Luv’s Brownies launches a dessert truck to celebrate 25 years in enterprise

Andrea Lacy believes some troubles are blessings in disguise. Situation in level: Her brownie recipe.

In the course of her 1st semester at San Jose State University, she was baking a thank-you gift for a mate and found that the dough was thicker than regular. She baked the batch anyway, and they have been a large strike. But when she revisited the brownie recipe later on, immediately after she was diagnosed with dyslexia, she recognized she experienced transposed some figures.

A couple of decades later on, in 1996, even though doing the job at Hewlett-Packard, Andrea launched her Luv’s Brownies — the to start with world wide web-only bakery, she states. Thanks to that recipe and her Seo abilities, the venture was an quick mail order/supply and catering achievement. In the years because she was initial featured in this newspaper, she’s been composed up in Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, Today’s Black Girl and Every single Day with Rachael Ray magazines and garnered awards for both equally her baking and her resilience in the face of dyslexia.

With the busy Valentine’s Day vacation approaching, we talked with Andrea (pronounced Aundrea) about the wheels she acquired for the bakery’s 25th anniversary, her new line of sweet treats and how she’s helping younger persons triumph over their own troubles.

Q: How did you take care of your dyslexia and come to be a profitable entrepreneur?

A: Dyslexia does not slow me down. SJSU gave me the instruments to be successful. They offered assistance on how to arrange myself. Above the a long time, I have designed a toolbox of procedures, figured out to make lodging.

Q: Whose kitchen area experience motivated you? 

A: My father was an excellent cook. He was a magician, and we under no circumstances experienced the similar meal twice. He taught me the price of cooking and freezing. I’m frugal absolutely nothing ever goes to waste.

Q: Do you however use that transposed recipe? And what good high quality did it give to your brownies?  

A: Sure. It’s double the chocolate, and consumers can inform. Our brownies are best served warm. The types off the truck are served warm at home, 5 to 10 seconds in the microwave.

Q: Why the coronary heart shape as an alternative of a regular sq.?  

A: I named my organization after my childhood doll. Her title is LUV. I nevertheless have her.

Q: You hand out Grit Award scholarships. Who are they supposed to honor and assistance? 

A: The Grit Award is for students who have proven tenacity in overcoming difficulties and who now want to establish on their good results by pursuing higher schooling or vocational schooling.

Candidates ought to have a keep track of record of community support as effectively as demonstrated financial will need. The scholarship could be used for a four-yr college, junior school or vocational college.

A portion of each Luv’s Brownies buy goes toward the Grit Award. The scholarship foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Q: Why, at yr 25, did you make your mind up to purchase a new established of wheels? 

A: I was not guaranteed how to roll out my merchandise choices. So I interviewed two foodstuff truck suppliers. 1 business observed a used, gutted truck. That is when I realized I was on the right path. I saved and scraped with each other the income for generation and the Luv’s Brownies “wrap.” Ahead of my eyes, I experienced a new menu and a new line of company.

Q: What goodies are you advertising from the dessert truck? 

A: We’re serving new-baked brownies as Luv Bites, Luv Pops on a adhere, ice product sandwiches, brownie cones and residence-designed waffle cone sundaes with brownies and dwelling-manufactured caramel. And Cafe Cubano coffee beverages (my birth mom is Cuban) and Chocolate Caliente with coronary heart-shaped marshmallows.

Q: What other brownie flavors or specialties do you provide for supply or mail get?

A: On the FAQ on our website we checklist 14 flavors, which includes coconut-caramel, peanut butter, rocky road, s’mores, sugar-cost-free and gluten-cost-free.

Q: Who are some of your major consumers?

A: I have been blessed to sell brownies at the San Jose Giants baseball stadium for 10 seasons.

Q: What’s the craziest order you have ever gained?

A: Adult males made use of to give me specific things to put in the present basket with the brownies. I’ll let your imagination choose it from there!