Remember Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the one made in 1971) and all the wondrous chocolate fantasies that the children and their parents wandered through?  Well the Jewish Community of Cincinnati has their own “Kosher Chocolatier,” not as big and illustrious as Wonka Land, but an adventure in diverse tastes and best of all it's all Kosher, better yet, pareve!

Seena Rubenstein, a New York transplant, formerly working on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch in the Municipal Bond Department, now assisting Rabbi Balk as the office manager of Golf Manor Synagogue, is the aspiration, brains, and creative talent of CHOZEN CHOCOLATES, Cincinnati’s premiere pareve kosher chocolatier since April of 2007. 

Working in Golf Manor Synagogue, Seena has been privy to wonder in the shul’s kitchen to bask (and of course, nosh) in the creations of Gerd Bucheim, a Cincinnati master baker and desert creator for many decades. She witnessed him creating a fabulous chocolate desert tray and was curious about creating a chocolate gift for a new member of the community….something that wouldn’t wilt after a week, like flowers. Thus the beginning of her own small business: CHOZEN CHOCOLATES.  Mr. Bucheim began to mentor Seena on the numerous and laborious steps to temper the imported Belgium chocolates. Seena decided that she would invest in expensive tempering machines, rather than the manual double-boiler methods that Mr.Bucheim uses.

Seena was determined to research the wonderful world of upscale chocolates and confections. She became intrigued, thinking of all the flavors, spices, and scents she could utilize in making chocolate delights. Last fall she went to New York to the world-wide KOSHERFEST Convention, to see the newest things on the market. Her chocolate bounty has become a vast array of flavors to tantalize nearly every taste bud, young, as well as, old.  In just one year, Seena and her husband, Richard, have created and selected numerous delectable treats that they have shared with the Jewish Community at weddings, kiddishes, social functions, Purium baskets, and Yom Tov tables. Seena herself, has done numerous events, like her ‘Chocolate, Wine and Torah’ program at Rabbi Lifshitz’s home, where nearly three dozen people from numerous congregations shared in her delicacies, while learning from the rabbi. Seena has other Jewish programs that she is putting together where she will share her chocolate pleasures. Seena says that even though my husband Richard is a diabetic, “he helps me in whatever ways he can…often times in just cleaning the pots, pans, and molds.” Richard thinks that after a year, Chozen Chocolates, has earned a tag line: “When your mind is on chocolates--we’ve got your taste buds covered.”

Seena recalls, last year upon announcing her new venture, scores of people asked if she was kosher for Passover? Unfortunately we had to say “no.”  Seena and her husband are already working, making plans to offer Kosher for Passover in 2009 (5769).  See ya later Bartons! Seena said that her best compliment came from Rabbi Mangel of the Chabad Jewish Center (Blue Ash), when he told her, "that she solved the problem of what to bring to the rabbi’s house when invited to dinner…good kosher chocolates!"

Just call Seena Rubenstein and find out the wonderful taste treats she can create for you or for your events. Her number is 513-520-3860~or visit their website at www.chozenchocolates.com.  (Can I have another Marzipan chocolate?)