Dude, Sweet Chocolate has just opened a second location at 8304 Preston Center Plaza Drive, between Taco Diner and R&D Kitchen. And another spot is set to open next week at 2925 Crockett (just south of Seventh, near Fireside Pies) in Town of the Cow.
Prior to becoming a chocolate-dealer, Dude Katherine Clapner had stints at the Savoy in London and Windsor Court in New Orleans before settling back in Dallas, where she eventually became the executive pastry chef at Stephan Pyles. Then, she started making chocolate and opened her little shop of dark chocolate in the Bishop Arts District.
The basic commodities you should be aware at Dude, Sweet Chocolate for your chocolate portfolio include Crack in a Box (candied nuts, cocoa nibs in thick slabs of dark chocolate) and Chubby Nuts (candied nuts dipped in dark and white chocolate).
Then there are whole slew of other creations that teeter on the edge of experimental -- concoctions that will expand what you thought you knew (and appreciated) about chocolate. Like the Albatross with dehydrated bleu cheese and seat salt. Or the Tater Head fudge with sweet potato.
If you're in the area, head over soon to welcome the Dude to its new humble abode. They are typically liberal with samples, so you can try different options. They also have gift boxes for the holidays.
It seems they are testing this Preston location. In a response to a message confirming this was only a holiday stint at the Preston Center, I got the reply, "We shall see."
The hours for the new store in the Preston Center are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., except for Sundays, they close at 6:00 p.m.
