THE BEGINNING

Foods from the Americas, like corn, squash, peanuts, potatoes, peppers and tomatoes, revolutionized cuisines around the globe. But none of these created a culture of passion and love quite like cacao. These luscious beans have been cultivated for at least three thousand years in Mesoamerica, and were first made into a chocolate beverage beloved of kings in 1900 BC. The famed film director Alejandro Jodorowsky perhaps said it best: “If God gives you chocolate, you open your mouth, no?”

Growing up in Brazil, Luciana Fasano ate chocolates every night; it was a family tradition. Her father brought home a selection of homemade chocolates every Tuesday and Thursday.

In this way, Luciana developed her palate. She learned to see, feel and taste the difference between the ordinary and the divine when it came to chocolate. Her passion led to a ritual whenever she traveled around the world - she would try the finest chocolate of every country she visited. When it came to this indulgence, she developed a practical philosophy, “Never risk losing your figure for any chocolate except the best!” Many years went by. Many countries were visited. And many chocolates were savored. In 2010, one of Luciana’s other passions resulted in a dream come true. “A very special Arabian horse entered and changed my life”, Luciana explains. His name was AAS Elishahh. “ This spectacular stallion ignited my passion, not only for Arabian horses, but for all of life itself”, explains Luciana.