By Maureen Werther
The owner of the Chocolate Mill pastry shop and cafe on Glen Street is opening a second store in Saratoga Springs.
Frank Vollkommer, owner and certified master pastry chef, opens his second location at 382 Broadway in mid-December.
Vollkommer opened his flagship shop, The Chocolate Mill pastry shop and cafe, three years ago in Glens Falls and has been quietly, but effectively, creating converts to his sweet way of life ever since. In the first few months of operation, the business grew from four employees to 13. Now there are 20 people working in the Glens Falls location.
The native Saratogian plans to continue his tradition of staying true to his principles and delivering an artistic and delectable product that to appeal to all palates. Vollkommer is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. He also worked there for several years, helping them open a campus in Burlington, Vt., before being scooped up by the Culinary Institute of America, where he taught for eight years.
His love of cooking is only superseded by his passion for pastry, an area in which he is 100 percent self-taught.
Vollkommer studied and worked in the food industry all across Europe and Japan and in 2005 his efforts were rewarded when he received the prestigious title of certified pastry chef.
“There are only four of us with that designation in the entire United States,” he said.
The competition for the title is intense, involving a rigorous 10-day format of 10-12 hours of work each day. Vollkommer characterized the training as highly regimented, the “Navy seal training of the culinary world.”
At the new locaiton, Vollkommer plans to offer an assortment of fine chocolates, bon bons, truffles, and other confections using both unique flavor combinations, as well as more classic selections. The cake assortments include chocolate pecan praline and a delightfully dense and smooth yet soft cheesecake.
Customers can take home samples of the different cakes, or they can order one larger cake. Cakes for special occasions can also be ordered.
The pastry menu includes croissants, brioches, and other flaky buttery treats.
To complement the sweets, The Chocolate Mill offers an assortment of organic teas made locally. The proprietary blends of coffees are all roasted locally. “You can’t get our coffees anywhere else,” he said.
The Chocolate Mill’s breakfast menu features items including Danish apple pancake dumplings, breakfast biscuits and house-made oatmeal. Lunch includes fare from the simple to the robust, with an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and savory homemade soups. The roast beef pretzel sandwich with caramelized onions, swiss cheese, and horseradish mustard cream is a particular favorite, piled high on a homemade pretzel bun.
Vollkommer hopes the Saratoga location will quickly become a favorite destination for people who want to enjoy a delicious and eclectic culinary fare in a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
To find out more, visit online at www.chocolatemillcafe.com or call 338-3783. The Chocolate Mill is also on Facebook.