Phyllis McDonough Robinson makes hand-painted bonbons and teaches chocolate experiences at her Reno studio.
The colored surface of a Tandem Chocolates bonbon begins inside a mold. Phyllis McDonough Robinson uses brushes and an airbrush to apply cocoa butter before adding the chocolate shell, turning the outside of each piece into part of the making process.
From family candy making to a Reno studio
Robinson worked alongside her mother, candy maker Cass McDonough, before developing her own chocolate business. Her training through Ecole Chocolat included study in North America and Europe. Tandem’s Reno storefront opened in November 2021, bringing that work into a studio customers could visit.
The business’s chocolate sources include Conexión in Ecuador, K’UL in Washington and Guittard in the San Francisco Bay Area. Robinson’s own account connects those choices to the different flavors and working qualities she wants in the finished pieces.
Inside the shell
Ganache, praline, marshmallow and cookie fillings give the bonbons different centers. After filling, the pieces settle overnight before they are closed with chocolate. The sequence requires more time than the small finished size might suggest: decoration, shell, filling and closure are separate stages.
Bonbons share the business with caramels and hot fudge. The selection changes, and Tandem treats the filled chocolates as fresh confections rather than items intended for indefinite storage.
Make and taste
The South Virginia Street studio also offers chocolate experiences, including tastings and opportunities to build a chocolate bar. These activities let visitors explore ingredients and technique with the maker, in addition to buying a finished box.
Current studio hours, experience details and contact information are published on Tandem’s website. Robinson remains directly identified with both the production and the teaching, giving the Reno shop a clear connection between its owner, its process and the chocolates in the case.
Contact Tandem Chocolates
7111 S. Virginia Street, Suite A15, Reno, NV
Visit the business website
Researched October 8, 2026. Source 1 · Source 2 · Source 3 · Source 4 · Source 5. Independent researched listing; not an owner interview. For corrections or removal, email cody@702alliance.com.
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