Jonathan Grahm, 28, took over the family chocolate business at the age of 21. He’s currently on a Valentine tour of Japan. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
“Old-fashioned” chocolate bars combine ingredients for an interesting flavor and a beautiful look. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
Skulls, argyle, flamingos -- each confection in the 80-piece chocolate box for sale at Compartes in Brentwood is a work of art in miniature. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
An Amazon Rainforest bar is deeply flavored. Grahm says he’d like to have his own cacao farm on Kauai someday. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
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Chocolate is turned in the dipping room at the Brentwood chocolatier. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
Martha Ruiz finishes chocolates in the back room at Compartes. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
Designs go beyond the traditional. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
