Best Local Confection: Dude! Sweet! Chocolates

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Owner Katherine Clapner told us, “I believe the name—Dude! Sweet!—is actually better than the chocolates.” Don’t believe her. The talented chocolatier and former executive pastry chef for Stephan Pyles uses single-origin Venzeuelan, Colombian, and African cocoa beans along with Lucky Layla Farms Texas butter, Steen’s cane syrup, and a variety of exotic spices and nuts to craft her sultry sweets. With flavors like Hill Country (Texas lavender and honey), Black & Blue (Guinness and black currant), Curried Banana (yellow curry and caramel), and Tahitian (passion fruit and ginger), Clapner’s creations quickly sell out at places like Scardello, Bolsa, and Flavors from Afar.