A new chocolate shop is coming to the East End, and it’s doing something that’s a little different from every other Houston chocolatier.
CASE Chocolates will open later this spring at the Plant, the East End mixed-use development that’s home to James Beard Award-winning Thai restaurant Street to Kitchen, coffee shop Eden Plant Co., and Neighbors, a casual neighborhood bar that serves pizza and cocktails. The 900-square-feet location will serve as both a showroom for Case’s chocolates and a speakeasy-style bar.
Why a speakeasy? That’s what makes Case so special. Using a technique called Starch Casting, all of Case’s chocolates are filled with alcoholic spirits, cocktails, or a non-alcoholic equivalent. Currently, customers may purchase chocolates filled with rum, tequila, bourbon, or carajillo — the coffee cocktail that’s essentially an espresso martini for grownups.
Those looking for a more premium experience may opt for chocolates filled with whiskeys from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, widely considered to be some of the most coveted bourbons in America.
Photos by Dylan McEwan
The premium chocolates come in this cacao pod.
The speakeasy-style bar will offer chocolate and spirit tastings by reservation only. Customers will have the option of bar seating, booths, or tables.
Founder Casey McNeil is a UH Bauer College grad and serial entrepreneur. After getting bit by the chocolate bug, he traveled the world to find the right sources for Case’s chocolates, according to a release.
“Chocolates and spirits are a perfect pairing, but the only options have been sort of novelties. We’re changing that by creating unforgettably unique experiences and flavors that focus on the highest quality ingredients,” McNeil said in a statement. “Cacao is more nuanced than wine, and we want to emphasize the unique flavors that different origins offer. The journey gets more exciting when people see how those flavors pair with different spirits and cocktails. We’re redefining chocolate by creating new moments of ‘wow’ and joy.”
Although the storefront isn’t ready yet, Case is already selling chocolates online. It will also preview the speakeasy experience with a Valentine’s Day pop-up at Eden Plant Co. A few reservations are still available ($75 per person).
