Stone Arch, Crazy Sweet talk specials ahead of Death by Chocolate walk in downtown Appleton

APPLETON — On Feb. 10, Appleton's 21st annual Death by Chocolate downtown walk will run from 1 to 4 p.m., giving participants the opportunity to stroll down College Avenue and sample and purchase chocolate treats from 20 participating businesses.

Attendees can expect to see businesses like Uni Uni Bubble Tea, ACOCA, The Bent Keg, Cleo's, Doughlicious, Brewed Awakenings and more participating with their own individual chocolate treats. A list of all the businesses and what treats they'll be serving can be found at the Appleton Downtown Inc. website.

For the first time, participants will receive retail discounts from participating businesses, which will vary by establishment.

Stone Arch hopes to deconstruct its way to victory

Last year, Stone Arch Brewpub won first place for the deconstructed s'mores dish it served for the event. This year, head chef Benjamin Harper is continuing the deconstructed treats theme.

Attendees on the west end route will experience the restaurant's chocolate pot de creme. Harper described it as a chocolate pudding cup with house made strawberry puree and mint flavored whipped cream.

While the brewpub made the dish specifically for Death by Chocolate, Harper said it will be available for a limited time following the event.

Crazy Sweet looking forward to in-person crowds, new guests

Crazy Sweet, a candy and ice cream shop also on the west end route, will be participating in the event for the fourth time this year, and owner Crystal Schalliol said she's excited to have in-person participation again.

"We first started in 2020 and that year we did boxes and people took them home and did Death by Chocolate on their own," Schalliol said. "Last year was kind of the first year of it being back to normal and we're excited to do it this year too."

Those who stop at Crazy Sweet can taste the chocolate raspberry bites that'll be served. Schalliol described the treats as dark chocolate cups filled with raspberry ganache and topped with fresh raspberries and dark chocolate.

The candy shop serves around 400 people every year during Death by Chocolate, Schalliol said, and she expects no less this year.

"It's a nice day for us," Schalliol said. "It brings in people that haven't been in the shop before, newcomers that didn't even know we existed. It's also nice to display our specialties."

If you go

Tickets for this year's Death by Chocolate are $25 per person and can be purchased online at the Appleton Downtown, Inc. website or in person at its office, 333 W. College Ave., Suite 100.

"We really encourage people to explore Downtown while they're here," Abby Novak, marketing director for Appleton Downtown, Inc. said. "Check out menus, shopping items, services, attractions, not only at the participating businesses but other businesses they might pass along the way."

For more information and to buy tickets, visit appletondowntown.org

Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.