The Chocolate Experience

The Chocolate Experience is a three-part series with Chef Sidney Hill of Renee’s Fine Chocolates that explores chocolate from bean to bar. You’ll start by learning the history and origins of chocolate, then take a closer look at the craft and techniques behind making it, and finish with a hands-on class where you create your own chocolate confections. Along the way, you’ll discover how ingredients, sourcing, and craftsmanship shape flavor and quality. This comprehensive chocolate making series offers a fun and engaging way to learn, taste, and create.

A Sweet Introduction

June 11, 2026 | 6:30-8pm

Step into the fascinating world of chocolate with Chef Sidney Hill, founder of Renee’s Fine Chocolates, a single-origin bean-to-bar chocolate company. In this delicious introduction, explore the history of chocolate—from cacao’s ancient origins to the art and science behind modern chocolate making. Learn how ethically sourced cacao beans are transformed into the chocolate you love, while discovering how origin, flavor, and craftsmanship shape every bar. Along the way, Sidney will share insights from his own chocolate-making journey and offer a deeper appreciation for what makes fine chocolate truly exceptional. Perfect for curious beginners and devoted chocolate lovers alike.

Chocolate Alchemy: Craft & Technique

July 23, 2026 | 6:30-8pm

Take a deeper dive into the craft of chocolate making with Chef Sidney Hill and explore the science, skill, and artistry behind fine chocolate. In this engaging class, you’ll learn about the raw ingredients, equipment, and techniques that transform cacao into chocolate, from sourcing and roasting to refining, flavor development, and texture. Gain insight into the tools and processes used by artisan chocolate makers while discovering how craftsmanship shapes the chocolate we know and love. 

Whether taken as a stand-alone class or as part of the full Chocolate Experience series, this session offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the alchemy of chocolate and is perfect for curious beginners and devoted chocolate lovers alike.

Create Your Own Confections

August 20, 2026 | 6:30-8pm

Put your chocolate knowledge into practice in this hands-on finale with Chef Sidney Hill as you craft your own chocolate creations and experience the artistry of bean-to-bar making firsthand. Guided by an expert chocolatier, you’ll work with fine chocolate, explore flavor, technique, and creativity, and make your own bars to take home. 

Whether taken as a stand-alone workshop or as the culminating class in the full Chocolate Experience series, this immersive session offers a fun and delicious opportunity to step into the role of chocolatier and create something truly your own. A sweet conclusion to this chocolate journey—part craft, part creativity, and a little bit of magic.

Meet Your Instructor:

With nearly 20 years in the culinary world, Chef Sidney L. Hill brings both technical mastery and heartfelt intention to the art of chocolate making. His work is guided by a simple yet powerful belief: food has the ability to create meaningful, lasting connections.

The inspiration behind his brand, Renee’s Fine Chocolates, is deeply personal. During his mother’s final days, Sidney turned to cooking as a way to offer comfort, care, and moments of joy. That experience transformed his relationship with food—shifting it from craft alone into a language of connection, memory, and love.

Today, Sidney approaches chocolate as both an art form and an experience. Through Renee’s Fine Chocolates, he explores the full story of cacao—from its origins to its potential—crafting each piece with precision, balance, and intention. His chocolates reflect a deep respect for ingredients and a desire to create something that is not only delicious, but deeply felt.