PLEASE NOTE: This post was originally written in 2016. While it should still give you a great idea of the overall experience, it is also possible that it may contain some outdated information. Please visit their website and/or Facebook page for the most up to date information, especially for details like hours and pricing. If you notice something in this post that needs to be updated, please feel free to leave a comment with the updated information, or email us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com and we will be happy to make the updates. Hey, it takes a village, right? ?
2016 Post
Hi everyone!
Well, we’ve got a real treat today because our intrepid Fairfield County explorer, Ally Noel is back to share her latest adventure. This time she’s taking a sweet trip to a candy shop that’s so much more than just a candy shop! So grab your little chocolatier and get ready to experience the brand new Chocolate Works in Darien, CT. Eat your heart out, Willy Wonka 🙂
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Ally Noel is a mom, a wife and an educator living in Norwalk, CT.
Her 4 year old daughter, Miss C, enjoyed all the comforts of home for about 10 days before her mother bundled her up and headed out on their first Out & About adventure.
Her blog, LuCk, includes everything from play-based learning activities to unique party and playdate inspiration. You can also catch her monthly contributions on Fairfield County Moms Blog. Show her some love on Facebook and Instagram and if you like what you see drop her a note on LuCk.
Thank you Chocolate Works for providing us with our complimentary chocolate experience! All opinions are 100% my own.
When I first got word that a “make your own” chocolate shop opened up in Darien I was intrigued. As soon as we set foot in Chocolate Works, Miss C was, well, like a kid in a candy store!
With its first location in Connecticut, Chocolate Works “transforms the corner candy shop into an interactive chocolate factory experience. Beyond the colorful candy bins and cases of chocolates, kids and adults of all ages are invited to indulge in a hands-on learning experience molding, decorating, dipping, enrobing, and crafting their very own chocolate candy creations!”
It was a dreary, rainy spring day. The kind of day where you are like “what can I do with the kids today?” And today I had the answer to that question. The answer was “chocolate!” Chocolate Works is located in the Goodwives Shopping Center in Darien. It’s a rather large strip mall with all sorts of shops and tons of parking.
Miss C was instantly drawn in by the smell of chocolate. “Mmmmmmmm . . . chocolate!” There were cases filled with custom made creations, a chocolate fountain flowing with the good stuff and tons of large rather industrial looking contraptions to investigate. As we waited for the rest of our friends to arrive, Miss C went to town munching on samples.
The space itself is really open, giving you a good view of everything from just about anywhere.
In the front of the store, there are a few tables and chairs set up. Directly in front of you is a large case displaying all kinds of custom made chocolates.
To the left of the front door is a large chocolate fountain.
Behind that is a wall lined with chocolate machines that look like something out of Wonka’s.
There is also a large wall filled with all sorts of loose candy.
In the back of the store, there is a windowed wall that separates off the party space. There was a party going on while we were there and Miss C had a fun time taking a peek and checking out what was going on
The bathroom is also located in the back of this area.
Once we had all arrived, it was time to officially suit up (aka, put our aprons on) and pick out a mold. One of the walls of the party space is lined with a pretty impressive selection of chocolate molds. Baseballs, ballerinas, and butterflies–you name it, it was there. On this day we selected a flower, sweet tooth, and race car.
After we selected our molds, we marched back out to the front of the store to fill them with chocolate. And let me tell you, this is the real deal chocolate. It’s not like those “melts” you might find at the craft store. You’re getting honest-to-goodness, premium, delicious milk chocolate– and lots of it!
One of our favorite things was the “jiggler” that shook all the bubbles out of our molds. After all the molds were filled up, they were swooped away and placed in a freezer.
Since watching chocolate set is about as exciting as watching paint dry, it was time to take a spin in the chocolate car wash. Yes, you read that correctly: chocolate. car. wash.
There were pretzels, graham crackers and Oreos, and each child got to select one as a vehicle to take for a spin.
After they took a bath in chocolate, we each got to cover them with sprinkles or other small candies. Then they took a trip through the freezer.
Watching the treats make their way along the conveyor belt was so much fun! There are plenty of step stools located throughout the space, so every child was able to see what was happening.
As if that wasn’t enough chocolate, we also got to dip a pretzel, marshmallow, or piece of fruit into the chocolate fountain. So many choices!
By this time, our molds had officially hardened and were ready to be removed and decorated.
Several squeeze bottles of warm colored chocolate were placed on our little table. The kids went to town! They were able to squirt all kinds of colored chocolate onto their creations and really personalize them. Our group of preschoolers loved doing this, but I can see older kids getting a little (OK, a lot . . ) more detailed and enjoying this as well.
Once we were finished decorating, our creations took one last dip in the freezer.
While we waited, we munched on our chocolate covered Oreos and pretzels. After smelling and playing with all this chocolate, it was finally time to eat it!
Our molds were wrapped up with a pretty bow and packed up to go.
So, what did we think of our trip to Chocolate Works? All three of us left slightly covered in chocolate with giant smiles across our faces. The friendly staff and kid-friendly activities are a recipe for success. One thing that surprised me is that there is so much going on in this relatively small space. This is truly a full service candy store – they offer so much more than just chocolate! There are bins filled with all sorts of penny candy, personalized chocolate creations, and custom made gift baskets.
Chocolate Works would make a fantastic place to have a birthday party, field trip, or–in our case–a bit of rainy day fun!
Chocolate Works Darien
Good Wives Shopping Center
25 Old Kings High Way North, Darien, Connecticut
Phone: (203) 202-7067
Find Chocolate Works Darien on Facebook
Hours:
You can drop in and enjoy any of these chocolate activities anytime during normal business hours; it took us about an hour to complete all three activities.
Monday: 10:00 AM- 06:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM- 06:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM- 06:00PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM- 08:00PM
Friday: 10:00 AM- 08:00PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM- 08:00PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM- 05:00PM
Pricing:
$20 for a mold
$2 for the fountain
$8 for the car wash
$30 for all three (“The Works”)
Details:
- Stroller Friendly: YES,
- Coffee Mug Friendly: YES
- Restroom: YES
- Baby Changing Station: NO
- Parking: YES.
- Food for Sale: YES, well if you consider candy a food group
- Outside Food Allowed: Yes
- Cash Required: NO
- Dress Code: NO (Aprons are provided, but be aware that things could still get a little messy 🙂 )
- Age Recommendations: 3-103
- Evening/Weekend Hours: YES.
- Discounts: None that we know of.
- Birthday Party Venue: YES. Get more info here.
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