Socola Chocolatier

2020, you rocked our world. What kept us together was family and community through and through. Thank you to EVERYONE who spread the word on our chocolate mooncakes, #littlesaigonbox, and gift sets. You showed us that what makes us unique is our heritage and we are excited to double down on that. 2020, good riddance, 2021, let’s do this.

You think we look like this, but we kinda look like this. Also, today is the last Friday with $5 off your in-store coffee drinks or chocolate tab, 12-4pm only! Hope to see ya there.

Wendy is getting back into guitar her chocolate guitar. Socola Secret #4: how we make perfect chocolate squares. Lady is on a MISSION to get you your goodies asap!

Andddd we’re back in-stock! We had 7 items sold out and everything is refreshed! Just made some Harriets toasted pecans encased in our fresh vanilla bean caramel that are hand cut and dipped in 72% dark chocolate. The caramel is our Salty Chewy Caramel handmade with fresh Straus Creamery cream and fleur de sel.

The Birth of Raspberry Champagne Chocolate Truffles. Sound on for this one, we get silly.

Who ya gonna call? Socola Happy Halloween! Stay safe everyone!

Our Kheer White Chocolate bars are ready to go! Fun fact: Wendy made this flavor in honor of her in-laws. Kheer, Payasa, Payasam or Phirni, is a type of pudding from the Indian subcontinent, made by boiling milk, sugar, and rice. The more you know.

Order by end of Sunday for Christmas Delivery! We didn't want to spring it on you like this, but with all of the extra shipping happening across the country this year, USPS and other carriers are delayed. Given this, we would encourage everyone to place orders by TONIGHT midnight PST for guaranteed Christmas delivery. If you don't need your gifts to be delivered by Christmas, yes by all means, place an order anytime thereafter. We will still be producing chocolates until Christmas and then will be taking a short break until we're back in January. Thank you so much for your understanding. Wishing you all a safe holiday -- we are so grateful that you support a woman-POC owned small business!

It’s National Women’s Small Business month! Join Wendy and other small business owners this Friday at 12 noon PST to hear more about how businesses have pivoted during the pandemic and what’s needed as we move towards the future.

Order by end of day today for Christmas Delivery - https://mailchi.mp/socolach/order-tonight-for-xmas-shipping

Virtual Socola + Holiday Gift Baskets (Already?!) - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/tea-time-and-holidays

Another Socola Secret: one of our favorite feelings. Removing chocolate transfer sheets (imagine chocolate temporary tattoos) after a round of dipping. You can only remove them once the chocolates have hit room temperature. Yummy? We think so. Sound on!

We are doing a giveaway of our Little Saigon Box. Check out how to enter on the @vietnameseboatpeople page.

Just less an an hour and a half left of free in-store coffee drinks and chocolate on behalf of @xfinity. Today and next Friday 12-4pm only -- they pick up $5 off your tab!

It's Tt Trung thu, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and we are celebrating this auspicious holiday with some mad love from @nbcasianamerica on our chocolate mooncakes! Read about Wendy's buff arms and her big dream for Socola. Cám n Diep Tran for shining a lantern on our sister story! Repost from @nbcasianamerica Chocolatier Wendy Lieu has been making a lot of #mooncakes in preparation for the #MidAutumnFestival on Thursday. But hers aren’t the typical baked pastry with a s...weet or savory filling. Lieu's are made of chocolate: a dark chocolate shell filled with a mix of lotus seeds, white chocolate and the customary salted egg. I've been working on the lotus paste, and my arms are really buff because of that now, Lieu said. Eating the holiday goods and celebrating looks a little bit different for this year’s festival, also known as the Moon or #MooncakeFestival, which is rooted in the legend of a moon goddess. It’s commemorated by Chinese and Vietnamese communities, during which families and friends gather for the harvest season. Amid the pandemic, Lieu is selling her version of mooncakes online through @socolachocs, the chocolate company that she co-founded with her sister. And even though the double hit of the pandemic and wildfires has kept their San Francisco storefront closed, Socola is still surviving, thanks to its flexibility and inherent creativity. For instance, in addition to creating bold, new chocolate flavors, Socola has pivoted to offering online chocolate classes. Read more at the in our bio! @socolachocs / @nbcnews

Years ago I watched the movie Amélie and saw how much delight one person could make in a small café. She found so much pleasure in the cracking of Crème brûlée and tearing of roasted chicken. She found so much joy in orchestrating magic with her co-workers and customers. I vowed to have a café of my own one day with that same sense of connection and for the past 6 years, the dream has been real. Lately the pandemic has forced us to be in a constant state of pivoting. Cu...stomers can meet us at the front door and place their orders instead of come inside. We moved coffee service to just Fridays in December. But even with all the changes, I still feel the kindness from the world I’ve built here and just wanted to say thank you for everyone who has helped hold the vision with me. We’ve got a cool partnership with @xfinity today where the first 100 customers get $5 off their tab today so roll on through! It would be nice to see your lovely faces. See more

Now you can make our drinks at home Check out our newest product - The Chocolate Barista Kit (https://www.socolachocolates.com//the-chocolate-barista-kit) . Make our drinks at home with our signature liquid truffle and chocolate marshmallows shipped straight to your door!

Another Socola Secret: how we make our best-selling Bear Hugs. Fluffy handcrafted marshmallows lined with chewy caramel, enrobed in dark chocolate. Just 20 sets in-stock! Sound on.

For the one who can never decide, it’s all about our gorgeous 24-piece assorted box. A little this, a little that, and a whole lotta love. Orders are coming in and we are so thankful for all of your support.

And for the Fourth and final course we have Cognac aka Karaoke night instigator! We hope you enjoy this 4 course tasting box. #littlesaigonbox

We're teaming up with Red Boat Fish Sauce for their 12 Days of Gifting to help spread some holiday cheer (I mean it is one of our favorite home ingredients )! Head over to their page for a chance to win our Little Saigon Box and Red Boat's lovely Palm Sugar! #RedBoat12Days

Third Course: Dessert! Growing up dessert was always fruit. And if it was a special occasion then it was durian! Our third course includes dessert in the form of chocolates passion fruit, lychee, guava, durian. Enjoy! Link in bio.

It all started with our parents' nail salon. You don't clock in and out with a small business. You wish the clock had more than 24 hours. Susan and I worked there during the summers since we were wee babes. In 2001, we decided that summer we would start a business of our own. At 19 and 16, we set a table out in front of Today's Nails with our chocolates and the rest is history (filled with serious highs and lows). "Socola" means "chocolate" in Vietnamese and that's what a box of our chocolates is -- the hope and grit of the immigrant hustle. This holiday season, #shopsmall. There's a family and a wish for a better life behind every small business.

We RAN OUT of chocolate yesterday. Gone. Our shipment was going to be delayed. This would ruin all of next week’s orders. Our friends at @guittardchocolate saved us in a jam. Another reason why we do business with other family-owned companies in a 100-mile radius. You can drive to their HQ *and* make it back in time to teach a few virtual chocolate tasting classes (and continue dipping chocolates!). TBH there was a lot of laugh crying yesterday friends, but we’re okay. The chocolate gods have been good to us. Back to work!

Second Course: Ph, made with star anise, black cardamom, fennel, coriander, cinnamon and black peppercorn spices and sriracha! Eat them separately or alternate with a bite of each! #littlesaigonbox

First Course: Two Beverages! Jasmine tea, our grandmother’s favorite scent with a long floral finish and Vietnamese coffee, roasted chicory coffee with a kiss of condensed milk. #littlesaigonbox

Chocolate Mooncakes are BACCCCKKKK! Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner on October 1st. Spark surprise with friends and family for this year's Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Our auspicious lotus paste delicacies are handcrafted with white chocolate and salted egg yolk, perfect for moon gazing and sipping tea. Shipments begin on Monday, September 28, 2020. Pre-order now, limited supply. #mooncake #mooncakes #lanternfestival #midautumnfestival

One of our favorite Socola unboxing videos was done by @thainguyenatelier, the wonderful #fairygownmother behind @sayidonetflix. He's adorable, charismatic, and had a fantastic time with our Little Saigon Box. We love you Thai!

Chocolate Mooncakes + Introducing The Little Saigon Box - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2491686

We’re here for you We’re offering pickup and special local Condo delivery options, so you can enjoy our treats from home.

WOW -- thank you so much for the outpouring of support. We are feeling so loved from our community. We are feeling Hamilton's song "Non-Stop" right now from you all and while we work in the kitchen. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing a women POC-owned chocolatier for all your sweet holiday needs. We're going to keep going non-stop, friends. NON-STOP!

Ta-da! Finally it’s here! Pho #1 - a dark chocolate truffle with all the spices in Pho! Place an order for chocolates and let us know if you want to try a couple pieces out for free . While supplies last. Artwork by @stacynguyencreative

Random act of kindness alert! We're excited to partner with the Xfinity Pick Up the Tab program who will cover $5 of your in-store purchase *and* a complimentary truffle on FRIDAYS this December. That's right. The first 100 customers each day get up to $5 off -- coffee, chocolates, whatever you like. How's that for a little joy and cheer? Program runs on Fridays on December 4, 11, and 18. Our store is open MWF 12-4pm and we will be offering coffee service *just* on Fridays.

Current MOOD. It was so good, especially on a windy day. Marshmallows were not that sweet which I like and the truffles were truly rich :) Thanks for the shoutout @mjkim.io. She’s rocking the Chocolate Barista Kit where you can make decadent drinks with our signature chocolate truffles and handmade chocolate marshmallows. Make that cappuccino or hot cocoa SING.

Detangling the lights, dusting off the stockings, eating pumpkin pie for breakfast. The holidays just zoomed here and we’re ready for ya! The Socola Kitchen is in FULL SWING making thousands of chocolates every week. Extended store hours are now M, W, F, 12-4pm through December 23rd for in-store pick-up. Order online or call ahead if you have a list so we can minimize your wait time! Here we go ...

Letting you in on a Socola secret. People always ask how do we get pictures onto the chocolates? Handpainting all these Harriets would take years for the thousands of chocolates we’re making right now! We work with a cocoa butter printer who YES has a printer that prints chocolate. We give them the designs, they print the images on plastic transfer sheets, we make our chocolate ganaches, run them through our chocolate carwash and while the bon bons are still warm from their fresh coat of dark chocolate, we put the images on. After a few hours when they are room temp, we peel them off like temporary tattoos. People have requested their FACES on them before which make hilarious party favors. Standard company logos aside, the possibilities are endless. The more ya know.

Feeling grateful for being seen and supported by our Vietnamese community, for all our wonderful customers who choose women and POC owned gifts for their favorite people, and for our own health. It’s been a wild, bumpy year and we thank our lucky stars to have a community like you. Sending good vibes on Thanksgiving friends. And big thanks to Nguoi Viet Tay Bac for the feature! We ARE our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Link in comments!

Forbes just featured us as one of TOP 10 chocolatiers in America for their holiday gift guide!!!! Thank you to Katie Kelly Bell for showing mad love for our Little Saigon Box (Ph, Durian, Jasmine Tea, Vietnamese Coffee, and more). Yes, this year you may not be able to hang with your favorite people this holiday season. We feel you. BUT you send good vibes *and* support small businesses with Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving/Holiday gifts from artisanal makers like US. Help us w...eather this pandemic so we can still be open next year. Spread the love, not the virus. https://www.forbes.com//holiday-gift-guide-2020-the-best/

Gorgeous custom chocolates made for @claseazultequila using Añejo Tequila Need custom chocolates? They’re the perfect gift Taking orders for Holiday gifts starting now

This is happening today at 11 AM PST and it's free to join. Register in advance! Hope to see you!

Join Wendy and other amazing Chocolatiers in a Virtual Chocolate Salon featuring Asian American Chocolatiers on Tuesday, 8/11, 11 am PST! Let us know if you plan to join

Free Delivery to Condos in SoMa (East Cut & Rincon) - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2481534

10% off Chocolates for store front pick up or mail order World Chocolate Day was yesterday, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate today! We’re offering pickup (Mondays & Wednesdays, 12-4PM) and shipping, so you can enjoy our chocolate treats from the best seat in the house: your couch. Use discount code: WORLDCHOCO through this Friday, 7/10.... Note: We can only ship to destinations with temperatures of 75 degrees or less!

Working on a new flavor. Can you guess what it might be?

There's still time! Top Shelf Liquor Chocolates for Dad - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2474362

Friends of Socola, I'm sad to say that Socola will again need to temporarily close our doors for curbside pickup for the next few weeks. Since we re-opened for pickup in May, we have tried local marketing, 50% off deals, partnering with local condos and a number of other things to keep our sales to a level that can sustain our business. Unfortunately, it appears that people are not quite ready to come out and engage with local businesses yet and we cannot afford to keep open ...business hours in this environment. We will continue to support online orders and you can use our "pick-up in store" for online chocolate orders (pick-up windows are Monday and Wednesday from 12 - 4 PM). Please continue to support us online! Online gift cards In store e-gift cards (https://squareup.com/gift/39X9NQQ22GJ9Y/order) (for future use) We are open today until 2 PM if you want a grab a soco-latte. It is our hope during these uncertain times that we are stronger together. Stay Safe, Wendy & all of us at Socola

SOUND ON! Fresh Princess of Socola Susan Lieu is dropping some beats because it’s finally Fri-YAY y’all. Platinum material?

50% off 'Hood Appreciation Special! Socola Chocolatier is kicking off one of the strangest summers with 50% off all coffee, tea and espresso drinks! Now through Wednesday June 3rd. Like a lot of neighborhood small businesses, we're hustlin' to keep our business running through these challenging times and could really use your support! ... Order ahead online or place your order right outside our store -- both ways are contactless and safe! Store Hours Monday-Friday 9AM-2PM 535 Folsom Street

Our retail store is opening on Monday, 5/18! - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2467258

We’ve made some changes due to COVID-19 Dear Friends, We are excited to announce that we will be opening starting next Monday, May 18th, for contactless storefront pick-up for both coffee and chocolates! ... Our modified hours will be Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 2 PM. We will be testing out a pre-order service and you can also walk up and place an order with us since we have a contactless chip reader. Pre-Order Options: For coffee & chocolate: Order here For chocolates only: Order through our website and select in-store pick-up. Here is how our business is changing due to COVID-19: For drinks we will be testing a new order ahead system for quick, contactless pick up. Due to our limited staff, phone orders will not be accepted at this time. You can still place an order in-person by walking up to our location. All staff and customers are required to wear a mask when approaching our establishment. Please do not visit us if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. We are asking the same of our staff members if they are not feeling well. Please practice 6 feet social distancing with other customers if you are waiting for your order. Thank you so much for sticking with us. We look forward to supporting each other during these challenging times. Wendy & all of us at Socola

Happy Mother’s Day from Wendy & the future Socola interns.

I remember when I was a kid I watched Chef Martin Yan debone a chicken in 18 seconds on KQED. Not only was he funny and entertaining, he was the star on TV. Not the sidekick, but the star. And Asian. He showed us all what was possible -- what we could be and where we belonged. . Over the years, I've gotten to collaborate with Chef Martin on different events and am overjoyed to celebrate the City of San Francisco's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month alongside with him this Thursday from 6-7pm PST. Join us for this facebook live event where we talk shop and food. Tune in on Thursday! Because if "Yan can cook, so can you!" Indeed, we truly did and do.

Don't Forget: Send a special treat for Mother's Day - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2462782

Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 10th. Send a special treat of handmade truffles right to her door. Our Mothers Day Collection includes some of our sweetest flavors: Jasmine tea, passion fruit vanilla bean, Raspberry Champagne and Burnt caramel with sea salt. Online order cutoff is this Sunday, 5/3. We are offering in store pick up on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-4 PM when you order in advance online.

Send a special treat for Mother's Day - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2461366

If you have been curious to try Durian, the best way to try it is in the form of chocolate truffles! We have a handful of boxes left! We make this treat every couple of months and have a specific email list specifically for this product!

A basketful of eggs remain for in store pick up tomorrow. Order online and stop by for contactless pick up between 12-4 PM!

There’s still time to secure your Easter Eggs for contactless pick up tomorrow (order by tonight midnight) or Wednesday (order by Tuesday midnight). And for local delivery or national shipping, the cut off is tonight at midnight! Also, we have some mini dark chocolate bunnies and if durian is on your mind, it’s in stock right now! Check out our online store. Link in profile

Our hand-painted Easter Eggs are online! Limited quantities available for contactless pick-up next Monday or Wednesday. You can also add other items to the pick up like Salty Chewy Caramels or some of our handmade chocolate bars! Additionally, we have set up some local condo deliveries for next Wednesday. Details online. Link in our profile above. Thanks so much for your support.

Spent this past weekend painting beautiful Magic Eggs for Easter! Each egg is lovingly painted then shelled in either milk or dark chocolate. The inside is hollow and filled with mini chocolate chicks and drops in raspberry, milk, dark and matcha chocolate. Each egg comes with a cute lollipop to crack open the egg! We are working on figuring out local delivery to condos along Folsom St and or a couple pick up windows next week. Stay tuned!

Sent out 20 care packages of Socola chocolate truffles and Wrecking Ball coffee beans to Bay Area medical front line workers crowdsourced from our amazing fans. (Sorry, alpacas not included) THANK YOU to our incredible first responders for taking care of us during these uncertain times. . Want to share a care package with a loved one with social distancing? Socola is shipping out twice a week from our online store. Brighten someone's day with a sweet surprise -- we all could use a little more cheer.

Our heart goes out to all the medical first responders caring for COVID-19 patients. We'd like to gift chocolate truffles and whole bean coffee to medical facilities to brighten their day in the San Francisco area. Please tag anyone working in this field and their facility so we can get them a care package this week. We have 800 chocolates to give away!

Chocolate Surplus Festivus! Support us with a SPECIAL deal - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2452133

Temporary Store Closure, Treats Still Ship Nationwide - https://mailchi.mp/socolachocolates/30t11sbzj5-2449801

19 years ago we started tinkering with chocolates, selling them in front of our parents’ nail salon. Along the way, we’ve been tested, we’ve failed, and we’ve risen. Together, we can all win. Support women-owned businesses we create jobs, reinvest back more into families and local economies with sass, flair, and heels. Happy International Women’s Day we see you.... #IWD2020