Norman Love's lifelong passion for fine art and fine foods has propelled him to the very heights of the culinary world.

During his 13 years as corporate executive pastry chef for The Ritz-Carlton company, Love opened hotel pastry kitchens in such diverse locales as Boston, Dubai and Bali. Indeed, his avant-garde artistry has influenced signature desserts served at Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide.

Love's fascination with food began during his childhood in Philadelphia, where he spent hours working in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother. "I always had a desire to create art and could relate art with food," he said. "And, of course, my favorite ingredient was chocolate."

Love honed his talents with two years of work and study in a private pastry shop in southern France, followed by jobs as executive pastry chef for The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Naples, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, and the famed Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. He was just 30 years old when The Ritz named him to oversee its worldwide corps of pastry chefs.

What followed were 13 years of stellar accomplishments and international acclaim. Chocolatier and Pastry Art and Design magazines named him one of the country's top 10 pastry chefs in 1996 and 1997. In 1999, he led the U.S. team to a bronze medal in the biennial Coup du Monde de la Patisserie (World Cup of Pastry) competition in Lyons, France, which featured the top pastry chefs from 18 nations.

He was among 18 chefs chosen to make a birthday cake at the 150th Smithsonian Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C., and one of only 26 selected to appear on the 39-part series “Baking with Julia," which aired on public television. He's made numerous appearances on the Discovery Channel's "Great Chefs"; series and his desserts have graced the covers of Art Culinaire, Bakery Magazine and other prominent culinary publications. He is also co-founder of the National Pastry Team Championship .

Love left The Ritz in 2001 to found Norman Love Confections, formerly Ganache Chocolates. It wasn't long before the accolades began pouring in. In February, 2002, USA Today named Norman Love Confections, formerly Ganache Chocolates, one of the top 10 artisan chocolate companies in the country.