Today we’d like to introduce you to Belinda Song.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Belinda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I still remember when I saw my first pancake rise. The way it bubbled on the sides and plumped towards the center. It was all very fascinating to me and I wanted to part of it- from mixing, blending down to washing the pans. I grew up in the kitchen. My mom and dad owned sandwich shops so grilled cheeses and propane gas bring back a familiar time for me.
After I graduated from dental school, I started having more time to myself again and so I started dabbling in the kitchen. It was around this time that Netflix also featured Chef’s Table. I admired the chefs for their ability to tell the story behind their dishes – from the ingredients they gathered down to the plating. I wanted to also tell a story through my food. I started with pastry – cakes, ganaches, pies; but, chocolate became my partner in crime. Watching chocolate melt over a double-boiler is hypnotizing.
The way it silked and waved. I loved it. I started doing some research online and I decided to take a class with renowned chocolatier, Melissa Coppel. What I gained most from her class was her bravery and creativity. In a predominantly male-populated career, Melissa Coppel was one of the few females, Colombian pastry chefs doing what she was doing. Bravery and chocolate. What a combo!
It was here that I learned chocolate profiles, flavor combinations, and different techniques. I took everything I learned and started creating. My favorite part behind creating chocolate is the story. Yes, I love to create different flavor combinations but one of my favorite things to do is taking people’s stories, songs, anything and turn it into chocolate.
For example, I created some chocolates for a friend’s wedding recently. They had met in Korean Class in college and so I decided to create a chocolate version of a Korean Cream Cake that involves a vanilla cake, decorated with strawberries and whipped cream frosting. My chocolate version involved a strawberry ganache paired with a whipped cream white chocolate ganache and whipped cream frosting.
Has it been a smooth road?
I would say I love making chocolates but I also love being a dentist. I eventually plan to have my own dental practice in the future and also sell my chocolates at my office, assuming all goes to plan. There’s a lot in the air right now in terms of legalities.
I ventured into chocolates because I was getting deeply depressed working as a dentist. Maybe it was a lack of work/life balance. Maybe it was because I had graduated and went straight into work. Who knows. All I know is, I needed some time away from dentistry for a season to find out my way.
Turns out, I really did love being a dentist. I wanted to start up my own practice and make it my own. So that is in the works right now. Having my own practice meant that I also had the ability to create my own schedule and also be able to make chocolates. I’m very excited to be able to create a life for myself where both are possible.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Belinda Song Chocolates – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a general dentist, practicing in Carrollton, TX but I also create chocolates and plan to sell them soon. I do not have a location at the moment so right now I am only taking personal orders for events.
I am known to create artistic chocolate bonbons. I also do personal photography of each bonbon I create because I do see each creation as a work of art. A work of art that you can eat!
I am most proud of my desire to share the story behind each chocolate. I do not like to take too many orders at once because I do take time for each order. I think about the design, the flavor profiles and presentation. Each order is truly one of kind and intricately personalized.
I consider myself an artist and chocolate is my venue. I love that you can eat the creations I make and experience story not just visually but also through the palate and texture.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Dallas has such a growing and thriving art scene. I love that we are open to new ideas and entrepreneurship. We also seem to be growing more in collaboration, especially in the food scene. That’s beautiful because there’s a lot we can learn from each other.
I lived in Austin for four years for undergrad and I loved being able to walk to most places. That is one thing I see Dallas growing in – their walkability but it’s still not there yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.belindasong.com
- Email: belsongdds@gmail.com
- Instagram: songbelinda
- Facebook: songbelinda11
Image Credit:
Esther H. Photography (IG: @estherhuynh)
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.