In this edition of Throwback Thursday (#TBT), we dial the clock back exactly seven years to the days just before the launch of Beta5 at 413 Industrial Avenue. The company, owned and operated by Adam Chandler and Jess Rosinski, would quickly emerge a multiple award-winner and become synonymous with superlative, made-in-Vancouver deliciousness.

Today when I close my eyes and think of Beta5 I see magical things like Polygon bars, cream puffs and – dear god – those ice cream sandwiches. But seven years ago it was an unknown. Indeed, as we poked our heads inside and smelled its glory for the very first time, we could only hope it would be a home run…

“Hardcore chocoholics will rejoice at the soon-to-arrive Beta 5 shop, so named after the form-5 beta crystal structure, the most stable form of cocoa butter crystallization which is arrived at with the controlled melting and subsequent cooling of liquid chocolate.

It’s a new high quality chocolate company from Adam Chandler and Jess Rosinski, whose business philosophy is of the “do no evil” sort. In this case, that means all of their high quality plantation chocolate will be ethically sourced from France’s storied chocolatier Michel Cluizel, who takes ingredient traceability, land stewardship, and fair labour practices very seriously.

I’m told that we can expect plenty of truffles, lots of different types of chocolate covered fruits and nuts, a line of branded chocolate bars and hand-painted chocolates (ie. not done with commercially available transfer sheets). “Our visual aesthetic will be unique,” says Chandler, who once upon a time worked for chef Marc-Andre Choquette at Voya and toiled alongside David Wong at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.

The 4,000sqft production facility will supply hotels and gourmet food shops, and will include a retail front. Unfortunately, when Beta5 opens later this month, it will only be on Saturdays, which is to say don’t budge! I’m quite certain that I was ahead of you in line…”

Thankfully, the place has long since expanded its hours of operation; they even scoop fabulous ice cream sundaes every weekend (aka “Ice Cream Social”). Hats off to them for kicking ass from the start and never resting on their laurels. Take a look inside as Adam and Jess were busily stocking up for opening day, which was October 1st, 2011.

BETA5

Neighbourhood: Main Street

413 Industrial Ave.

604-669-3336

WEBSITE