Happy Birthday Maitelates!

It seems that I’ve been bak-ing, chocolate-ing and dulce de leche-ing forever (yes add those verbs to your dictionary), but no my friends. I’m actually celebrating my very first year selling Alfajores at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market, and the fact that I’ve gotten to meet and know so many wonderful people (sooooo many and soooooooo wonderful).

Happy Birthday Maitelates!

What an amazing roller coaster these 365 days have been!! It's been, and still is, phenomenal! And to celebrate such an amazing personal achievement – I made it to my first year!! – I have created a new flavor that means a lot to me:

Dulce Peanut is my personal twist and combination of nor only flavors, but also textures, cultures, backgrounds and tastes. I borrowed the most delicious and natural peanut butter from the country that has been my home for these last 5 years, and added a touch of my sweet handmade Dulce de Leche. The mix of these two, plus the crunchiness of the biscuits, and that good chocolate melting in your mouth… well, you can imagine. Or find out for yourself!

Come celebrate with me this first (of many more to come) anniversary at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market and taste one (or many) of my new Dulce Peanut Alfajores. Ask for the “alfajor especial,” because these are, indeed, VERY special. I guarantee a smile. . .

Muchas gracias for a wonderful first year!! Gracias Verito por la foto linda !!

Waiting for you @ The Produce Station

YES!!! Now you can find Maitelates at The Produce Station located in Ann Arbor, just over on State Street!!

One of the oldest and nicest stores in town chose to treat their clients to my delicious homemade sweets! Alfajores are now in stock there. And that is great! I love bringing a taste of my Chilean home to as many people as I can in Ann Arbor.. or anywhere, for that matter! But especially here.

It’s another good sign of how we increasingly appreciate good food. . . food made with care, with tradition, with love. Food with a story. Give back some of the local love, and pay them a visit.

Get an Alfajor at the Produce Station. Check out all the other amazing things there, and feel the home-grown spirit!

Maite(lates)

Thanks Kim Bayer for the photo!

Awesomeness!

The Home Grown Festival was GREAT! Thank you organizers!!! Everything was deliciously fantastic!

I chose that day to showcase Maitelates’ new market image! Along with a stunning picture of one of one Alfajor dripping chocolate (thank you Mary Morgan - The Ann Arbor Chronicle!) there was a statement featuring “this is the best cookie you’ll ever eat” (thank you Chris Gorham!) featured on People’s Magazine. Thank you, Vero, for assembling and creating the fantastic Maitelates display.

One by one, the locals were enjoying the most decadent treat. And one by one, they were coming back to get more. . . I was excited, grateful, and yet exhausted after being on my feet from ~5am to ~11pm, what? 18 hours? Ouch. That was a loooong Saturday market. And what can be more awesome than sharing such a nice ambiance and positive reactions with your friends and family? I’m the luckiest! Pedro and Matias were with me the whole night, and I realized that I have the best friends in the whole world!!

Come check out my tempting new set up on Saturday.. you won’t be able to resist!

And thanks again!! -Maite

Home Grown Festival!!

The day has come – we've all been getting ready for this beautiful celebration of Local Food!

I look forward to sharing with you, my dear local friends, how beautiful the process of making even a single Alfajor is. . . the best example of what slow food means!

And I'm not the only one; among others, Gary Kuneman will be there with his passion for grass-fed Buffalo, and Roos Roast will be my neighbor with the most amazing Lobster Butter Love. . . yeah!!

If you want to spend a tasty & fun evening, bring your family and friends to our 2009 Home Grown Festival 2009 located at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market. From 5:00 pm to 10.00 pm you'll have the chance to celebrate local food and community!!

Come, eat, dance & talk to the farmers and local producers. Learn a little about what we do, and have the best time ever! See you there!!!!

Thanks Brian for the beautiful picture and everything else =)

Can’t get enough?

I know. . . and I was resisting, but couldn’t hold it any longer. . . finally. . . Maitelates is on Facebook!! And, as a bonus, take a peek at some pictures of my family, down in Chile, making Dulce de Leche this summer. . . you’ll practically smell the sugary yummy milky caramel! And as if that wasn’t enough, yep, Maitelates has joined Twitter as well! Fresh news, new flavor, awesome pictures to die for, recipes, blog updates, chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates.
See you at the Market!

“The best cookie I’ve ever eaten”

When I heard than Chris Gorhman wrote a piece about my Alfajores on Peoples Magazine, I almost fell off my chair. I mean, c’mon!! Is this for real?? Is he really saying that my cookies are ‘the best cookies he is ever eaten?’ Can I hug him?? How do I get to Hollywood???

And as if this wasn't enough, my beloved local friends from Ann Arbor -as usual- added and an extra something to the moment. Thanks Mary for those nice words on your Chronicle. Thanks Liz for publishing my good news. Thanks Vero and Matias for your cheering! Thanks Brian for those beautiful Maitelates labels! I’m SO happy!!

And how about you Pedro, are you happy too??