HOUSTON - The Nutcracker Market is an event that thousands all across Texas look forward to every year to kickoff their holiday shopping. Although vendors come from all over the state as well to sell their goods, several artisans and businesses are from right here in Houston, including Chocolate Pizazz.
For this business - one part love, one part inspiration and a pinch of luck make up the recipe for success.
"I am a chocoholic," jokes Jeri Wolff, part owner of Chocolate Pizazz.
Wolff explains that the brainstorming of this business began at an unlikely place.
"We were looking at the Food Channel while we were exercising and we decided to do something fun with food! I thought we would do it on the side and it just grew and grew."
Wolff and her friend Helen, started the business 9-years ago. They make everything from chocolate toffee covered pretzels, to chocolate popcorn and peppermint bark.
All the sweet stuff is made in the back kitchen of their storefront on Gaylord Street. The main ingredient to most of their creations is a super rich, super secret, chocolate recipe.
"A lot of times people will walk in and think it's just for children... our products. But they taste it and they're completely hooked!"
Right now these confectioners are on overdrive as they get ready for the Nutcracker Market.
"Christmas is crazy but it's so much fun," Wolff explains. "They usually have to work into the night because no matter how much we make, especially the popcorn, we sell out!"
Wolff credits their success to two main factors.
"We use a really good chocolate and, I know this might sound corny, we just put so much care into each product!"
Chocolate Pizazz is located at 9055 Gaylord Street, Houston.
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