Greenville isn’t short on restaurants making headlines, but when USA Today named LaRue Fine Chocolate the No. 1 Chocolate Shop in America, the Upstate got bragging rights of a different flavor.

For founder Maître Chocolatier Elizabeth McDaniel, the recognition capped a decade of hustle, vision, and hard work.

Before launching her chocolate career, McDaniel spent nearly a decade in fine wines with luxury powerhouse LVMH, presenting Moët Hennessy. That’s where she developed her palate and expertise for layering flavors.

“After years working in the wine industry, your palate becomes much more advanced,” says McDaniel. “You think about how everything tastes, smells, and how ingredients work together. That experience taught me how to build depth into my chocolates.”

That training translat

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