ABOUT RONI-SUE

Rhonda Kave, an entrepreneur and chocolatiere owns and operates Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the historic Essex Street Market on NYC's Lower East Side. Rhonda [a.k.a. Roni-Sue] has made chocolates for over twenty years as a passionate hobbyist, informed by years of cooking and baking courses at the New School & Peter Kump/ICE. Most recently Rhonda gained some valuable tools, as well as polish and confidence in her process studying with master chocolatier/teacher Jean-Pierre Wybauw just before opening Roni-Sue's in October 2007. Check out Roni-Sue's interview on the Sweet Freak's "Mixing Bowl" now!

Kave draws inspiration from exploring both exotic and local markets to find new and special ingredients for her unique handmade treats. She builds a 'flavor profile' for each of her candies—layering different elements to create a complex and nuanced expression of that essential flavor. Believing that continued learning and professional development are essential parts of her practice, Kave also fosters a lively, collaborative work environment that encourages and supports the creativity and input of her assistants and interns.

Prior to opening Roni-Sue's Rhonda was a professional women's advocate for over ten years and she continues her social justice work as co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Mothers' Centers [NAMC]. Rhonda earned her BA in Sociology from NYU as a returning learner in May 2007 where her research paper focused on farmers' markets and sustainable agriculture in NYC.