60 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM inspiration behind it … She’s the one who said, ‘Hey, keep going.’” And how’d these sweethearts meet? “We swiped right,” Michael says with a twinkle. Michael makes his tantalizing treats in a space carefully converted to his specifications. “I’ve designed lots of kitchens,” he says. “So, it was really easy for me to stainless-steel a place out.” He buys his beans from an organic co-op in Ecuador. “Tropical fruit overtones were really what I was looking for,” he shares. “It needed to be aromatic and grounded.” But before you even taste the chocolate, feast your eyes on Minée’s illustrated labels. The images are a combination of Michael’s two favorite art styles: art nouveau and anime. Michael says he’s been captivated with the former ever since seeing an exhibit athletes and politicians (but he’s not naming any names). The care and consideration he brings to all things culinary is evident. “If you’re gonna make something, you actually have to learn where it starts. Not even just its origins, but the people, the philosophy behind it,” Michael asserts. “Anybody can take a red snapper and wrap it in a banana leaf and say, ‘Hey, there’s a Chilean bass,’ right? But what’s the essence of the flavor behind it? And why would they do that? That’s what led me into chocolate making.” Michael co-founded Minée Chocolate with Renée Fadiman who consults and acts as co-art director. Partners in life as well as business, their combined names comprise the company’s moniker. “Without Renée, it would just be meh,” Michael jokes. On a more serious note, “She’s the {food coloring}
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