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Fountain Square has a new chocolate shop

Funkyard Coffee Shop has closed, but don't cry. Truffles, toffee and caramels are on the way

Liz Biro
liz.biro@indystar.com
The Indy Truffle by Litterally Divine Chocolates is a 70 percent cacao dark chocolate treat made with Traders Point Creamery Milk produced in Zionsville.

The moment after you bite into a perfect chocolate truffle is one of the best moments of your life — until the next perfect truffle comes along and you get a repeat. This cycle can go on for your entire existence unless you have have been doing most of your foodie tromping around Fountain Square, which has had no chocolate shop -- until now.

That’s thanks to the closing of Funkyard Coffee Shop & Art Gallery. The 1114 Prospect St. spot, which opened in January 2012, poured its last cup of joe in August when owners Sherry Stiver and her husband, Roger, retired.

Dry your tears, coffeehouse fans. Litterally Divine Chocolates bought the business. In early October, new owner Suzanne Litteral launched a redesigned space focused on chocolate and coffee.

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At Litterally Divine Chocolate Tasting Room & Coffee bar, sip your macchiato and nibble a chocolate truffle while watching Litteral make chocolates, caramels and toffee, all organic and vegan versions available.

Litterally Divine Chocolates owner Suzanne Litteral coasts caramels in chocolate at her downtown Greenfield  kitchen. When she opens  her Fountain Square location, you'll be able to watch her make chocolates, caramels and toffee, all organic and vegan versions available.

Lately, she’s been crafting bean-to-bar chocolate with the intention of making her entire line truly signature. In Fountain Square, Litteral wants to work with artists to create specialty chocolates, continuing Funkyard’s art scene atmosphere. She’d also like to decorate the space with chocolate-themed artworks. Eventually, she’ll make and scoop ice cream.

Litteral has been operating her company at Greenfield Chocolates, a shared retail location and kitchen in downtown Greenfield. She sells chocolates there and at the Garfield Park Farmers Market, Indy Winter Farmers Market and a few other places. Funkyard used to stock her chocolates.

Don’t miss the Indy Truffle, made with Traders Point Creamery whole milk. The all-organic, 70 percent cacao, dark chocolate delight was the company debut. Its outer shell snaps at the first bite and then your teeth sink into silky, fluffy ganache with a delicate fruity tang. One truffle is satisfying enough but leaves you wishing for two, hence the two-piece box. Litteral offers a four-piece box, as well.

Litterally Divine toffee, truffles and salted caramels for sale each Saturday at the Garfield Park Farrmers Market.

Litteral makes lots of other truffle flavors. The strawberry balsamic wears a white chocolate shell. Litterally Divine is a few doors away from New Day Craft Mead & Hard Cider, so New Day's popular Breakfast Magpie, an espresso-infused black raspberry mead, flavors a truffle. Other varieties on Litteral's list include blackberry jalapeno and passion fruit honey.

Literally Divine is also known for its caramels. The Smokin’ Blackstrap Caramel blends molasses and Smoking Goose smoked bacon lard. The vegan Agave Caramel contains coconut milk and agave syrup. Either almonds or crushed coffee beans speckle toffees, but Litteral produces diverse flavors.

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As a kid, Litteral was, a she put it, “a chocolate freak” who loved to watch food television, especially programs about sweets. She studied dance at Ball State intending to become a starving artist in a big city. When that didn’t pan out, she landed in loan processing, worked as a financial adviser and even taught aerobics and Pilates for a while.

“I’m kind of a gypsy,” she said.

Chocolate candy-making became Litteral’s hobby in 1995 when she started fashioning truffles. As her interest extended to chocolate-coated caramels and toffee, she shared the treats with friends and family. They thought her creations were good enough to sell. Litteral wasn’t so sure. The business seemed too difficult. Fans wouldn’t let the idea go. Litteral made the leap into commercial chocolate production in 2008, when she launched Litterally Divine, spelled with two “Ts,” as in Litteral’s last name.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiroFacebook and Pinterest. Call her at (317) 444-6264.