Delicious.

Coco Craving

At C OCO A N d R è, life is more than a box of chocolates. It comes in the shape of a mustache, a bicycle, a cowboy boot — all of the little things that make Oak Cliff special. “We want to incorporate the neighborhood,” says Cindy Pedraza. She co-owns the shop with her mother, Andrea, who has 25 years of experience as a chocolatier, specializing in classic, European-style chocolates. Before Rex Morgen sold Morgen Chocolates in 2005, Andrea developed recipes for the company and studied with Morgen who had an apprenticeship in New Holland. She was laid off last year around the same time Cindy lost her job at a project accounting firm hit hard by the recession. So in December 2009, the two opened their own chocolate shop where Andrea can experiment with her new flavors. “It’s kind of fate that she has her own shop now,” Cindy says. The truffles are the top seller, with varieties like espresso, lavender and even a chocolate inspired by Turkish coffee. The shop doubles as a gallery where local artists can showcase their work, and an open room in the back has plenty of space for chairs and tables. After a few more renovations, Cindy says she envisions the shop as a place where people can taste good chocolate, bring their own wine, enjoy local art, and stay a while.

—Emily Toman

214.941.3030

COCOAN d R e. CO m

Pictured: assorted truffles

Three more spots to indulge:

1 DuDe, Sweet ChoColate eIGhth & BIshOp

This avant-garde shop has grabbed numerous accolades for its experimental flavor combinations.

214.943.5943 dudesweetChOCOl Ate.COm

2 Ru S h Pati SS e R ie eldORAdO & Z ANG

214.749.4040

RushpAtIsseRIe.COm

From

3 Ke SS le R Coo K ie Com Pany

214.948.7412 kessleRCOOk Ies.COm