Authentic Texan
By J. Carol Richards
If you search for “one of the best chocolate in the world,” much of what you uncover tends to indicate that the destination for world-class chocolate would be Belgium, France, or Switzerland. However, those who have tasted the toffee and truffles from Choccolatte’s in Marble Falls disagree. Reviewers use words like amazing, yummy, and sinfully good to describe these incredible confections. Everything is handmade using a number of secret ingredients known only to Steve and Michele Parsons, who have invested years in perfecting Steve’s world-famous pecan toffee. Steve makes it taste good, and Michele makes it look good. For them, chocolate is indeed the language of love. They met after Michele bought a caramel from his shop, which led to a caramel a day for Michele until they married under the old oak tree in the courtyard of the shop.
Steve’s background is in hospitality management, which took him to cities across the United States for a time before he realized that the “more to life” for him was to own a business. He loved to cook and once helped open a deli with a friend. He also worked with Nicholas Nichols of Nick’s Fish Market in Houston and Vista Host hotel management company. “Nick and Vista Host taught me about impeccable service and attention to detail,” which became a critical factor when Steve decided that his future might be in the world of chocolate. Steve worked for a time as a waiter during the night while diligently perfecting his recipes at the store during the day. He discovered that good chocolates require “timing, attention, and being “totally dedicated to what you are doing.” When he began taking his truffles to work, everyone loved them and kept asking for more.
His world-famous Pecan Toffee evolved from his love for Heath bars. One day, after eating the chocolate from the top of one, Steve found that he was left with the best part, the toffee, which led Steve to read extensively and experiment with different processes and recipes.
The result is not traditional English toffee but a crisp, lighter, more flavorful version that melts in your mouth. The toffee is handmade using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients and is all-natural and gluten-free. The toffee is covered with Callebaut Belgium chocolate, either dark, milk, or white chocolate, and sprinkled with chopped famous local grown San Saba pecans.
In addition, the shop in Marble Falls offers twelve flavors of seasonal gelato, your favorite coffee drinks, cookies, smoothies, chocolate covered marshmallows, rice Krispy treats, and a selection of other unique treats.
