Business of Design I, held on March 12 at the Alliance Française, featured Katrina Markoff, chocolatier and owner of Vosges Haut-Chocolate. Joseph Michael Essex was the moderator.

"I was a vanilla girl forever," said Katrina, until she "realized the power of chocolate" at a cafe in the Place de Vosges, which would become her company's namesake.

Vosges Haut-Chocolate was the product of Katrina's curiosity and passion for new thinking. After graduating from the Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris, she went to Spain to work with a radical chef who advised her to travel the world and let her palate lead her. That was the beginning of a unique journey where she gained insight into a diverse world where cultures and flavors converge. Since then, Katrina has grown a business that brings consumers the experience of high-quality, exotic chocolates. From curry powder to bacon, Vosges products are unexpected combinations of flavors, each telling a story rooted in Katrina's travels. This sets the company apart from other chocolate makers and keeps the ever-evolving Markoff passionate about her work.

"I hate safe. Safe is so boring," she remarked. Though her risk-taking has seen Vosges through some tough times, Katrina seems to have enjoyed the journey. "I love mistakes," she said. This flexibility and daring have ultimately served Vosges well — what once was a one-stop shop in Bucktown has grown to multi-store enterprise, stretching from New York to Las Vegas, with national retail distribution.

Towards the end of the discussion, Katrina imparted some idealistic words, the mantra for artists and entrepreneurs everywhere: "Where the heart leads you, the money and success will follow."

For more information about Vosges, or to order some tasty treats, visit www.vosgeschocolate.com.

Sponsors: Appleton Coated/Curious Collection, Getty Images, Johns Byrne Company