Indulge in delectable handmade treats at Elizabeth Moore Chocolates

After 40 years in the food and pastry business, esteemed chocolatier Susan Notter has opened her own shop in Pelham, Elizabeth Moore Chocolates. From traditional chocolate bars to mini chocolate purses, you’ll want to check out this shop for the perfect gift (or treat yourself!). Read on for the sweet details.

All roads lead to Birmingham

Elizabeth Moore Chocolates serves high-quality, ethically sourced chocolate and confections that taste just as incredible as they look.

Susan Notter has been all over the world, but her travels have landed her happily in the Birmingham area.

She was born and raised in England and always had a knack for adventure. This may come as a surprise, but she said in the 80s, England was not the cuisine hotspot it is today. So, she went from England to Germany and then to Zurich, Switzerland where she lived for 10 years. Over the course of her travels, she worked with a few different expert chocolatiers and honed in on her craft.

From there, she made her way to the US and taught in several places across the country, including Washington DC and Las Vegas. Her first time in Alabama was back in 2000 and she immediately fell in love with it. Her daughter went to Auburn and Susan made lots of connections here in the south.

A few years ago, she had the freedom to choose where she was working and decided to place her roots here in Birmingham. At age 60, she decided to fulfill her dream of opening a shop of her own.

Living the dream

You may be wondering, if her name is Susan, where does Elizabeth Moore come from? Well, Susan wanted her store to have its own identity, separate from her own.

“I’ve been in the industry a long time and internationally, through the industry, I’m known. But Elizabeth is my middle name and Moore is my maiden name. I think it sounds very English. I wanted to give it it’s own identity and build that brand, and that’s what we came across. We thought ‘Wow, this really fits.'”

Susan Notter, Owner, Elizabeth Moore Chocolates

After years of working for others, Susan’s favorite part of owning her own shop is that she has free reign over her products. When making the chocolates, she can decide how many she wants to make along with letting her artistic side shine.

“I really enjoy the responsibility of being the creative driver of the shop and then seeing the customers and their satisfaction. I’m trying to do something super unique in the area that is being embraced.”

Susan Notter

Try for yourself

Each chocolate you see in the shop is exquisitely handmade with care by Susan every day. Her chocolate is ethically sourced from Switzerland. Susan compares chocolate to coffee in the sense that each region will produce chocolate with a different, unique taste.

In the future, Susan hopes to add chocolates from a wider range of origins, including Madagascar, Indonesia and Venezuela.

Ideally, these are chocolates that you break off a piece of and savor as a delicious treat.

I was lucky enough to try a variety of bonbons and truffles and let me tell you, you need this in your life. The orange, coconut and raspberry bonbons melt in your mouth with their perfect mix of rich chocolate with a fruity filling.

The coffee, caramel and hazelnut crunch bonbons were just as pleasant, and I loved the texture the crunch provided.

Plus, of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic luscious truffle.

Elizabeth Moore Chocolates provides the perfect gift for any occasion or special event, along with custom packaging options. Stop by today and experience artisanal chocolate like never before.

• Location: 2742 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL 35124
• Hours: Closed Sunday-Monday | Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-6PM
• Website | Facebook | 205.358.7352

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