Thank you for nominating Desiderio Chocolates  for "Best Vegan Chocolate" at the Veggie Awards 2012. 

Please share to give us the chance to win, if you like our chocolates of course :-) Awesome prizes for voters!

So you did! You made it all happen. I have to admit that I didn't realize how hard was going to be to put my self and my dreams out there, when I decided to launch out Kickstarter project. Now that is all over and successful, I am having hard time grasping the reality of what happened.
The enrober will be here soon, I have to make some space for it. My husband will be building my very own commercial kitchen, a small but functional place where I can finally express myself fully and without any limitation of time and space. I can finally work at my own pace.
It is going to be a learning curve, working with a machine I have never worked with before, I am so used of me doing everything by hand that I am sure it will take few trials and errors, but it is going to be exciting and fun!
There are few steps to take before the show's on the road, I am ready.
Packaging is almost done. Trade shows have been booked. Now it is only matter to go out and sell the products.
Again this couldn't have happened without the help and support of all of you that believed in me!

Forever Grateful <3 p="p">
Vanessa

KIckstarter Project ending soon

As many of you already know, I have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise money to purchase a critical piece of equipment, that would allow the production of my vegan confections to increase dramatically.

At this moment my production is very limited as it is my time. working my day job, I have hard time, with two growing boys as well, to make full scale production efficiently with no equipment, everything is made by hands, mine.

In order to create more business account, with larger stores nationwide, I need to expedite my production, make it more efficient and consistent. That is the reason why I have been waiting on picking up more accounts, if I can't deliver orders, it is not a good image for the business.

I am too small for banks to consider me, I also asked for too little, since apparently banks would have to pay the same fees for a $250.000 or a $25.000 loan, they don't make money with small loans, so they don't bother.

Kickstarter offer the opportunity to small business like mine, to find the funds they need through patronage and sales. There are rewards (pledges $15.00 and up) offered for the backers that decide to pledge for the project. It gives the chance to anyone that love the products (or ideas) to become, in a way, part of the business success, huge part actually.

I wont be able to make it without the people that loves me and my products, I wont be here if it wasn't for them. They are the one that makes it all worth it :-)

Kickstarter is all or nothing, so if I don't reach my initial goal, I wont receive any of the pledges, the backers will not be charged.

I guess what I am asking is for a little help to make this happen, this has been my dream since I can remember, I have been forced to wait for personal reasons, for the past 6 years, but I am ready now to take the leap, I need to, this is who I am am and I want to keep expressing myself through confections that are made with love, in every sense of the way.

Even small pledges can make the difference, please consider help my business make it to the next level.

We have launch our Kickstarter Project to help fund the purchase of an enrober machine which will help us move on the larger market within this year. We have signed up for the Chicago Chocolate Festival trade show for this coming November, and would like to get there ready to ramble with new accounts and be able to fulfill the orders. Also we are working on new packaging and brand, which will be ready hopefully by the end of August.
Please check out our project and even if you are not able to pledge, sharing with other people would be of great help :-)

Thank you very much
Happy 4th of July

Warmest

The Alternative

Why Alternative? Why not. My passion for crafting sweets is almost as old as me. But my passions are many and one of it is continuously researching for the best ingredients, the most unusual but not just plain weird, good and whole that is. I also love nature and our planet, even as a small child I was always very concerned about my surroundings. I am trying to bring together all of my passions and differences, to achieve in the end, Harmony. If there is such thing, I hope to find it. My confections are alternative because I use different ingredients to recreate classic and sometimes new, sweet creations. They might be "alternative, but they are as good if not better, then the traditional ones. Try to believe :-)

New Pics :-)

Caramella

RockyRoad

Nougatissimo

Our Confections

I have been asked several time about the ingredients in my vegan confections, so I figure I'll answer here for everyone to see. There is concern about corn and gluten. I never thought about corn been a problem, but apparently it is especially among children. I want to reassure everyone that I don't use any corn product. I have stopped using corn syrup or glucose syrup long time ago, after I discovered that organic agave nectar is just as efficient. I am not talking about the low glycemic index and all, because it seem there are controversial debate regard it. I am just saying that it is the best ingredient to do the job, no allergenic and organic. I am happy with it. I hope you will too :-)  

"Our confections DON'T contain Corn Syrup, glucose syrup, preservatives, artificial colors or flavorings. Only the best we can find; organic unrefined sugar, organic agave nectar, organic coconut milk, organic coconut oil, organic extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed (it's an Italian thing :-)), high quality dark chocolate (some of the chocolate we use might not have a fair trade label, but for some farmers obtaining the certification it is simply too expensive. I prefer south American chocolate, like Venezuelan, Colombian, Ecuadorian etc.) The Nougat and marshmallows do contain soy, at this moment there is no other alternative to substitute animal products, but I am still looking, trust me I am a stubborn one. It is after all a Labor of Love <3"

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Nougatissimo® Our original Vegan Nougat, made with almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts.

Our Original Sea salt Caramels. Made with organic coconut milk and organic cocoa butter.

Our Signature Gourmellows®. Half Marshmallow, Half Truffle. Whole Deliciousness.

Also available custom orders, please allow at least two weeks of notice for custom production. Contac us here