This bilingual book (English & Spanish) invites you into the heart of the Dominican Republic, where cacao is more than a crop—it’s a way of life. Through the voices of farmers, makers, and visionaries, each story reveals how chocolate can become a force for transformation, bridging culture, community, and creativity. Their journeys celebrate resilience, heritage, and the power of purpose, reminding us that cacao connects us all. Within every bar lies a story—and within every story, the opportunity to rediscover meaning, connection, and joy.
"Every so often, a book comes along that reminds you why you fell in love with chocolate in the first place. Stories Behind the Bar by Kalei Ross, PsyD, is absolutely one of those books.
Kalei takes us on a journey to the Dominican Republic, a place I have visited myself, and invites us to see chocolate through the eyes of those who grow and craft it. It's more than a book about chocolate as a product; it's about chocolate as a source of meaning, identity, and purpose.
Through beautifully written narratives, Kalei weaves together the voices of farmers, makers, and communities, painting a vivid picture of how cacao is deeply tied to culture, economy, and personal dignity. The bilingual format (English and Spanish) is a brilliant and respectful touch it allows the farmers' own words to shine through, giving them agency in telling their stories. As someone who works closely with cocoa farmers and spends much of my life teaching about the origins of chocolate, I found this book humbling and energising."
David Greenwood-Haigh
World master chef Disciple of Escoffier | Award-Winning Chocolatier
Celebrate the Unveiling of
Stories Behind the Bar: The Dominican Republic
