Handcrafted to Perfection
Here is an article written in the Battle Creek Enquirer about Rose Confections:
Sweet sensations
John GrapThe Enquirer
The low-pitched hum of an electric motor sets a steady pace in the middle of the church's kitchen as Mark Rose mixes up some of his secret and delicious magic potion.
Rose, 57, a chocolate maker, carefully dips his truffles into a bowl of luscious white chocolate. Like a painter, he gently touches them up to make sure they are evenly coated.
The truffles are filled with a passion fruit ganache — a combination of chocolate, butter and cream — that he said have just a hint of passion fruit liquor to make the flavor "pop."
Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Rose attended the University of Wisconsin and lived with his wife and four children in Houston, Texas, for 12 years before moving to Battle Creek three years ago.
His wife, Carolyn, works in the communication department at Kellogg Co.
While living in Houston, he baked and made desserts and one day saw a magazine ad for Norman Love's chocolates. "They were just the most fantastic looking things," he said.
Since then, he's been immersed in chocolate, so to speak.
Last summer, he decided to go commercial and in the fall began using the commercially licensed kitchen at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.
Rose makes high-end chocolates, using chocolate imported from Spain because he said it tastes better.
His truffles are no ordinary candies, like rum balls. He uses rich ingredients and fine liquors to create a subtle but memorable taste.
His goal is to make candy that "sort of just hits you," leaving you speechless, except to say "Wow!"
Everybody in his family likes chocolate.
Since he switched to Spanish chocolate and started making Michigan cherry truffles, he has to hide them from his wife.
"I have loved chocolate forever," Rose says. His current favorite is a café au lait.
He said he eats only one truffle a day.
Could you?
Need chocolate?
WHAT: Rose Confections.
COST: Truffles: $4.25 for two pieces, $8.25 for four pieces, $11.50 for six pieces, $22.50 for 12 pieces.
Molded chocolates: $10.25 for 12 pieces, $19.50 for 24 pieces.
INFORMATION: To order, call 420-1407 or go online to www.roseconfections.com.
John Grap is photo editor for the Battle Creek Enquirer. He can be reached at 966-0598 or jgrap@battlecr.gannett.com.
