Sweet Stories – A Brigadeiro Blog

The Gigi’s Playhouse began in Chicago when Nancy Gianni saw the lack of resources for her daughter, Gigi, who had Down syndrome. Determined to make a change, Nancy set out to create a place where children with Down syndrome and their parents could gather and support one another, as well as engage in educational, therapeutic, and career training services. Gigi’s Playhouse evolved over time and opened chapters in cities across the United States, and even in Mexico! Today there are 58 Gigi’s Playhouses and the organization continues to grow.

In 2016, Gigi’s Playhouse came to Raleigh through the hard work of its founding director Jeanhee Hoffman. Jeanhee had her own personal connection to the Down syndrome community and to the Gigi’s Playhouse organization through her brother Sam, who had participated in the Gigi U program as well as Hugs n Mugs, a coffee shop that teaches customer service and other transferable career skills.

Moon Angel’s founder Daniela has been inspired for years by all the amazing things Gigi’s Playhouse does for our local community. As she launched the brigadeiro business, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. Through our partnership, we met Elizabeth and Cara, who became some of our first employees. These inspiring women are a key part of our team, helping process and package our delicious chocolates. They weigh the massa (the base of the brigadeiro, similar to dough), roll it into the traditional brigadeiro shapes, and then apply the sprinkles. They also help with our events, showing guests their expert techniques and judging our “make your own brigadeiro” competitions!

It has been such a pleasure to work with Elizabeth and Cara and learn about their lives. Elizabeth has an internship through Gigi’s, is a greeter at a local athletic boutique, and participated in rush week at North Carolina State University. She got down many of the sorority cheers! Cara has a love for dark chocolate brigadeiros, and definitely wants you to try that particular one if you get to pick from any of our flavors. She also is a dedicated bowler, and doesn’t miss a Wednesday! Both girls take a special interest in our customers, wanting to remember their birthday or sincerely asking “how’s your family?”

We first started working with Gigi’s Playhouse because we were inspired by their mission. As time has passed, we have also come to realize how much we were meant to work with Elizabeth and Cara in particular! They add a special touch to that makes Moon Angel Sweets so much sweeter.

This Valentine’s Day, we partnered with local vendors for a children’s party-styled photoshoot. We were delighted that Little Raleigh Party considered us for the entertainment portion of the afternoon! To make the day special and delicious, we set up a “Make Your Own Brigadeiro” station for the kids to use during the party. Our “Make Your Own Brigadeiro” kit includes two massas (dark chocolate and white chocolate spread), a variety of chocolate sprinkles, and all the other tools they needed to make a decorated chocolate box, and a little bit of a tasty mess!

Our kit is great for kids of all ages, but it is also an excellent option for adult parties! Think about bringing some chocately goodness and some creativity to your next “Girls Night In” or “Date Night at Home”! Making your own brigadeiros is grounding and easy, and it also can lend itself to some competition! One fun contest we like to host is seeing who can roll a brigadeiro closest to 17 grams (using a kitchen scale, if handy) by sight, without measuring. Or you can experiment with combinations of toppings to see whose brigadeiros is the prettiest, or which flavor combinations are your favorite!

We provide everything you need, including directions and supplies, so that your brigadeiro making process is one of ease and enjoyment.

Kids, birthdays, or bachelorettes—whatever party you host, let us help you be “the hostess with the mostest” by offering your guests a cultural experience and a beautiful gift to take home. We are happy to deliver the kits to you for a $10 delivery fee if you’re within 10 miles of our tasting room, or you can pick themup at our tasting room in Morrisville or have us ship them by mail.

We had such a great time at our Valentine’s Celebration. Other vendors included: Little Raleigh Party (Children’s Party Planning), Petal Parcel (Florals), Veronica Strickland (Photography), Sweet Bounce House (Entertainment), Sweet Fare Shop (Sweet treats, drinks, cookies, cupcakes), Ginger Pop Balloons (Ballon Decor), Curate Studio in Apex (Event Venue), Parker Grove Lane (Stationary/Personalized Guest Favors).