From Environmental Consultant to Bonbon Baron: One Man's Delicious Dream

Adam Brian Kaiser isn't your typical chocolatier. He didn't inherit a Swiss dynasty or train in Parisian patisseries. Nope, this guy has a geology degree and used to wrangle environmental regulations in the concrete canyons of New York City! Then, five years ago, he traded skyscrapers for salt potatoes and landed in Syracuse, armed with a dream and a serious sweet tooth. But how does one go from rocks to raspberry bonbons? It's a story that proves passion, a dash of "Willy Wonka," and a whole lot of hustle can turn the most unexpected dreams into delectable realities.

Kaiser's journey is a testament to the power of following your bliss, even when it leads you down a path less traveled. He left his environmental consulting job in 2024 to pursue his chocolate dreams full-time, launching Adam Brian Chocolat. This wasn't a whim, though. Kaiser, ever the pragmatist, knew he needed to learn the ropes of a commercial kitchen. So, he took a job as a baker at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, a Syracuse institution. Think about that for a second: from environmental reports to BBQ biscuits, a complete career 180!

And the inspiration? Well, that's pure childhood magic. Kaiser, like many of us, grew up enchanted by "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," specifically those fantastical scenes where candy grew on trees. I mean, who didn't want to pluck a lollipop off a leafy branch? He even admits to preferring Gene Wilder's iconic portrayal of the eccentric chocolatier. Is it any wonder he ended up crafting his own chocolate wonderland? It’s as if the film planted a seed of possibility in his young mind, a seed that finally sprouted into Adam Brian Chocolat. What childhood dreams are we all letting wither on the vine?

The Sweet Taste of Success

The launch was a gamble, of course. But Kaiser jumped in headfirst. At the Utica Wine & Chocolate Festival in May 2025, Adam Brian Chocolat made its debut, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. He sold $1,800 worth of bonbons! Talk about a sweet validation. It was the encouragement he needed to keep going, to keep experimenting with flavors and perfecting his craft. It must have been an amazing feeling, that first taste of success, fueled by pure passion.

Now, based out of a shared kitchen space with Sweets for Babe in the McCarthy Mercantile in downtown Syracuse, Kaiser is creating bonbons that are as beautiful as they are delicious. He sources his chocolate from Colombia and Switzerland, ensuring a high-quality base for his creations. But the real magic happens with the fillings. He uses local ingredients whenever possible, like Gala apples from Navarino Orchards for his apple caramels. Imagine biting into a dark chocolate shell that gives way to a burst of fresh, local apple flavor. It’s a taste of Syracuse, transformed into edible art. Each bonbon takes four days to craft!

You can find Adam Brian Chocolat online and at Wildflowers Armory in downtown Syracuse. His gift boxes range from $10-$30, making them accessible to a wide range of chocolate lovers. Plus, he has a busy schedule of upcoming holiday events, including the Syracuse Wine & Chocolate Festival on November 29th, the Colloca Estate Christmas Market on December 6th-7th, and the Syracuse Craft & Holiday Festival on December 12th-14th. And if you happen to be in Buffalo or Albany in February, you can catch him at their respective Wine & Chocolate Festivals too. It's incredible how quickly he's built this from the ground up!

Kaiser's story isn't just about chocolate; it's about the courage to reinvent yourself, to pursue your passions, and to create something truly unique. He's taken inspiration from his childhood, combined it with hard work and dedication, and turned it into a thriving business. And he’s doing it all his way, one delicious bonbon at a time. He is, for all intents and purposes, the real-life Willy Wonka of Syracuse. But, unlike Wonka, Kaiser seems to be sharing his chocolate factory with everyone! According to Syracuse’s Willy Wonka: Scientist quits job to launch Adam Brian Chocolat company - This is CNY, he left his science job to pursue this dream.

It's Time to Follow Your Chocolate River