Dorinda’s Chocolate in Truckee: hand-crafted delights

ALONG WITH PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY and streetscape improvements in downtown Truckee, a slew of new businesses have opened in the past year: a revamped Moody’s Bistro, Best Pies, Trokay Cafe and Art Obsessions, among others. Coffee Bar celebrated its one-year anniversary.

One popular newcomer is Dorinda’s Chocolate Cafe, just off Commercial Row. Dorinda’s offers hand-dipped, hand-crafted chocolates, including signature chocolate-covered cherries and award-winning sea salt caramels.

“We make all our chocolate in-house,” says owner Dorinda Vance, who studied at the famed Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Chicago and has been making chocolates since she was 12 years old.

Her specialties also include a seasonal Pumpkin Truffle, Peppermint Bark, dark chocolate “Mountains of Pecans,” Peanut Butter Bombs and “Dori-Os” (sandwich cookies dipped in dark, milk or gourmet chocolate).

She also sells gluten-free chocolate, a hot food trend for 2012. Dorinda plans chocolate-dipped strawberries and heart-shaped chocolates with raspberry filling for Valentine’s Day.

Her cafe also offers homemade hot chocolate, Alpen Sierra coffee and Tahoe Teas, bagels, soup and sandwiches and free Wi-Fi.

Dorinda’s chocolates also are available at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Tahoe, Village at Northstar and Truckee Winery. They’re going to be sold soon at the Whole Foods Market in Reno.

Dorinda’s is a classic family-run business. Her two youngest boys help out regularly at the cafe, welcoming locals and visitors. “They work for candy corn,” she jokes.

Dorinda’s Chocolates
10009 West River St., Suite B, Truckee
530-582-6715
DorindasChocolates.com