Savoring the Season: A Holiday Journey with Eric & Cassandra Durtschi of Durci Chocolate

Stepping into Durci Chocolate feels like stepping into a storybook—rich cocoa, intentional joy, and the kind of warmth that comes from people who truly love what they do.

As the holiday season settles over Tennessee, there may be no sweeter place to gather with loved ones, savor something handcrafted, or find the perfect gift made with heart.

For this Creators Among Us feature, we sat down with Eric and Cassandra Durtschi, owners of Durci Chocolate in Lebanon, Tennessee. Their story, filled with joyful laughter and tender gratitude, reflects everything magical about this season.

Crafting Chocolate, Crafting Home

For nearly two decades, Eric and Cassandra have devoted their lives to the art of chocolate—not as a business, but as a calling.

What began with two Tennessee kids—Eric from Watertown and Cassandra from Cookeville—led them across the country to California, and eventually across oceans as they walked the soil of cacao farms around the world. Every step of that journey has shaped them—as artisans, dreamers, and as a family.

Now, after all the miles and all the learning, they’ve planted themselves back where their story first began. Lebanon, Tennessee isn’t just home—it’s the place they’ve chosen to build their “forever,” one bar of chocolate at a time.

At Durci, chocolate is alive. It evolves, surprises, and tells stories. Each new blend is born from curiosity, patience, and a reverence for flavor—crafted not just to taste good, but to mean something.

These creations spill into every corner of their shop: the bars they’re known for, the desserts that feel like art, even the thoughtful lunch menu infused with their signature touch.

But more than anything, Durci is a place that invites people in. A place where community grows around shared experience—where hands craft chocolate together, strangers become friends at a tasting table, and creativity rises in the air like the scent of warm cacao.

Eric and Cassandra don’t just make chocolate.They cultivate connection, curiosity, and wonder—one beautifully crafted moment at a time.

Rediscovering Chocolate

From the very beginning, Durci Chocolate was built on a simple yet profound mission:to help people rediscover chocolate.

For Eric and Cassandra, chocolate is never just a treat. It’s a bridge, a gathering point, a way to bring people together through shared experiences, laughter, and memory-making.

“There’s something about food that brings people together in an incredible way,” Cassandra shared, her voice soft but alive with conviction.“Just intentionally gathering people with purpose—to spend time with them and make memories. That’s where we started with our events. We wanted to bring people together because we wanted to meet people in the community.”

At Durci, that intention comes alive in every event: build-your-own-bar nights, live music, karaoke, and seasonal celebrations. Each gathering gives the people of Lebanon permission to slow down, savor, and reconnect—not just with chocolate, but with one another.

“…in our chocolate shop, let’s feed you, let’s gather, let’s connect over that, and have you express yourself,” Cassandra continued.“So we can get to know who you are in a vulnerable but fun and artistic way. We need connection. We hunger for it.”

In that simple truth lies the magic of Durci: it isn’t just a shop—it’s a place to be fully seen, fully present, and fully human.

A Home Filled With Art

Creativity isn’t something Durci does—it’s who they are.

It lives in the walls of their home, the rhythm of their days, and the laughter that echoes alongside music.

Cassandra at the piano. Eric singing. Their children exploring instruments, discovering the joy of sound as naturally as they breathe.

“I just enjoy singing,” Eric said, a quiet pride in his voice.“Cassandra playing piano and me singing has given our kids an elevated love of music. Some of our kids are incredibly talented. They can pick up an instrument they’ve never seen before and start playing. It’s fun to see how our love of music translated into the talents and skills they’ve developed.”

Here, art isn’t scheduled, graded, or performed for an audience. It’s lived, inherited instinctively, nurtured gently, and celebrated daily. It’s the quiet rhythm behind every chocolate bar, every event, every connection Durci Chocolate brings to life.

When Art Changes You

There are moments in life when art doesn’t just move you—it reorients you.

Cassandra shared a memory from her early twenties that still sits tenderly at the center of who she is.

After moving from Tennessee to California, she found herself longing for home during the holidays. It was Christmastime, yet nothing felt like Christmas. No familiar traditions. No comforting rhythm. Just a quiet ache.

Then her church asked her to help curate a large nativity exhibit—something she’d never done before. She began describing it, and her eyes immediately softened:

• The dim, warm lighting

• The hushed reverence

• The careful walk-through of story and symbol

• The massive hand-painted nativity shipped in from out of state, towering in its beauty

As she spoke, tears gathered.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this is what Christmas is really about.’It shifted Christmas for me—from stockings and presents to the true meaning of the season. That experience changed me. Art changed me.”

It wasn’t entertainment. It wasn’t decoration. It was encounter. And it reshaped the way she experienced the sacred.

A profound moment came when Eric shared something he had carried for most of his life: the quiet belief that he wasn’t creative.

“I told myself for years I wasn’t creative… but I approach everything as an inventor because I love creating,” he said, almost as if rediscovering the truth aloud.“New equipment, new machines—that’s my version of art. I just didn’t realize it until I was almost 40.”

For decades, he had equated “creativity” only with what could be painted, performed, or sculpted—never with the intricate machines he designed or the innovations he built from scratch. Yet those inventions were essential to the craft Durci is known for.

It was Cassandra who finally held up the mirror. She looked at him—really looked—and said the words that changed everything:

Yes. This is creativity.The way you imagine.The way you solve.The way you build.

In that simple moment, the borders of creativity blew wide open. Eric stepped into a fuller understanding of who he had always been: a creator, an inventor, an artist in motion.

The Mind of a Creator

Eric offered one of the most vulnerable insights of the conversation—an honest glimpse into creativity through the lens of ADHD.

“My brain never shuts down… but when it’s quiet, that’s when inspiration comes,” he shared softly.“I feel like so much art is inspired by God. We have to make space in our minds so He can step in and touch us so we can create.”

He talked about the rush of ideas that appear without warning. The urgency to hold onto them. The frustration of losing a thought because life doesn’t pause. And the quiet miracle of inspiration finding us in the margins.

His practical, heartfelt guidance for creators:

1. Notice what returns. Ideas that matter will come back repeatedly.

2. Capture it. Write, email, or record sparks before they fade.

3. Give your hands something to do. Busy hands create quiet mind-space for ideas to grow.

4. Stay open to God’s whispers. Inspiration often comes through divine, unexpected moments.

Creativity isn’t always peaceful or orderly. It can be noisy, restless, and beautifully complex. Yet within that complexity lies the spark of invention and artistry.

Encouraging Other Creators

Eric and Cassandra spoke with conviction—truth forged through experience.

Cassandra urged leaders to look beyond the familiar:

“Just try it. Do it. Reach for the stars… Look in places not normally looked in, because there is so much talent in our community. Sometimes we get stuck in what feels safe, and then we end up with the same people sharing their talents.”

Eric spoke about cultivating young creators:

“Make your place available for young people to showcase their goods. Their excitement when people see what they’ve created… it fills them with enthusiasm. It makes them want to keep creating.”

Both know the fear of standing on the edge of a dream.

Eric recalled a sermon that ended with four simple words:“Nevertheless, I went forward.”

Cassandra added:

“Feeling lost may be more common than feeling confident. If we wait until we’re confident, we may never do anything.”

Their unified message:Do the next right thing. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s scary. Move forward.

If Durci Chocolate Had a Theme Song…

Cassandra chose “Let It Grow” from The Lorax—a reminder that beauty and creativity flourish when nurtured.

Eric chose “A Hatful of Dreams” from Wonka:

“It might be cliché for a chocolate shop to have a song from a movie about chocolate, but the hope and joy of that song embodies my passion. I’m introverted, but I’m enthusiastic about what I do—and that song captures that enthusiasm.”

Together, these songs are the heartbeat of Durci Chocolate—dreams pursued, joy shared, and creativity that invites everyone to take part.

Experience the Magic of Durci Chocolate

Step into Durci Chocolate, and you feel the warmth of intentional, loving creation. Whether you’re seeking a cozy holiday outing, a space to connect with friends, or a handcrafted gift made with heart, this Lebanon treasure delivers more than chocolate—it delivers moments, memories, and a little magic.

Every bite, every handcrafted bar, every shared smile reminds us that the season isn’t just about giving—it’s about connection, creativity, and celebration.

At Durci Chocolate, the holidays are sweeter, the moments richer, and the joy unmistakable. This is more than a chocolate shop; it’s a place where the artistry of life itself is savored—and everyone is invited to join in the delight.

📍 Visit in person: 1221 South Hartmann Drive, Lebanon, TN

📞 Call: (801) 310-5045

🌐 Explore online: durcichocolate.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: @durcichocolate | @durcichocolatesalon | @thecafe.durcichocolate