Guanni Chocolates

When wildfires consumed Southern California last month, over 2,000 homes were destroyed. Many businesses didn't make it either. Chocolatier Mariella Balbi lost both. However, she's turned this tragedy into opportunity by creating a new chocolate collection called After the Fire, which includes a pumpkin-flavored organic dark chocolate, Pisco (Brandy-flavored), Aruma (Peruvian hot pepper flavored) as well as Bukare, a dark chocolate for dark chocolate lovers.

Balbi is the founder of Guanni Chocolates, located in San Diego. With the help of her husband, she makes hand-crafted chocolates from Peruvian nibs and sells the delectable delights at area farmers' markets including the Sunday Santa Monica Farmers' Market on Main Street.

Music break: The Zero Garvity Lick by West One UK Library