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Luis Broger: a chocolate maker with history See map

Luis Broger, a descendant of the Goye, pioneer family from the Canton of Valais (Switzerland), was the founder of three companies of chocolates "La Estrella Alpina", "Goye Grandma" and "Tante Frida."

Félix y Camilo Goye left the canton of Valais (Switzerland) in 1888 in search of new horizons. They first settled in Victoria (Chile), then in Chaco, Misiones until they reached this area and settled in 1890 where is now the Colonia Suiza.

Eager to know the paradise that depicted the letters of his uncle, Eduardo Goye, grandfather of Louis Brogan, arrived in Bariloche in 1903. He was then 17 and soon after he married Elisa Creton with whom he had fourteen children among whom was the mother of Luis. 

The Goye as many pioneers in this area were devoted to farming. They planted wheat, oats, fruits and swapped the products that could not get as sugar, using the steamer Primo Capraro.

"In my grandfather's house -recalls Broger- meals were based on wheat flour, eggs, milk, cream, cheese. My mother recalls that the standard meal was the cheese omelette and what never was missing were the cakes and homemade sweets. "

This familial tendency towards baking and preserves left an indelible mark on Broger who decided years later venture into the theme of chocolate. He began in 1976 with the "La Estrella Alpina" and left the company in 1981 and arrived at new venture: "La Abuela de Goye." The name of this company is in honor of her grandmother Elisa Goye Creton. She did not chocolates but was an expert at making cakes.

"There are things I'll never forget - expresses -. Like when we were kids and grandparents were visiting. I have the image of cows milked and the channel of water coming down. Grandmother made us beat the cream and then she did butter. After we ate homemade bread with butter and sweet. "

In the years of "La Abuela de Goye", however, there was another grandmother who was the image of the chocolate. Nothing less than his aunt Frida, the oldest sister of his mother.

"She started working with me with chocolate since I started in the" Estrella Alpina." My aunt died in 1993 and the following year, I sold the brand "La Abuela Goye" and in 1995 started a new company that bears his name because she was also my right hand and a prop for me. Tante means aunt in French" he says.

As for the preparation of chocolates, Broger had a line in his three businesses. And he admits that "there is always a personal touch that makes the product different." His specialties are chocolates filled with grapes to rhum, raspberries, sambayon and coffee.

At present, Tante Frida has the full range of chocolates, nuts, almonds, branches, tablets, chocolates, etc. They are also making inroads into chocolates for diabetics and specialize in ice cream and pastries. They have two locations in Bariloche, one in Villa La Angostura and its products are also found in Neuquén and Buenos Aires.