Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Caldas.
Karla, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Le Atelier Du Brigadeiro was unexpectedly formed in June of 2017. Little did I know, what began as a fun cultural hobby would soon turn out to be a passion and life’s work.
Seven months prior, I had resigned and left the Oil & Gas Corporate sector where I worked over 15 years to stay home and care for my son who had been hospitalized and had months of health issues. During my son’s recovering process, I started spending more time in the kitchen doing what I love most, making Brazilian sweets and creating new recipes.
At first, I thought to myself. “This is just for pure enjoyment and chocolate cravings,” but after a lot of encouragement from friends and family to share my sweets with others, I had officially/unofficially created Le Atelier Du Brigadeiro (“The Brigadeiro Workshop”).
I will admit that the first time I went to a venue and spoke to people about Brigadeiro, I was shocked by the attention my tiny treats were receiving. Other vendors would ask to sample the sweets and later on purchase my Brigadeiros, keep in mind I was still blown away by how quickly people had begun to know Brigadeiros.
Shortly after, I received several bookings for birthday parties, baby showers, and a wedding to cater and the rest is sweet history.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, not at all! I am still paddling… Starting a small business comes with a host of challenges. Being a one-woman show, managing time between family and business, trying to establish a brand and marketing Brigadeiros in the community are still difficult tasks. Despite the challenges, I am a firm believer that if you have a great product and perseverance, you will be successful. It is simply a matter of time.
Getting into the Wedding industry was a big accomplishment, actually one of the most rewarding experiences. When you start a business from scratch, networking is vital, and I am grateful for the support I have received from several of my peers from the WHWP, West Houston Wedding Professionals.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Le Atelier Du Brigadeiro – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Le Atelier Du Brigadeiro is a Texas-based artisan brand that crafts scrumptious gourmet Brigadeiros and specialty sweets.
We specialize in Brigadeiros (Bree-gah-day-Ros), a Worldwide popular bite-sized piece of Brazilian confectionery best described as a fusion between a truffle and a fudge ball, handcrafted with Belgian chocolates, a variety of natural flavors and rolled in a unique layer of assorted sprinkles.
With plenty of unique flavors with a traditional twist, we offer a wide array of gourmet Brigadeiros, including an assortment of exotic international flavors unique in town and appealing to every palate.
Brigadeiros are exquisite treats for all occasions, especially weddings. Our flavor selection does play a part in what separates us from others, and we are certainly proud of the fact that people may forget our name, but they always remember the flavors and texture of our Brigadeiros. We thrive in bringing our client’s dessert vision to life and creating the perfect dessert table.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We have been able to establish ourselves as a vendor in several top wedding venues in Houston and surrounding areas, and we plan to continue exploring new opportunities to grow.
In the long-term, a storefront is definitely on the list of future plans for Le Atelier Du Brigadeiro. Houston is a vibrant city, and its surrounding areas are filled with cultural diversity, a great beginners spot to open a business.
Contact Info:
- Website: LeAtelierDuBrigadeiro.com
- Phone: (281)650-9559
- Email: info@leatelierdubrigadeiro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leatelierdubrigadeiro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeAtelierDuBrigadeiro
Image Credit:
Ashleigh Rodriguez Photo, Eureka Photography LLC, Si Creative Photography, Kristi O’Connel Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Jenny Van Winkle
November 28, 2018 at 9:09 pm
Yeah, Karla!!! Can’t wait to try one and congratulations on your success!