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Young at Heart Mackenzies Kandy Kitchen: Chocolate That's ALMOST Too Beautiful to Eat By Tara Fatemi Walker Young at Heart In Santa Cruz County Special Advertising Supplement to the Santa Cruz Sentinel Continued on page 2 July 2023 edition Laser Hair Removal Facials Prepare Your Skin for the Sun BOTOX ® and fillers 831-226-2108 | 1595 38 th Avenue, Capitola rejuvenatemedi-spa.com CoolSculpting Elite – Spring Deals! Healthy Weight Loss – Semaglutide! Mackenzies Kandy Kitchen, also known as Mackenzies Chocolates, has been satisfying Santa Cruz's sweet tooth for nearly 40 years. As you approach the building, you will undoubtedly be charmed by its quaint house-like exterior. Then, prepare to be awestruck as you enter the shop and view the stunning displays of goodies. There are over 200 different items to choose from! If you don't know where to start, the most popular creams—there are 21 varieties in total—are Soft Caramel and Rasp- berry Cream. Custom- ers' favorite truffles are Creme de Cocoa and Black Raspberry; there are also 14 more flavors. The top-selling chewy item is Cruz Crunch. This has chunky peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and chewy caramel. It's available in milk or dark chocolate. Mackenzies makes a full line of chocolate confec- tions: creams, nut clusters, caramels, marshmallow/ Rocky Road, English Tof- fee, truffles, honeycomb, chocolate-covered dried apricots, and more. "What makes our chocolates spe- cial is that all the centers are made from scratch with natural flavors, fresh cream, butter, etc.," says General Manager Ian Mackenzie, who co-owns the shop with his wife Mary Rose. "Also, we use the finest quality choco- late available." Mary Rose serves as Retail/Purchasing Man- ager. Ian's parents, Colin and Thelma Mackenzie, founded the store in 1984. "Colin provided the financial support while it was Thelma's idea and passion for making shell-molded chocolates," explains Mary Rose. Ian has been involved since the beginning. Mary Rose was hired shortly after the opening of the store, met Ian, and has been there ever since. Mary Rose is 58 years old, and Ian turns 60 at the end of next month. One specialty Mack- enzies is known for is its hundreds of different molded chocolates. There are chocolate animals, ranging from individual ones (classic creatures and unusu- al ones like a Banana Slug) to a delightful "chocolate scene" with a curled-up cat next to three mice: it's available in milk or dark. There are whimsical items like chocolate in the shape of lipstick, cell phones, seashells, Eiffel Towers, and musical instruments. Truly something for everyone. Also available: fun chocolate boxes that open to reveal pieces of chocolate inside. There are round and heart- shaped boxes, and ones shaped like starfish. These make unique and afford- able gifts. The last time I was at Mackenzies, I ran into a woman in her sixties who was clutching several boxes of English toffee. She informed me she used to live in Santa Cruz and whenever she returns to town for a visit, she stops by Mackenzies to get some toffee. "It's the best I've found anywhere, and I love sharing it with my friends." The shop makes special treats for the holidays. "We provide a wide se- lection of seasonal items: chocolate cornucopias, acorn dishes and turkeys for Harvest Time, and at Christmas time you can find chocolate Pinecones, Yule logs, and Santa's ranging from 3 inches to 30 inches in size," says Ian. Christmas is definite- ly a busy season. "35% of the shop's yearly sales happen in December, so we work 6-7 days a week (60 hours) in the months of November and Decem- ber," he adds. Chocolates are made on-site; customers can occasionally catch a glimpse of this process but most of it is done Contributed Photo