Did you hear??

So much good news this week.. and there is more coming soon! Maitelates has now an official lawyer IN the family! Congratulations to my little sister Vero for that great, awesome, outstanding final exam and overall attitude toward her life and career. I’m an official PROUD sister! (my sisters -and my brother- are the best!)Ok.. Maitelates….. there is ANOTHER delicious and Best Seller flavor ONLY at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market: Michigan Cherry. Have you ever had that feeling of tasting something that leaves you speechless? Well… I’m telling you… try this and see what happens!

More?? Well… there is….. but you’ll have to wait a few days to hear about it. It’s just too good to be true and I need a special blog for that .. ;)

The perfect treat for the tricksters!

Halloween is here! And this year it happens to fall on a SATURDAY!!! Farmer’s Market Day!!! How perfect that is…

Come and get the perfect candy for your little (and grown up) ones! Choose your favorite flavor and spoil your visitors! Make it special this year..

Too bad that in Chile we don’t get to celebrate Halloween. What we actually do is remembering our loved ones the following day called “Dia de todos los muertos” or "Dia de todos los Santos". The tradition is to honored the dead by visiting their gravesides with flowers; rather than a sad occasion, this day is a joyous event. Actually if you are ever in South America, enjoy the day off (yes, it is a local Holiday!)

Anyway, come get your Maitelates before they are all gone!!!!

No trick, just a treat!

Booooooooooooooooo!

The Answer is Quince!

Yes, “quince” is Maitelates’ awesome new flavor that has come to STAY. Thanks Peter for the push, thanks Peter for the quinces, thanks Peter for the great idea, and thanks Peter for letting me call you David FOR 6 MONTHS without making me feel bad!

This is why I love doing what I do! Not only do I get to make great friends (the best), but I get to share ideas, recipes, family stories, memories, jokes, traditions, thoughts, pains, cheers, cheese (?), cold days, hot days, and soooooooo many other things!

I LOVE THE ANN ARBOR FARMER’S MARKET!!! And I Love what I do!!! Lucky me.. Hasta la Proxima!

Thanks Susie (Foodzie.com) for the picture!!

Maitelates takes over classrooms!

Double-nice surprise this week! From both Santiago (Chile) and Ann Arbor (USA) I got a lovely recognition!!
The Universidad de los Andes in Chile honored me by writing a nice article about the story of both Maitelates and the hyper woman behind it (that would be me). After a few minutes of the interview's release, I started getting lots and lots of nice, encouraging, and cheerful emails from everywhere. That night I couldn't sleep. My Maitelates grows and grows, and little by little I'm getting more proud of this sweet baby! (I only found a picture of my other sweet baby..)

On the other -good- hand, Greenhills School, here in Ann Arbor, invited me to talk to some of their students that are taking Spanish about my story, my business and my cultural background. It was just awesome to see a bunch of kids with their eyes wide opened eager to learn and know more of what I was saying (and of course sampling). I was lucky again and got some nice words from them.
And I have to confess that I was never a good student. . . That being said, it is especially special to have the opportunity to flip the story, and show everyone that at the end of the day, you are always a bag full of surprises!
My final surprise is having another special flavor. . . Want to know what that is?? Go to the Farmer's Market and ask for the 'orange label'. . . You'll love it!

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