Phillip Ashley Chocolates Owner Phillip Ashley Rix: “Real Life Willy Wonka”
Just about everyone on the planet love chocolates in some way. Who can resist that rich, bold flavor? That melt in your mouth goodness comes to mind when one thinks of chocolate. One man has found those benefits and has added his own ‘flavor’ to the mix. And, also added Oprah as a client!
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix is one of the world’s prominent chefs and designers of luxury chocolate. An award-winning chocolatier based in Memphis, Tennessee, Rix studied chemistry and marketing at Middle Tennessee State University, and became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Before launching Phillip Ashley Chocolates, he had a career in sales, technology, logistics, and supply chain.
Phillip Ashley began his career in chocolate after he woke up from a dream one night and said he was going to make chocolate. Rix spent two years researching chocolate, the history of it, where it is sourced, and how it is made before he even touched chocolate. With a background in chemistry, he was determined to learn the rules of chocolate so he could break them.
Rix’s first hand-crafted design was a tribute to his grandmother, Mama Jean. She would make sweet potato pie with cinnamon, spices, and roasted pecans. It was a family tradition. He captured those precise flavors in creamy milk chocolate.
Rix’s love of art, history, and culture is the inspiration behind his creations. He launched Phillip Ashley Chocolates in 2012. In 2014, in a feature article Forbes Magazine named Phillip Ashley the “Real Life Willy Wonka.” The brand has an international following and is sought out by high-profile clients, top corporations, and major events to offer premium gifts. He spends hours researching and incorporates that into designing flavor profiles for each hand-crafted piece of edible art. Phillip’s has become an Ambassador of Taste and has curated dining experiences at the James Beard House in New York City, as well as created tens of thousands of chocolates for Hollywood’s elite at the EMMYS®, GRAMMYS®, and OSCARS®.
Oprah is one of his most famous clients. The Perfect Turtle gift set by Phillip Ashley Chocolates was named one of Oprah’s Favorites Things 2020. Within the tasty gift set are eight chocolate turtles – four milk-chocolate pecans and four dark chocolate cashew, or you can get all eight of either flavor.
“The thing about this assortment of eight decadent, dark-chocolate cashew and milk-chocolate pecan turtles from Memphis chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix is that each one is nearly the size of a tortoise!” says Oprah.
In February 2020, he competed on Food Network’s “Chopped Sweets”, making it to the final round.
Valentine’s Day is a special holiday in the world of chocolate. “Our busy holiday season runs from Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day,” says Rix. “Mother’s Day is also a high volume holiday for us.”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Chef Phillip Ashley has curated a 13-piece collection titled ‘Love Drunk‘, which features commissioned artist Jamond Bullock’s work on the cover of the heart-shaped box. Each is infused with a wine or spirit. A few of the chocolates are The Maiden Green Chartreuse Pineapple Lime, Safe Word Single Malt Blueberry Lemon dark chocolate, and Cupid’s Arrow Bourbon Local Honey Hot Toddy.
At Phillip Ashley Chocolates, every chocolate tells a story. The one that I feel will tell a love story, perfect for Valentine’s Day, is the Limited Edition Holiday Gift Set. It includes my personal favorites:
- Signature Collection by Phillip Ashley (12 pieces)
- Mixed Signature BonBon Collection by Phillip Ashley (6 pieces – 3 Salted Vanilla Caramels & 3 Cherry Bourbon Cordials)
- The Perfect Turtles by Phillip Ashley (1 – Classic Milk Chocolate Pecan, 1 – Dark Chocolate Cashew)
- Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne (1 – 350ml bottle)
- And yes, the case is included!
Chef Phillip Ashley has designed Uncle Nearest x Phillip Ashley Limited Edition Gift Set featuring Uncle Nearest Premium Aged Whiskey featured in this 24 piece collection. Two African American craftsmen come together in one box as Uncle Nearest is also Black-owned. The limited-edition gift set includes a 24-piece box of the Uncle Nearest x Phillip Ashley bonbon collection, a 750ml bottle of Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey, and a keepsake aluminum attaché.
As a salute to his hometown, Chef Phillip Ashley has created the Taste of Memphis Luxury Gift Set. The gift set includes 12 pieces of his newly added chocolate “Mile High” made with Full Spectrum CBD from Ounce of Hope, Blue Note (Juke Joint Whiskey) by Big River Distilling Company, French Truck Coffee (PAC x FTC) by French Truck Coffee, Wildflower Honey by Bee 901 Co., and one Whiskey Pecan Turtle. And the case is reusable!
Rix also hosts virtual chocolate tastings with guests from around the country. “As with most small businesses, there were trying times during the pandemic,” Rix explains. “In March when it hit hard, we saw our events calendar evaporate within 24 hours. Clients canceled every event from March through June. We were able to quickly pivot and grow our virtual chocolate tastings. We conducted over 200 virtual chocolate tastings in 2020. “
Good stuff!