If you have yet to try one of Chef Ingrid Shim’s gorgeous Aurora chocolate creations, we urge you to call it a cheat day and head on over to Sweet Chalet! Ingrid hand paints each of the Aurora bonbons to create a high-end chocolate that can be given as a gift or kept for yourself! With over a decade of culinary experience, including a degree in Patisserie and Baking from Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, many continuing education courses in the States and France and chocolatier positions at two high-end hotels in Beverly Hills, Chef Ingrid has brought her passion to life in her chocolate creations inspired by Alaska’s aurora.
While Ingrid stays busy running the shop and creating the sweets, her husband, Jae, heads up the business side of things. Jae came in to the Alaska Small Business Development Center in 2014 and has utilized both the one-on-one advising with our Business Advisor Lynn Klassert as well as the workshops available to assist on specific business subjects. Most recently, Jae has been attending the Marketing Lab, where he has continued to work on the business’s digital presence.
“The SBDC helps small businesses like ours with seminars, classes, and more. I belong to several organizations in town but I’m participating in SBDC’s activities a lot more because they are practical and educational,” says Jae. “I feel like everyone I interact with has a true interest in my business success. We are lucky to have them as a good local resource!”
Chef Ingrid uses award-winning Grand Cru Maracaibo couverture chocolate by Fechlin in Switzerland to create 10 different bon bon flavors influenced by several of the world’s top chocolatiers in France. Try them for yourself by visiting Sweet Chalet at 300 East Dimond Boulevard in Anchorage or follow them on Facebook. Outside Anchorage? Order their chocolate online!
