Aldendorf Chocolates: Just What the Doctor Ordered
PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
WARNING! You May Develop An Addiction!
ANESTHESIOLOGIST DR. KIRK DOCKENDORF, and his wife, Anne, opened Aldendorf Chocolates, a factory and sweet café that caters to chocoholics of all ages. With the holidays, he’s also found himself occasionally playing Santa – fake beard and all.
Chocolate is just what the doctor ordered, particularly if the physician is Dr. Kirk Dockendorf. The Melbourne anesthesiologist and his wife, Anne, recently opened Aldendorf Chocolates, a factory and sweet café that caters to chocoholics of all ages.
When not working for Central Brevard Anesthesia, Dockendorf spends about 20 to 25 hours a week at the factory, often helping to enrobe, or dress, bonbons with their final rich layer as Aldendorf’s amazingly enticing creations pass through the chocolate making machinery.
With the holidays, he’s also found himself occasionally playing Santa, fake beard and all.
Crappy Fudge
The 4,100-square-foot factory and café in West Melbourne is a dream-come-true for Anne Dockendorf. Here, not only can she indulge her passion for making artisan chocolates, but she can also take care of online orders for Crappy Fudge, Aldendorf Chocolates’ naughty alter ego.
“We expect that about 50 percent of our business will be from online sales,” said Anne. “We also have a very large client on the West Coast.”
Anne launched the line of cheeky chocolate gag gifts a couple of years ago.
THERE’S NOTHING crappy about Crappy Fudge, which is currently driving about 50 percent of Aldendorf Chocolates’ online revenue.
Sold online, there’s nothing crappy about Crappy Fudge. The premium spreadable fudge is bottled in one-pound jars bearing a bottomless array of ironically personal–and very memorable–sentiments. The gift line also includes Mr. Plops’ Coconut and Fudge Drops.
Anne allows customers their choice of phrases for all occasions, but ultimately reserves the right to use discretion, for she intends Crappy Fudge to never be offensive.
The concept behind Crappy Fudge emerged while Anne worked as a certified nursing assistant for some well-to-do clients who kept forgetting to pay her. She wanted to get the point across, but do it in a nice way.
“I was having some chocolate when I got the idea of making something that would taste good, but also be ironic,” she said.
Crappy Fudge had been born.
High End Sweets
This year, however, Anne and Kirk decided to get serious, with a high-end boutique factory and a tea room for private chocolate parties for up to 50 guests.
“You can’t get chocolates like this,” says Anne. “I wanted to emphasize the beautiful side of chocolate.”
ALDENDORF CHOCOLATES recipes are primarily Anne’s, including the one for their devilishly delicious “Half-Guilt Potato Chips.” Private and corporate customers can order one-of-a-kind creations bearing edible logos, images and photos.
Recipes are primarily Anne’s, including the one for the devilishly delicious “Half-Guilt Potato Chips.”
The chips are only dipped on one side on purpose. “That way you get to savor both the chips and the chocolate,” explains Anne.
She uses no vegetable oils, and only the best cacao, which she shapes in outrageously expensive specialty molds. Food colors are airbrushed by hand for her top-of-the-line creations.
An aspect of the business is customization, which allows both private and corporate customers to order one-of-a-kind creations bearing edible logos, images and photos.
“I’m very particular,” said Anne. “I want people to enjoy chocolate as much as I do.”
Aldendorf Chocolates was named for the Dockendorf’s six-year-old son, Alden, who has the enviable luck of having his own sweets factory. He and his four-year-old sister, Adeline, often greet guests at the café.
“We wanted to keep the business very family-oriented, because we feel strongly that it’s very important for Mom and Dad to be in their kids’ lives as much as possible,” said Kirk.
ONE SIDE OF THE CAFÉ is decorated in a medieval castle theme, complete with both adult and child-sized elaborate wooden thrones. It is here that Santa reigns during the holidays.
A sign at the front door warns visitors about what they should expect. “You may develop an addiction to our delicious chocolates,” it claims.
At the café, a 52” digital television playing Disney films entertains younger guests. Both children and adults are fascinated by the sights, sounds and smells emanating from the glass wall that reveals the factory in action.
One side of the café is decorated in a medieval castle theme, complete with both adult and child-sized elaborate wooden thrones. It is here that Santa reigns during the holidays.
Perfect Pick-Me-Up
The Dockendorfs chose a West Melbourne location because of its opportunity for growth. “We’re in the middle of a major professional/medical corridor,” explained Kirk.
With the proposed widening of Ellis Rd. and a new interchange at I-95, the factory will be positioned within easy reach of a large chunk of Brevard’s population.
“The idea is that it will be very easy for them to stop in, whether they’re coming or going,” said Kirk.
Kirk has found that owning a chocolate factory can make you a very popular doctor. “My co-workers love the chocolates,” he said.
Kirk is not complaining about Anne’s addiction to chocolate. For years, she has plied him with the sweet stuff. Even owning a chocolate factory hasn’t curbed their enthusiasm for cocoa. “Are you kidding, we love the stuff,” said Anne.
In 2010, Kirk and Anne plan to add pastries to the Aldendorf menu. Chocolate-making classes are also on the schedule.
The factory attracts customers such as Christine Albertson, who has visited Aldendorf on several occasions to load up on boxes of Aldendorf chocolates for her State Farm agents. “Everybody is so down because of the economy,” said Albertson.
“The chocolate is a perfect pick-me-up.”
FOR THE HOLIDAYS, ALDENDORF CHOCOLATES feature holiday costumed storytellers from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, together with 25-cent chocolate chip cookies. STORE HOLIDAY HOURS are from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. The facility is available for private functions for up to 50 guests. For more information call 321-514-5318 or log on to www.Aldendorf.com or www.CrappyFudge.com.
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