International Chocolate Awards 2016 - Peru San Martin 70%

Bronze International Chocolate Awards 2016 - 55% Dark Milk Chocolate 

Good Food Awards Winner 2017 - Cacao Nib Caramel

ABOUT THE GOOD FOOD AWARDS 
The Good Food Awards celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic and responsible. Now in its seventh year, awards are given to winners in 14 categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, fish, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves and spirits. These are outstanding American food producers and the farmers who provide their ingredients. These winners push their industries towards craftsmanship and sustainability while enhancing our agricultural landscape and building strong communities. The Good Food Awards Seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they have found something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good.