Christopher Elbow

Christopher Elbow is a Kansas City pastry chef and chocolatier whose artisanal chocolates — founded in Kansas City in 2003 — grew from end-of-meal gifts at a single restaurant into a nationally recognized brand. A native of Liberty, Missouri, he is often called KC’s “accidental chocolatier.”

Biography

Christopher Elbow grew up in Liberty, Missouri, where he started as a line cook at a country club.¹ In 1999 he moved to Las Vegas to work in the pastry department of Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico Steakhouse.¹ Returning to Kansas City, he became pastry chef at The American Restaurant, where he made chocolates as thank-you gifts at the end of meals — and diners began asking to buy them, planting the idea for his own company.¹

He founded Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates in 2003, beginning in a roughly 400-square-foot room above a Kansas City restaurant.² His jewel-like, hand-painted bonbons earned national attention; the brand has been cited among the best chocolate in the United States by Food & Wine.³ Over two decades it grew to produce roughly 25 tons of chocolate a year, with its flagship in the Crossroads Arts District (1819 McGee Street) and a location in San Francisco.¹

Legacy

Elbow helped raise Kansas City’s profile in American craft confectionery, building a nationally respected brand while keeping its production and identity rooted in the city.

See also

• christopher-elbow-chocolates

Sources

Footnotes

1. “Kansas City’s iconic Christopher Elbow considers himself an ‘accidental chocolatier,’” KCUR Up to Date (2023-04-21) — Liberty MO roots; 1999 Delmonico/Las Vegas; The American Restaurant; ~25 tons/year; Crossroads + San Francisco locations. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. “Confectioner: Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates,” Feast Magazine — founded 2003; began in a ~400 sq ft space above a KC restaurant. ↩

3. “My Essentials: Christopher Elbow,” IN Kansas City Magazine; Food & Wine — national “best chocolate” recognition. ↩