Dessert of the Month: Le Bon Garçon
Meet Justin Chao, chef and founder of Le Bon Garçon. From the first bite into each caramel's tender texture to the subtle sea salt crunch on the finish, Chef Chao’s French culinary training shows through in every Le Bon Garçon caramel. Enjoy the ultimate November treat, these French-style caramels made in California.
Le Bon Garçon was a vendor at our very first Los Angeles Dessert Goals festival back in 2017 and it’s been exciting watching their business grow to open their first store on Hollywood Blvd!
Read on to learn more about Justin and his business. Don’t forget to sign up by November 15th to receive November’s box from Le Bon Garçon! Sign up here.
Our November vendor creates the most delicious caramels, you’ll want to eat the whole bag. Meet Justin, founder of Le Bon Garçon.
What is the origin story of Le Bon Garçon?
Le Bon Garçon is LA’s beloved confectionary that’s been whipping up fresh and exciting new caramels since 2010. Oprah’s Favorite Things list declared our sweets so good that they’re “…hard to give away!” Founded by Justin Chao, Le Bon Garçon is dedicated to capturing the youthful, carefree spirit of Paris through delicious, modern flavors.
Chao combines a formal training from Paris’ Le Meurice with unconventional ideas to rekindle the craft of traditional French caramel-making—all while drawing inspiration from the people and places he loves.
Tell us the most rewarding part about owning a business? Where do you believe you get your entrepreneurial spirit from?
I love dreaming up new flavors and then seeing people’s expressions when they taste the caramels. I get my entrepreneurial spirit from my dad who ran his own business for 20 years, but I get my love of food from my mom who is an accomplished self-taught chef.
What is your process of creating new desserts and themed treats?
I take inspiration from the small pleasures in life like catching up with my best friend over brunch with mimosas or relaxing with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea on a cold morning. By capturing these moments in my caramel flavors, I hope that will serve as a reminder to my customers to take a moment to savor life’s joys.
What is your favorite dessert recipe to make at home?
I love to make caramel brownies at home. I caramelize sugar, break it into shards and add it into the brownie batter to give it texture and flavor.
Do you have any advice for others out there who are interested in starting a 'sweet' business?
My one tip to people interested in starting a sweet business is to use the best ingredients available. For example, we use organic, cultured butter in our caramels which gives each bite a rich, creamy finish. There is just no substitute for quality.
In 3 words, describe your brand.
Artful, easy, delicious
