DEARBORN — When customers come in and browse the selection of chocolates at Dearborn’s Dolce Gift Shop, the first thing they notice is how good they look.

With decorations, themes, and colors to match any special event, the chocolates at Dolce are as elegant as it gets.

But owner Yasmin Jawad didn’t just want them to look good, she also knew that the taste was just as important. So she went to work and found some of the best chocolate in Lebanon to import to the store, which opened five months ago.

The chocolate used in Dolce’s signature decorations is Patibon, a company so protective of its image that each shop that carries it must be approved.

“They’re very stringent in their rules as to who carries their chocolate,” said Jawad. “I had to send them pictures and measurements of the store and everything.

“But the chocolate is something I take pride and joy in. I want the chocolate to taste good.”

Elegant, hand-embellished and decorated chocolates are the main attraction at Dolce, but tons of other aesthetically-pleasing items are also available for special events.

Other items include jewelry boxes, candle holders, small crystal decorative items and mini-sculptures, stuffed animals, and just about any other festive touch customers could want to add flair to their special day. Many of the items come from overseas places like Lebanon and Italy.

“Even if you don’t see it, we can make it for you,” said Jawad. “If you can think it up, we can make it.”

Jawad enjoys the creative side of her job as she puts together things like gift baskets and displays, and customers are also welcome to come in to mix and match items to make their own displays as well.

Dolce also specializes in large 8×8 feet balloon archways for events and even diaper cakes for baby showers that feature diapers packed into the bottom of the cake for use later on.

Another popular service is the 35-40 day in-home display that allows multiple family members to enjoy Dolce’s elegant decorations and chocolates. Dolce will turn the room of your choice into a scene worthy of an elegant banquet hall with favors and edible gift packages galore. When the time comes to pack up shop and take down the decorations, customers can keep the remaining favors and edible gift packages to pass out at a later time.

Jawad talked about the look she goes for when putting together decorations and favors.

“We put a lot of effort and time into creating that warm, elegant feel,” she said.

So much so, in fact, that customers often mistake the spectacular hand wrapped and decorated chocolates for jewels, making Dolce’s creations appropriate for any lavish event or occasion.

For bigger displays and gift packages, Jawad recommends putting in 2-3 weeks notice, but emergency requests are always welcome as long as they’re reasonable.
For more information on Dolce Gift Shop, which is located at 14228 W. Warren Road in Dearborn, please visit //dolcegiftshop.com or call 313.551.4535.