Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory could not compare to the real-life chocolate overload of Sweet Dreams’ Fall Chocolate Night 2012.
Sweet Dreams created a “world of pure imagination” from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Dark Chocolate Pomegranate, White Chocolate Salty Apple and Chocolate Maple Bacon Pecan were just a few of the chocolate varieties offered out of 36 fresh ice cream flavors, which included vegan and sugar-free options.
Michael Manfredi, owner of Sweet Dreams, 3437 W. University Ave., said he hosts a chocolate night event twice a year. Sunday marked the shop’s 14th chocolate night.
He said he hosts chocolate night to create community buzz about his business and “to show off how good we are at making ice cream.”
Manfredi advertised the event through Sweet Dreams’ Facebook page and word of mouth. Based on the line outside the front door, that’s the only advertising he needed.
Manfredi said his ice cream shop is the only place in Gainesville that makes its ice cream from scratch.
Manfredi credited Lisa Manfredi, Sweet Dreams co-owner, for her original chocolate flavors, which she reinvents for every chocolate night.
“You’ll never see the same assortment two years in a row,” he said.
So, why chocolate? Michael Manfredi said there is an intrigue about it — chocolate is very versatile and well-liked.
“I don’t think you could do this with any other flavor,” he said.
Salty Caramel Chocolate was one of the bestsellers of the night, Michael Manfredi said. It sold out near the final hours of the event, along with other delectable flavors such as Jack’s Marshmallow Martian, Brownie Batter Fudge and White Chocolate Russian, which is infused with vodka.
Michael Manfredi also offered a mystery flavor. Whoever guessed correctly won a Sweet Dreams gift certificate.
Michael Manfredi, a chocolate lover, thought of one beloved flavor without hesitation.
“The house chocolate is my favorite flavor any day of the week,” he said.
Kelly Hicks, 34, attended chocolate nights at Sweet Dreams for several years.
She said what brings her back every time is the quality of the ice cream. It is homemade and has better ingredients, which makes it taste better, she said.
“There are flavors that you can’t get anywhere else,” she said.
Hicks said her favorite flavor of the night was Coco Monkey, which included bananas, peanut butter and, of course, chocolate.
While some customers could easily choose a favorite flavor, Stephanie Ley could not.
Ley, 23, bought six different-flavored scoops, because she could not pick just one.
She said the business uses real ingredients from Gainesville.
“I just had a fig in my ice cream,” Ley said, “and I feel like you can’t get that in a lot of places.”
Ley frequented Sweet Dreams for the past four years. The recent UF alumna went to two chocolate nights during that time.
Usually, her favorite flavor involves natural ingredients like honey and lavender. At the fall Chocolate Night, she was undecided.
“I don’t know which one I just ate, but it was good,” she said.
Sweet Dreams, a homemade ice cream shop off University Avenue, hosted its Fall Chocolate Night Saturday. The line of patrons extended out the door to try the 36 chocolate flavors available.
