By John Dobberstein, Editor
When Tim Burton released the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” nearly two decades ago, based on the 1964 children’s novel by the same name, a young Ronnie Watchorn told his parents he would be a ‘chocolatier” one day.
That day has come full circle, as Watchorn has opened an Indigenous-owned artisanal chocolate shop, Yonder Chocolate, in Broken Arrow that has a unique story behind it.
The shop features a subscription service that celebrates some of Oklahoma’s iconic figures through artisanal chocolate – bringing local history to life through flavor.
Watchorn says Yonder is partnering with local suppliers and cultural institutions to, “create authentic storytelling experiences that are entirely sourced from Oklahoma,” and that weaves Native American traditions with Western heritage.
As patrons browse Rivendell Books and Baubles on Houston Street they eventually discover a counter of handcrafted confectionery products and meet Watchorn. Patrons can sign up for Yonder’s subscription service at oklahomaschoclate.com and he does ship orders.
“The subscription boxes all come with a specialty chocolate bar and a box of truffles that are only available in the box,” Watchorn says.
The first icon honored this month was none other than Will Rogers, who needs no introduction. The next Oklahoma icon he plans to release, to be the focus around Valentine’s Day, honors Maria Tallchief, a Native American ballerina born in Fairfax who, with choreographer George Balanchine, is widely considered to have revolutionized American ballet.
“As the first indigenous prima ballerina, she set quite a precedent. So, I’m really trying to capture that elegance,” Watchorn says. “In the Will Rogers box there was a lot of caramelized milk chocolate pecans and
sarsaparilla. Moving into Maria Tallchief we have more natural flavors and floral notes. It’s going to be really fun.”
‘Saved My Life’
Ronnie’s adult journey into creating delicious chocolates did not begin on a road that was sweet, however.
In 2015 he lost both his wife and his job at nearly the same time. A woman who was creating a website for Watchorn told him, “Don’t argue with me. Show up Friday at 4. You work for me now.”
“I learned the ins and outs of chocolate, and in the process I healed a lot of my own trauma. When you lose somebody, especially somebody that you know or you grew up with and developed a life with, everything gets dark fast,” Watchorn says.
“So, this gave me the light at the end of the tunnel. And I have always had the bedrock of what l’m doing, using this to share that light with other people. As stupid as it sounds, this saved my life.”
Watchorn adds he’s worked to maintain his knowledge of indigenous food and changed the trajectory of his work a few years ago to focus more on telling those stories. Plants hold a very sacred space in indigenous culture, and he wanted to find a way to use that.
He’s used dandelion, honeysuckle, clover and marigold as he continues expand his use of herbal concoctions. “I can actually grow or forge them myself without having to source them from someone else,” he says.
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