Trained as a savory chef, Chris is a self-taught chocolatier. His inspiration is European classic chocolate making. He has traveled Europe extensively, particularly Switzerland, France, and Italy to study and learn about classic chocolates, bringing this knowledge back to his own practice.
Artisan Chocolatier
Chris Kollar
Chocolatier, chef, innovator, “artist” and avid cyclist, Chris Kollar is the owner of Kollar Chocolates, an award-winning artisan chocolate shop located in the heart of Yountville in the Napa Valley.
Chef Kollar earned the Food Network's CHOPPED Champion title in 2020, is named Dessert Professional Magazine’s Top Ten Chocolatiers of North America, and appointed as a Specialized Bicycles Brand Ambassador.
A Passion for
Chocolate
Trained as a savory chef, Kollar worked in kitchens across the country for 25+ years, starting with his hometown of Lilburn, Georgia. In 2001 he settled in the Napa Valley and worked at notable restaurants, including Domaine Chandon, Tra Vigne, Pinot Blanc, Go Fish, and, ultimately, Peter Michael Winery in Sonoma County as Executive Chef, where his passion for chocolate flourished.
The Vision Of
Kollar Chocolates
Kollar Chocolates’ mission is to elevate chocolate into an artistic, sensory experience driven by flavor and innovation. Kollar and his team marry time- honored European techniques with the finest ethically sourced ingredients and new world flavors.
Chef Kollar traveled Europe extensively, notably Switzerland, France, and Italy, to further study and learn about traditional chocolates as well as trained with admired Chocolatiers.
Using this knowledge and taking it back to his craft, Kollar blends European classic chocolate techniques with his savory culinary background to create hand-crafted confections consistently lauded as “edible works of art.”
