5 minute read
SINFULLY THE BEST
Ten Years of Sensational Chocolate
When two stores close, another store opens. Chocoholics and baked good lovers are rejoicing at the news that Sinfully The Best has consolidated their two locations into one new and significantly larger space on No. 1 Road. Here you will find decadent hand-crafted chocolates, cookies, and cakes. The expansion is an exciting prospect for Steveston as Sinfully The Best is the village’s go-to destination for gifts, special occasions, seasonal treats, or simply to satisfy your own craving.
Sinfully The Best has been Steveston’s purveyor of delectable artisan chocolate for 10 years. Owner Cathy Cheung trained as a pastry chef at Toronto’s Ryerson University. She initially did not work in the profession; instead, she pursued a career as an accountant but was eventually pulled back to her culinary dream.
In May 2011, the charming shop opened on the corner of No. 1 Road and Chatham Street. This began the adventure of introducing Steveston to Sinfully The Best’s award-winning bonbons.
The original storefront was tiny—the chocolate kitchen measured six feet by six feet and was located behind the retail counter. In 2012, Sinfully The Best acquired the adjacent retail unit, allowing them to double their space and greatly expand their production area.
Sinfully The Best is a proud member of the Steveston Merchants Association. Cathy attributes some of the business’s success to the SMA’s Girls’ Night Out event, which also began in 2011. Each year GNO attendees have loyally lined up outside the shop waiting to get into the store and they, along with many devoted customers, return on a regular basis.
In 2017, Sinfully Too opened with a focus on custom baked goods such as exquisite cakes and cookies to celebrate a multitude of occasions and seasonal celebrations.
Fast forward to 2021, the new No. 1 Road store has roughly 25 per cent more floor space than both of the previous stores combined. Cathy says, “The best part is to have all the staff working together again, and greater convenience for our customers as well.”
She remarks, “There is retail space for our customers to explore. We now have two kitchens, one for nut-free chocolate production and the other for baked goods and chocolate products containing nuts. We have many exciting and tasty new products being tested right now—stay tuned for more details.”
All of Sinfully The Best's products are made in-house using quality ingredients and no preservatives.
Cathy feels very fortunate to have had many staff members with the business since the early days. General manager Anita Schultz and head chocolatier Dorothy Suen have been there since the very first day. The number of employees has grown from about five during the early years, to 13 to 15 during peak seasons such as Christmas.
During non-pandemic times, staff members are given the opportunity to attend a three-day course at Montreal’s Academy of Chocolate. While there, they also tour the facility where one million pounds of chocolate is produced daily.
The cakes, cupcakes, and cookies are original, and stunning with their fine details. Name a theme and the talented pastry staff has likely made it, and if not, Nicole Monette and her pastry team will be eager to create it. Memorable custom cakes include an RCMP cake for a special retirement party, and a wedding cake with a handmade topper featuring the bride, groom, and their bulldog; many more magnificent creations can be viewed on the business’s Instagram page.
Numerous delectable treats are housed in the bonbon display case including Passionate Lust (white chocolate, passion fruit ganache, tropical and tart, balanced by the sweetness of the white chocolate), Secret Pride (dark chocolate with lavender and peppermint ganache), and regular and salted caramels (they melt in your mouth, and don’t stick to your teeth).
Chocolate houses are always a top seller at Christmas and the recently introduced chocolate igloos are a close second. Boxes made from chocolate are a year-round favourite.
One customer proposed by hiding an engagement ring inside a chocolate box.
Good stories abound from happy customers. Anita recalls, “We especially love the time when a customer shared that she “accidentally” ate a box of chocolate bonbons that was meant as a gift. She wanted to check inside the box to make sure that the bonbons were “okay” because this was for someone special. By the time she finished “checking,” she had consumed them all. She came back the next day for a new box for her friend and, of course, bought another box just for herself, a larger box. What makes the story funny was that she usually purchases bonbons as gifts for friends but had never tasted them until that day.”
She adds, “There is a family that comes in whenever there is a celebration in the family. They each get a box of chocolates. With eight to nine family members ordering individual boxes and enjoying samples while waiting for their turns, it makes a fun outing for them. We certainly enjoy seeing them every time.”
The greatest reward for Sinfully The Best’s staff is seeing satisfied customers leave the store smiling, and giddy with anticipation to unbox and consume their purchases.
Cathy feels touched when customers take pride in the store.
“They introduce their friends and families to our shop and help sell our products with their pride and enthusiasm. One young customer was so excited to bring his grandparents to the store when they visited from out of town. He showed them everything in the store and described all the products in detail. By the end of the visit, I was ready to hire him on the spot. Unfortunately, he was only nine years old at the time,” Cathy says with a laugh.
Giving back to the community that supports them is important. Every Christmas, Sinfully The Best comes up with different fundraising events to raise money for the Richmond Food Bank; they hold raffles, gingerbread house contests and DIY advent calendars, and more. They also set aside a budget for sponsorship and donations for local organizations.
Sinfully The Best’s team is extremely appreciative of their customers’ support during the difficult pandemic months. Cathy says, “We look forward to seeing everyone at our new store.”
Here’s to many more years of keeping Stevestonites smiling and elated as they enter and exit this sinfully tempting shop!
Sinfully The Best, 110-12251 No. 1 Road Richmond, BC V7E 2Z6
Telephone 604-272-2655 w
ww.sinfullythebest.com
