Oh! The Places You’ll Go: My Brigadeiro
It’s a big deal when a new sweet shop comes to the Upper Valley. Dazzle Cupcakes generated much buzz after opening last winter, often selling out of cupcakes within two hours of opening shop. Students still complain about Ben and Jerry’s closing in Hanover (Morano Gelato is better anyway), and many make regular trips to West Leb for Ice Cream Fore-U.
The recent opening of “My Brigadeiro” is the most exciting new development for those with a strong sweet tooth. What is this mystery confection? Brigadeiros (bree-ga-day-roos) are a traditional Brazilian dessert consisting of mixture of chocolate, milk, sugar and butter. Think of it as a combination between a truffle and fudge — what’s not to like? Brazilian-born Ana Paula Alexandrescu launched the homemade business out of her Norwich home last October and has seen huge success.
Alexandrescu prepares her brigadeiros in the “chocolate studio” in her basement. She uses mostly locally sourced ingredients, though some come from as far as Brazil and Europe. Brigadeiro flavors range from the conventional (milk chocolate, pistachio, cookie) to the unique (ginger, port wine, sake). With 36 flavors to choose from, there’s a brigadeiro for everyone. My personal favorite was the Crunchy Crunch: a white chocolate base rolled in mini chocolate balls.
The bite-size treats have generated a fanbase far beyond the Upper Valley. The My Brigadeiro Facebook page has well over 6,000 likes, and Alexandrescu ships her brigadeiros all over the country. My Brigadeiro treats can be found at Dan and Whit’s General Store in Norwich, The Chocolate Shop in Hanover and the Lebanon Co-op. Rumor has it that My Brigadeiro gelato will even be coming soon to Morano. Customers can handpick flavors for online orders, with boxes ranging from eight to 36 brigadeiros. There are special ordering options for locals, so take advantage of that Hinman Box address and treat yourself.