For The Love of Chocolate
Rick’s Fine Chocolates and Coffees
Picture a tray of roasted and salted Georgia pecans, hot and toasty right out of the oven. The rich and woody fragrance fills the room with a scent that perfectly captures the holidays. Now pour on a thick layer of smooth, rich caramel, hot off the stovetop. Is your mouth watering yet? And then the best part—the chocolate. Heaps of silky milk or rich dark chocolate top this decadent dessert. You can get these freshly made, right up the road in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Just stop by Rick’s Fine Chocolates & Coffees and ask for a “wurtle”. Trust me, it won’t be your last wurtle run!
You’ll find Rick’s tucked into a little historic storefront in downtown Guthrie on Oklahoma Avenue, where they serve up some of the finest treats in the state. The ambiance is homey and cozy. The vibe is buzzy and warm. It’s everything you love about your favorite coffee shop, but the chocolate is what makes Rick’s truly unique. Pick a wurtle, or one of their hand-rolled truffles, where balls of chocolate ganache are covered in dark chocolate that melts perfectly in your mouth, and pair with a oversized mug of steaming coffee. The combination makes for a delectable afternoon snack, especially as the cooler temperatures roll in.
Owner Stacy Staton diverted from her traditional corporate America career after nineteen years to pursue an opportunity closer to home. She soon found her calling in chocolate. After a few years running a sweets shop under a franchise name, Staton’s life took a series of turns that led her to running Rick’s on her own in 2012. From there, the shop has grown and evolved over the last several years to become a staple in Guthrie’s booming historic downtown, as well as a major destination during the holidays.
The best part of owning a chocolate shop? Staton loves every bit of it, from creating flavors and concoctions based on customer feedback to interacting with visitors and letting them taste-test the new creations. But above it all, there’s one thing that never gets old: the look on a person’s face when biting into a piece of Rick’s chocolate for the first time. If you’re a chocophile, you know that look. When you taste a piece of truly flavorful and rich chocolate (we’re not talking about check-out line chocolate here), the effect is powerful. You’ll likely let out audible ooh’s and mmm’s.
As the weather becomes chilly and Christmas lights start to pop up around the city, Guthrie truly comes alive. The holiday season kicks off at Rick’s on Black Friday when you’ll see shelves stocked with holiday treats. They’ll roll out chocolate covered wine and champagne bottles (just bring your own bottle to the shop), baskets of goodies made in Oklahoma, and tons of other special Christmas treats. Soon after Thanksgiving, the entire town gets into the holiday spirit. Head up to Guthrie for the Victorian Walks on the evenings of December 10th and 17th, and see the historic downtown pay homage to life as it was many years ago in Oklahoma’s first capital. You can stroll through the streets and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, wassail cider, and of course, chocolate, all while seeing live Victorian Christmas scenes played out in the shop windows.
But you don’t need a special event to make a trip to Guthrie. The town is full of unique antique and specialty shops year round. It makes the perfect day trip when you’re looking for a change of pace. Stop by Rick’s when you’re in Guthrie for some caffeine and a few bites of the richest chocolate you can imagine. If you’re feeling frisky, Staton recommends dunking your wurtle in a cup of joe for the ultimate f lavor combination. Who needs doughnuts when you can pair your coffee with a wedge of chocolate? Don’t forget to pick up a box to-go. They make the perfect holiday gift for even the pickiest of family. We just can’t promise you’ll survive the trip back to the city without cracking the box open for one more wurtle-y bite.
> 109 West Oklahoma in Guthrie
ricksdowntown.com
