Featured Image: Phillip Ashley Rix
For Phillip Ashley Rix, becoming a master chocolatier literally was a dream come true. While pondering his career path in his late 20’s, he had a vivid dream that he was in a chocolate shop with his mom and Willy Wonka. Rix had been a fan of the eccentric fictional chocolatier since reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and watching the movie in his childhood.
“I woke up at 3 a.m. and thought ‘I’m going to make chocolates for a living,’” he said. It was a sharp pivot from his earlier plans of studying chemistry and maybe going to medical school.
The Memphis native began reading, researching, and teaching himself how to make chocolates, eventually launching Phillip Ashley Chocolates online in 2012.
Rix views chocolate as a format for storytelling. His Soul Food Collection pays homage to Sunday suppers with his family, with confection flavors like fried chicken, collard greens, and mac ‘n cheese.
He remembers fondly spending time in the kitchen with his grandmother, Earlean “Jean” Word, as she made sweet potato pie and crafted her own hot sauce. She put Rix to work shucking peas and cleaning greens, instilling the importance of hard work.
But she also taught him cooking techniques and allowed him to experiment with unconventional combinations. This time in the kitchen together sparked his culinary creativity. He even named a chocolate after her: The Mama Jean, a sweet potato-flavored chocolate ganache bonbon that emulates her famous pie.
Rix was also surrounded by art growing up, going to museums and galleries with his family. Music and books also played a role, as Rix sought to infuse his chocolates with sophisticated layers of flavor and texture, like an artist creating a painting. He describes the process as “chocistry,” the art of making chocolates.
“I didn’t want to just make dark chocolates. I wanted to build chocolates with things you wouldn’t expect, like barbecue sauce and miso and French bleu cheese. I wanted to translate my experiences into chocolate,” he explained.
Rix credits Memphis with providing a platform for success. The city is small enough to be supportive and friendly, yet large enough to be famous for its rich history, music scene, and eclectic vibe that welcomes visionary thinking. Much of what he loves about the city has been cultivated by Black men and women like his grandparents and their parents, he said.
“I learned the rules so I could break them,” said Rix, who had to understand the science of chocolate making, like tempering and liquid ratios, so he could push the boundaries with ingredients like hot sauce, bourbon, chilies, and cheese.
His innovative creations earned him the nickname of Willy Wonka, who was also famous for transforming ordinary candies into fantastical confections. As a contestant on the Food Network’s Chopped Sweets, Rix’s unorthodox style served him well when he was faced with incorporating fish sauce and tamarind paste into chocolates for the judges’ approval.
From serving chocolates at the 2017 Emmy’s Governor’s Gala to wooing celebs at the Oscars after parties with his sweets, Rix was making a name for himself in Hollywood. That momentum landed him on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2020 with his nut and caramel Perfect Turtle Set.
“Going viral (with Oprah) was amazing,” he said. “It’s not something you can really be prepared for.” The accolades continued with James Beard nominations in 2023 and 2024.
Last September, Rix reached another milestone when his book “For the Love of Chocolate: 80 At-Home Recipes from a Master Chocolatier’s Imagination” hit the market. Rix strives to arm readers with the tools to level up their chocolate-making skills, impress friends with a new dessert, or try out a new chocolate-inspired cocktail.
“The recipes are all based off of chocolates I’ve made,” Rix said. From Chocolate Sweet Potato Pie with Brown Sugar Meringue to “Bollywood” Cashew Coconut Curry Truffles, there’s a story behind each tempting recipe accompanied by mouthwatering photos.
Rix is spreading his chocolate love language even farther in 2026. When he’s not promoting his new book or tending his online chocolate shop, he’ll be hosting chocolate tastings across the US. Look for pop-up shops and tasting events in Atlanta, Houston, Washington D.C., and beyond.
“Chocolate is my love language – I’ve been saying that for a long time,” said Rix, who named his online shop www.chocolateismylovelanguage.com. “Giving them as a gift is more than just giving chocolate; it’s communication.”
When asked about his personal favorite, he replied, “I haven’t made it yet. That’s why I continue to make chocolates and think and dream up new things.”
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