‘Lip-Smacking’ Good: Local SMACKAROONS are a New Twist on an Old Favorite

C.B.:  It all began with my LOVE for coconut! I am a HUGE coconut fan and have been since as long as I can remember. I come from a big Italian family; both my grandmas were amazing cooks, my mom is an amazing cook and baker and she’s known for certain dishes. My sisters all have their specialties. So one day i said to myself,  “I want to be known for something too!!” So I started playing around with an ingredient that I love: COCONUT!

Since launching my product, the most interesting thing I have learned is that there are A LOT of coconut lovers out there, just like me. And with the rise of coconut to superfood status, it was the perfect time to launch.

P.H.: I heard in one of your interviews that your recipe took about 8-years to perfect. What were you tweaking over that 8 year period? How did you know when you got it just right?

C.B.: I must admit that I never had any intention of putting SMACKAROONS on the market. I usually would make them around the holidays and each year would analyze my ingredients and method. I have many friends who are foodies, caterers and chefs and I would ask them, “I know it’s good but how do I make it great?”

One day in the Fall of 2012, I hand delivered a box to a retail client in Philadelphia and he looked at the box and said “SMACKAROONS…why aren’t we selling these??” So that was the point when I decided I was going to begin the process and launch the following year.

P.H.:What makes your macaroon special?

C.B.: There are many things that distinguish my product in this marketplace.

First, TASTE is our #1 priority. Every ingredient has been hand-picked for my formulas to achieve clear, unique, and spectacular flavor profiles, which is what our customers react to–it’s that WOW factor!

Second, my formulas are dairy-free, and since launching I have realized how important this is to a majority of consumers.

Third, SMACKAROONS are made by-hand right here in Philadelphia. It is a true artisan product in a category all its own.

P.H.:Any special inspiration behind the name SMACKAROONS?

C.B.: This is the name I gave them sometime around 2008. I always said they are “lip-smacking’ good,” and that’s where the term came from!

P.H.: Where can we find SMACKAROONS?

C.B.: SMACKAROONS can be purchased at the following retail locations: DiBruno Bros Rittenhouse, Green Aisle Grocery, Whole Foods Market South Street, Whole Foods Market Cherry Hill, Whole Foods Market Marlton, Rastelli’s Market Fresh, Whole Foods Market Princeton, Whole Foods Market Devon, McCaffrey’s Markets.

P.H.: What’s next for SMACKAROONS?

C.B.: While I am so so proud of my journey thus far, there is still lots to do and many exciting plans ahead. I am currently focused on expanding distribution in the Mid-Atlantic Region, developing new flavor profiles, scaling up production and evolving our branding.

P.H.: How should people in Philly celebrate National Macaroon Day?

C.B.: I would like to personally thank the people of Philadelphia and the surrounding region for enjoying, loving and supporting my product. This has truly been a labor of love and what keeps me going is witnessing the authentic reaction of customers who come to my table and experience my product. This week I invite people to enjoy and share SMACKAROONS with friends and loved-ones.

P.H.:  Do you think your SMACKAROONS would make your Italian ancestors proud??

C.B.:  I certainly hope so! I would like to think that SMACKAROONS would have been a part of every family gathering. This will be my legacy!