Rick Bristow, a Lakeway resident and founder of Spicewood-based company Oh My Ganache, said he is passionate about bringing his chocolate spread to the community.
Oh My Ganache is a rich, dark chocolate spread that can be used as a condiment or by itself, Bristow said.
The product officially launched Oct. 28 with the opening of H-E-B in Lakeway, one of 95 H-E-B locations at which the product is available in the stores’ Cooking Connection section.
Oh My Ganache founder Rick Bristow promotes his product at H-E-B in Lakeway.[/caption]
“H-E-B Cooking Connection started as live cooking demonstrations,” said Vanessa Minton, Cooking Connection manager at H-E-B in Lakeway. “They are valuable as a resource because people can get recipes and supplies for meals and products they sample in H-E-B, like Oh My Ganache.”
Bristow said Patty Trussel, the Bee Cave H-E-B’s Cooking Connection chef, tried the chocolate spread when he was selling it independantly.
“[Trussel] asked me for two jars,” Bristow said. “Not long after that, H-E-B called me and asked me to come up with a name. That was easy. When people try [Oh My Ganache spread] they say, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s really good,’ and then they buy it.”
Bristow said his product was a huge hit at farmer’s markets and knew partnering with H-E-B would take his business to the next level.
“H-E-B customers love the product and I love being part of the H-E-B family,” Bristow said. “[H-E-B is] very supportive of local businesses. The day that I got into H-E-B was a real thrill, it’s been my favorite part so far.”
Bristow said he started working with the recipe in 2003 while developing a chocolate-filled candy. He continued experimenting, creating a dark chocolate martini with the spread in 2006. His ganache recipe is gluten-free and contains fewer calories and less sugar than other popular chocolate spreads, he said.
Oh My Ganache is available only at H-E-B.[/caption]
“The facility I make [the Oh My Ganache spread] in is located in Spicewood,” Bristow said. “It’s called a cold kitchen—everything is made strictly for the production of chocolate. There isn’t much to see in there, but it’s in a great area.”
Bristow moved from Missouri to the Lake Travis area in 1995. He said he visited a friend in Austin and felt at home instantly.
“I love interacting with the public—the support has been phenomenal,” Bristow said. “I know how good the product is, so I love sharing it with people.”
Bristow said the public reaction has been better than he expected, with 361 jars sold in the first five days the product appeared at H-E-B in Lakeway.
“We just blew it out of the water, it was quite the grand opening,” Bristow said. “It’s a tale of perseverance and great luck.”
The Perfect Chocolate Martini Recipe
Ingredients- 3 ounces of vodka
- ¼ ounces of Grand Marnier
- 2 tablespoons of Oh My Ganache
- 1 orange slice
- 1 chilled martini glass
- 1 martini shaker
- Ice
Directions: Heat Oh My Ganache for about 10 seconds. Pour Grand Marnier into a martini glass and swirl, then discard the Grand Marnier. Combine Oh My Ganache and room-temperature vodka and stir or shake in a martini shaker. Pour chocolate vodka into a martini glass and chill. Garnish with the orange slice and serve. Serves one.
Ways to eat Oh My Ganache
- Use in place of hot chocolate mix
- Dip for strawberries
- Dip for graham crackers
- Dip for biscotti
- Spread on bread
- Spread on apples
- Frosting
