Chocolatier relishes sweet success
AT the age of 40, Murielle Vuilleumier finally realised her childhood ambition. After years studying her craft around the world, she is now reaping the rewards.
LAST year, Easter snuck up and took Murielle Vuilleumier by surprise.
Her shop, the eponymously named Murielle Vuilleumier Swiss Chocolatier in Brisbane’s Teneriffe, had only been open a couple of months when demand suddenly skyrocketed. “It was crazy,” says Murielle.
“We totally sold out of all chocolate. Completely. This Easter we are more prepared.”
In some ways, Murielle has been preparing for this Easter her whole life. Raised in a Swiss village well known for chocolate-making, she ate the stuff virtually every day and from the age of 14 dreamt of becoming a chocolatier.
Today, Murielle is being recognised as CommBank’s Australian of the Day for following through on her dreams … many years later. Life got in the way first. On a backpacking trip to Australia age 21, she met her (now) husband Michael and spent 17 years working as a flight attendant for Qantas.
At 40 though, she decided it was time to return to her childhood ambition to become a chocolatier. After years studying her craft around the world, she opened her shop early last year specialising in high quality, handmade Swiss chocolate. “I make them on the premises,” says Murielle, 50. “I see little kids putting their faces up against the window while I’m making chocolate — it’s very cute.”
And very successful — particularly at Easter. “For me it’s such a special time of the year because
everybody wants to eat chocolate — and not just any kind of chocolate, they want to eat quality
chocolate.”
This year Murielle’s shelves are well stocked with the ubiquitous eggs but she has come up with an Easter chook, too. “Who else lays the eggs?” she laughs.
“But of course the bunnies are always popular with the kids and I can’t change the history of Easter so I still do bunnies. A lot of people say ‘Oh but rabbits are so destructive!’ but I tell them ‘Well, everyone knows Easter bunnies are different. They come from chocolate heaven.’ “
Just like Murielle’s shop did.
CommBank has partnered with News Corp Australia for the Australian of the Day initiative in 2016 that celebrates Australians who make a real contribution to their communities. Go to the
australianoftheday.com.au website where you can read all about these amazing Australians and perhaps even nominate someone you know.
Originally published as Chocolatier relishes sweet success
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