When Kelly and Paul Derocco of Sooke started their fudge business in Victoria eight years ago, they never thought their fudge goodness would end up in the hands of the brightest and most popular stars in Hollywood.
But it did.
Recently, the Sooke couple came back from Los Angeles after providing their finest fudge as part of the Celebrity Swag Bags celebrating the 2016 Prime Time Emmy Awards in Hollywood.
“It was an absolute blast,” Derocco said, adding that it felt almost surreal to be mingling with stars in sunny California.
The Deroccos’ fudge enterprise, Fudge in a Round, has more humble beginnings, however, after initially starting out in Victoria and getting into bigger and bigger venues. Over the years, they’ve done numerous festivals, as well as Sooke events such as the Sooke Night Market and All Sooke Day.
It was during a festival on the Lower Mainland, however, where an unlikely observer would take notice of their fudge-crafting talents.
“The person who was in charge of the vending there, she said, ‘Can you send me some of your fudge, I want try it out and I want see how you do it,’” Derocco said that after sending the fudge over, two weeks later the person contacted them back and identified herself as an organizer for a pre-party for the Emmy Awards.
“She said, ‘I’d like to have your product, I think the celebrities will go nuts.’ We were really excited,” Derocco said.
The fudge speaks for itself.
Derocco said an unnamed actress already wants it for her daughter’s senior graduation party, a boy band wants to use the fudge in its video, and it even attracted Rayne Pryor, the daughter of comic legend Richard Pryor, who tweeted her overwhelming satisfaction with the treat.
During the event, the fudge was prepared in little cups and served with a spoon.
More so, the Deroccos will create just about any flavour and colour of fudge imaginable, from keylime to the Elvis (banana and chocolate with peanut butter), the neopolitan, as well as regular flavours such as maple walnut, cheesecake and watermelon.
Those who didn’t get to the Emmys, don’t worry, the fudge can still be enjoyed locally, with several events coming up around Christmas.
For more info on Fudge in a Round, call 250-590-3550.