We Met Over Coffee: Conshy’s Own Tradestone Confections
We are head-in-the-clouds happy about our latest partnership with Tradestone Confections, the Conshohocken-based chocolatiers who combined two of our most favorite things: chocolate and our signature coffee. The swoon-worthy Saxbys Coffee Caramel Crunch chocolate bar, made with our ground espresso beans, is now available in select cafes, including the recently reopened Saxbys UPenn. We chatted with Tradestone’s Samantha Slade about what it’s like to work for a chocolate company, how they concocted the Saxbys Coffee Caramel Crunch recipe, and why Philadelphia’s a great city for up-and-coming creatives.
Tell us about you and your company! What’s your role with Tradestone Confections?
We’re a small batch, artisan chocolatier based in Conshohocken, specializing in handmade barks, caramels, turtles, assortments and bars. My role is Brand and Operations Manager, which means I have my hand involved in everything besides the actual chocolate making.
I got involved at the very beginning through working on the website, and I’ve grown with the company to now lead sales, design & marketing. It's been really fun to be an integral part of a startup’s progression.
How would you describe Tradestone Confections? What sets Tradestone Confections apart from other chocolate brands?
It’s all about the skilled hand of our Chef / Owner Fred Ortega. He’s truly got the eye of an artist, with a ridiculous amount of European training. So he takes classic techniques and pairs them with bold, colorful presentations. Plus we use very little in the way of preservatives, so everything is fresh.
It’s also just Fred and Andrew, our sous chocolatier, who make all the chocolate so that’s about as personal as it gets. When you get Tradestone, you’re getting a product handmade by chocolatiers who are passionately dedicating their careers to making delicious treats for your enjoyment. That truly comes through in every bite.
What are some of the Tradestone chocolatiers’ favorite ingredients to work with?
If it’s fresh and in season, we’re game. Also, Chef Fred really enjoys pairing unexpected ingredients with chocolate. He created a strawberry balsamic chocolate last spring that paired the season’s first berries with vinegar, and it was out of sight. Our gorgonzola chocolate also was the sleeper hit of the summer. One of the highlights of our shop is our chocolate showcase, where these special flavors can be available for purchase as they make their way through our kitchen.
On the flipside, we also shine at simple. If you ask me, Chef Fred’s best offering is his dark chocolate truffles. He uses this double-handrolling technique he learned while in Europe, and they absolutely melt in your mouth. It’s both straightforward and masterful.
How did the Tradestone team first hear about Saxbys?
Our Chef / Owner Chip Roman went to high school with Saxbys’ VP of Marketing & Sales Justin Pizzi. We’re constantly looking to collaborate with friends and kindred businesses, so it was a no brainer that we should explore a partnership.
How did the Tradestone team decide to use Saxbys espresso beans in their chocolate?
We wanted to highlight the strengths of each of our businesses. What says Saxbys more than coffee? I loved seeing Fred’s creativity in action as he came up with the best way to integrate the beans — he experimented with barks and other concoctions before landing on this bar.
We’re so happy to be working with another Philly company! How long have you lived here for?
I’ve personally been here since 2003, when my husband and I relocated from DC. Chip is a Philly native from Fishtown, and Fred has been here for quite a while as well.
What are some of your favorite things about the city? What sets it apart from other cities, in your eyes?
I love Philly for being livable and walkable. It’s a city that you can really figure out how to live the life you want. The DIY culture here is terrific — so many creative people leading great, inspiring lives for themselves.
What are your favorite places to go in Philly? (Besides Saxbys, of course…)
I love rock ‘n’ roll, so I always appreciate a good show at a great venue like Union Transfer. I’ve been really into spending as much time in nature as possible, especially while the leaves are turning, so I take every chance I can to walk down Forbidden Drive or through Morris Arboretum.
We have to ask! What Saxbys drink do you think would pair best with our custom Tradestone chocolate bar?
The chocolate bar is chock full of caffeine already, so I’d go with a simple steamer. Vanilla is always classic, or almond might be a nice flavor shot to bring out the caramelized nuttiness in the bar.
The Saxbys Coffee Caramel Crunch chocolate bar and Tradestone’s Venezuelan 72% chocolate bar can be found in Saxbys’ Philly Snack Box, which is filled with local bites including Lawless Jerky, Mavuno Harvest dried fruits, and Nuts About Granola. Now available at select Philly-area cafes.