DEADWOOD - People in the Seattle area liked what they tasted when they experienced Chubby Chipmunk truffles for the first time during a July 12 show.

The Deadwood chocolate shop, owned by Mary "Chip" Tautkus, brought home some awards and new customers in its first out-of-state competition.

The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon held its second annual tasting awards and Tautkus decided to take an entry and join the two dozen other chocolate makers involved. Chubby Chipmunk won first prize for top toffee and second place in best truffle, best gift set and best overall. Tautkus was also given honorable mentions for top artisan and best presentation and packaging.

The hand-dipped "Milk Moose" toffee Tautkus created was a hit.

"It was pretty exciting," she said. "We had so many people come by. We served 1,500 to 2,000 people."

Preparations were extensive and she worked to create a display that could fit in a suitcase. A signature theme of the Chubby Chipmunk display is a leopard print, which carried through from the official logo to plates and gift boxes. Shop staffer Susan Stalder accompanied Tautkus on the trip.

With the success of this first trip, Tautkus is planning a second voyage, this time to Chicago in 2010.

In the meantime, Chubby Chipmunk crews are rolling and hand-dipping along at a good clip. The shop, located near the intersections of Highways 85 and 385 between Lead and Deadwood, is the only place you can buy the chocolates. The chocolates are also available online, but Chubby Chipmunk will not ship before Sept. 15 because the threat of hot weather could melt the items before they can be delivered, Tautkus said.

Tautkus has gradually built up the business over the past decade from a one-woman operation to three steady employees and eight during peak times.

"We had about two weeks in March when we caught our breath," she said. They average making about 2,000 truffles a day.

"When I started, I got nervous about buying 50 pounds of chocolate because I didn't know if I would need that much," she said. This year alone, Tautkus has brought in three tons of chocolate to create her products.

Summer demand has remained strong, with no dropoff. She even caught the eye of country music star Glen Campbell when she created a "Rhinestone Cowboy" truffle during his June visit to Deadwood for Wild Bill Days. It was a cowboy-hat-shaped truffle with edible sparkles on it.

Product development is ongoing with some new items coming out on a regular basis. One of those is "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." This is a dark chocolate/caramel patty that has been salted and peppered blended with pecans. Another offering during this summer is a cheddar-beer cheesecake truffle.

Tautkus main method of testing is on the reaction to that first bite.

"When they swoon, sway and sigh, that tells you it's a keeper," she said.

The shop is already bracing for the holiday rush at the end of the year. There are many businesses that place bulk orders. Tautkus prefers that people order many weeks in advance to ensure timely delivery.

For more information on Chubby Chipmunk, go to www.chubbychipmunk.net.