Master Chocolatier Brings her Confections to La Jolla

From Italy and France to our backyard, Meg McConaghay, master chocolatier and owner of Saint Jacques Chocolat, is bringing her sweet treats to the La Jolla Open Aire Market. I first caught a glimpse of her culinary confection’s last week, when I purchased her a white chocolate chai treat as a gift for Mother’s Day. One taste and I was hooked, so I decided to learn more about her chocolate endeavors.

McConaghay began selling her baked goods at the just a month ago, but her roots of chocolate making date back nearly a decade to when she found herself living in Italy during her husband's military deployment.

“It was while in Italy that I fell in love with the art of chocolate making,” she said. “I studied by watching local Italian chocolate makers, attending the Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts and then studying at L'Ecole du Grand Chocolat Valrhona in Tain-l'Hermitage, France, where I earned my master chocolatier credential.”

Growing up with 14 brothers and sisters, McConaghay was no stranger to whipping things up in the kitchen, and has always enjoyed working with food. It was in 2006 that McConaghay and her husband decided to turn her passion into a business. As a registered dietitian, McConaghay also has an edge over other chocolatiers, as she understands the importance of using natural ingredients, as well as chocolate’s role as an antioxidant.

“We do not use preservatives, artificial colors or artificial flavors in our products,” she said. “If you are eating a Saint Jacques Chocolat product, rest assured, you are eating only healthy and natural foods. That is really important to me as a mother and as a dietitian. Most people think of chocolate products as candy, but the real secret is that cacao and dark chocolate are some of the healthiest foods available.”

Among the some of the most popular sweet treats that Saint Jacques Chocolat offers are frozen bananas dipped in 60 percent cacao dark French chocolate, dark chocolate cranberry biscotti with cocoa nibs, truffles and solid chocolates. The company also offers catering for special events, including weddings. Currently, they are working on developing gluten and casein free confections.

In addition to allowing her to pursue her interest in chocolate, McConaghay’s business has allowed her to create a platform for something even more dear to her heart, helping children with autism. After her son Jack, whom the business is actually named after, was diagnosed with autism, McConaghay and her husband decided to donate portions of their proceeds to charities in San Diego that help children with this disorder.

In her spare time (if you can believe she has any), McConaghay can be found doing her best Marilyn Monroe impressions, as a celebrity impersonator. In fact, she’s so good at impersonating celebrities like Madonna, Shania Twain and Monroe that the hobby has taken her around the world to entertain.

“I got started in that business while I was singing in a band called Maggie and the Boys Next Door,” McConaghay recalled. “I met a group of local celebrity impersonators who heard me sing and thought I would make a great Madonna impersonator. Soon after that and for several years, I was traveling overseas entertaining crowds all over the globe. I mostly focus just on impersonating Marilyn these days—everyone loves Marilyn.”

To satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Meg and the Saint Jacques Chocolat team at the La Jolla Market every Sunday. But don’t worry if you can’t make it out, the company accepts custom orders online.