On the busy intersection of 36th Avenue and Old Seward is the inviting and enticing Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge. Co-owners Zoe Oakley and Martha Brigham opened Modern Dwellers in 2007 and last February added a second location -- the "express" version -- on G Street downtown.
In addition to being a full featured coffee shop, the lounge is also home to a most peculiar characteristic; it is a chocolate factory, or studio, as it is called. Lindsay Clark, a chocolate artist, makes truffles on site with ingredients ranging from the expected (mint) to the unusual (smoked salmon). Soon, the lounge will be making chocolate bars with their own blend of chocolate.
On the coffee shop side, Kaladi Brothers coffee is served with a twist -- customers can partake of their premium drinking chocolate. The drinking chocolate, a confection that dates back to Mayan days, comes in two flavors: spicy and silky. The former has chili powder in the mix, and is quite a delectable and sensory surprise.
Being a locally owned business has yielded some great pairings for the pair of owners. They have joined forces with Midnight Sun Brewery for a beer and chocolate meal this month on Oct. 30 and 31. The educational meal will showcase the brewing process and the chocolate artistry process.
"We have owned businesses in the past, but we wanted a funky art relaxed feel to it," says Oakley, sitting on a comfy chair in the lounge. Since there is a plethora of art adorning the chocolate colored walls, most of which is for sale, they decided to showcase an "Artist of the Month," who is Sara Schalliol-Hodge for October.
The chocolate artists make all of the chocolate -- including an astounding array of truffles -- on site. Flavors range from a margarita inspired truffle all the way to the Anchovy Amour, which is exactly what it sounds like.
If you drop in, have one of their mochas made with the drinking chocolate. Amazing.
Contact Bryan Dunagan at bryan(at)alaskadispatch.com.