Indulge Your Craving for Chocolate at One of These 5 Wichita Sweets Shops

Sometimes, the sweet, buttery texture of chocolate is just too irresistible. While it's not healthy to indulge regularly, the occasional delicate truffle can halt a craving in the short term and soothe you on a stressful day. If you're in the Wichita area and are craving chocolate or other sweets, try one of these locations for a delectable treat. more Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates, located at 2441 North Maize Road, Suite 123 and 2132 North Rock Road, offers a mouthwatering variety of carefully crafted treats. There are many more to taste too. Why not purchase a custom box and take home your favorite selections? Try an artisan chocolate bar, specially made with various flavors and differing cocoa quantities to appeal to everyone's taste buds. Among their truffle assortment, you will find the Mayan, an exquisite truffle with 54% bittersweet ganache, along with vanilla, cinnamon, honey, and ancho chili. Or, try the Mocha chocolate, which is infused with espresso and a touch of Kahlua beneath a crisp dark chocolate coating. The Irish Cream is a delight as well, with blended milk chocolate and Bailey's. Cero's Candies Another yummy hotspot for delicacies, this boutique shop, Cero's Candies, is located at 3429 East Douglas Ave. in Wichita. Named "Wichita's Original Chocolate Shop," and sticking around since 1885, you know it will be a special day when you stop by. In fact, truffles are magnificent at this venue. Examples include the Dark Chocolate Artisan Fire truffle and the Dark Chocolate Amaretto truffle, among many others. Come witness Cero's extraordinary Caramels and Candy selection, a collection that offers a blend of soft chocolate with the crunch of candy. Treat your taste buds with the Milk Chocolate Coconut Haystack, the Milk Chocolate Peanut Cluster, or the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordial. For special occasions, their molded chocolate collection offers artistically designed shapes. You'll find chocolate in the shape of lions, monkeys, tools, and more, as well as a seasonal chocolate selection with designs that are perfect for the holidays. Nifty Nut House Perhaps after all that chocolate-eating, you and your family are in the mood for something snackier. Perhaps you're craving a more nutritious option or are seeking something for your kids. If so, then look no further than Nifty Nut House, located at 537 North St Francis. Here, you can choose from a wealth of yogurt-covered fruits and seeds, reduced-sugar candies, breads and pretzels, dried fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fudge, and items for the kids. If you're on a health kick, you'll appreciate the selection of dried fruits and vegetables that are organic, which do not include preservatives or that are unsweetened. For a hearty snack, try the breadsticks or pretzels. Children will love their selection of candy necklaces, packaged cotton candy, jawbreakers, pop rocks, and lego-shaped candies. With such variety and quality among these venues, you really can't go wrong with investing time and money in trying these delectable sweets. The next time you're in the Wichita neighborhood, you know where to go for a great bite with your family or friends. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cmeeren/8669285730/sizes/l Image via Flickr by cmeeren

Are you planning a party but have no idea what to do for the food? Just bring in a food truck! You'll provide your guests with quality, tasty food they'll love, and you can get back to hosting the party. Since there are so many delicious food truck options, we've compiled a shortlist of four of Wichita's best-rated trucks. more 1. Funky Monkey Munchies While some food trucks consistently use just one menu for the food they serve, Funky Monkey Munchies has a rotating menu. This means you could use Funky Monkey Munchies for several parties and enjoy a variety of delicious, organic-based food. This food truck takes a classic item and puts a tasty spin on it, like cherry cheesecake waffles, for example. A menu item you'll have to try is the jalapeno popper rolls. Dip these rolls in Funky Monkey Munchies's sweet chili sauce, and your taste buds will experience sweet and spicy all at once. 2. The Flying Stove The Flying Stove also changes up their menu to keep you coming back for more of their delicious food. The level of flavor they pack into each dish will leave you satisfied and wanting more at the same time. The menu generally consists of tacos, sandwiches, burgers, and fries, but with their own flair to each item. You can't go wrong with their bleu cheeseburger, kale grilled cheese sandwich, or truffle fries. If you want something delicious that's sure to please the whole crowd, bring in The Flying Stove. 3. LumpiaPalooza If you've never tried lumpia before, you definitely should. Lumpia is essentially the Filipino version of a spring roll, but LumpiaPalooza makes lumpia with quite a variety of ingredients. The owners of LumpiaPalooza first opened a restaurant in Wichita called the Parsnipity Cafe, which is now no longer open. The owners decided to stick with just the food truck, so if you want the best lumpia in town, order from LumpiaPalooza. You can order a classic lumpia with sweet and sour sauce or try something completely different, like a macaroni and cheese lumpia or even a cookie dough lumpia. 4. Noble House Hawaiian Plate If you want a more Hawaiian-themed menu, check out Noble House Hawaiian. While Noble House Hawaiian is a restaurant based in Wichita, you won't want to pass up the opportunity to bring a taste of Hawaii to your guests by bringing in their food truck or team of caterers. The menu consists of several plate lunch variations, so you can go classic or try something very different. For instance, you can order the Hulihuli Chicken, which consists of marinated and charbroiled chicken, or Lau Lau, which consists of a piece of pork and butterfish wrapped steamed in a taro leaf and tea leaf. Noble House Hawaiian also caters sushi. Take a load off your event planning. Bring in any one of these four food trucks, and your guests won't be able to stop talking about how good the food was for the rest of the day. Image via Pixabay by kendallpools

Whether you need space, power, or to feel luxurious in a car, Mazda has an SUV for you. Here's the lowdown on three Mazdas so you can determine which one fits your lifestyle best. more Mazda CX-9 The Mazda CX-9 is available in four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. All trims are available in all-wheel drive, while the Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring are also available with front-wheel drive. This SUV is powered by a Skyactiv-G 2.5-turbo four-cylinder engine with Dynamic Pressure Turbo that gets 250 horsepower. Each Mazda CX-9's engine is paired with a Skyactiv six-speed automatic transmission. The 18.0-inch aluminum wheels, body-colored rear roof spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets give the CX-9 a sporty look. The Grand Touring stands out with aluminum roof rails with a satin chrome finish and 20.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. One of the perks of owning the CX-9 is that it is great for large families or those transporting team members because it seats up to seven passengers. Inside the cabin, you'll find luxurious amenities such as leather-trimmed seats, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power moonroof. A 7.0-inch full-color touch screen display and access to MazdaConnect keep you connected while on the go. Mazda CX-5 If you like a car with more options to select from, the Mazda CX-5 is your SUV because it can be customized in five trim levels — Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature. The Skyactive-G 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine (with Cylinder Deactivation) delivers 187 horsepower. Mazda has paired this engine with a Skyactive-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode and manual-shift. The C X -5 has an aggressive appearance and available features, including a roof-mounted shark-fin antenna, body-colored rear roof spoiler, and bright finish dual exhaust outlets. LED headlights light the way ahead, and body-colored power side mirrors with LED turn signals ensure others know your intentions. With this car's Mazda Connect infotainment system and a 7.0-inch touch screen display with Bluetooth and Pandora integration, you now have both information and entertainment apps at the touch of a finger. Two USB inputs allow you to keep your devices charged and at the ready. Mazda CX-3 Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring are the three trim levels available for the Mazda CX-3. Each of these sport a Skyactive-G 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine with VVT. This engine will arrive paired with a Skyactive-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, and get 148 horsepower. A rear roofline spoiler and roof-mounted shark-fin antenna keep the lines sleek, and clear-lens halogen headlights light up your path.  The Touring and Grand Touring feature heated side mirrors and a piano black pillar garnish. There's plenty of room for five passengers to sit comfortably in the CX-3. If you love the feel of luxury, this is the SUV for you. The Sport has cloth-trimmed sport seats, while the seats in the Touring and Grand Touring are leather-trimmed. Also, the Grand Touring features a power sliding glass moonroof, leather steering wheel, and a Bose seven-speaker audio sound system. All trims include a Mazda Connect infotainment system, a 7.0-inch touch screen display, a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and push-button start. With so many great options, you're sure to find the perfect Mazda SUV to suit your lifestyle. Image via MazdaUSA.com