Michele Ferrero died on Valentine’s day this year at age 89. For those of you who don’t know who that is – he was an Italian entrepreneur whose family was behind the creation of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher. Oh, and Tic Tacs and Kinder bars/Kinder Joy, among other things. When he died he was Italy’s richest man, though he lived in Monaco.
Apparently, it all began in a small family-run pastry shop, as most good things do. Michele’s parents couldn’t get cocoa, which was expensive and difficult to get your hands on during World War II, so instead, they decided to substitute it with easily available hazelnuts. Thus Nutella was born. Today, 73 years later, Ferrero sells 250,000 tonnes of Nutella in 75 countries each year.
After Michele eventually took over his father’s business, the company also created Ferrero Rocher, which has consistently been an awesome chocolate for as long as we can remember. Here is our tribute to this amazing guy: a list of places where you can get Nutella and Ferrero Rocher themed desserts. As you can see, he’s had a huge global impact in his life time, such that his confections are beloved in Sri Lanka, thousands of miles away from where he started.
Pink Sugar
Pink Sugar uses both Nutella and Ferrero Rochers in their confections. The Ferrero Rocher fudge brownies, we have to say, was one of our favourites of the lot. The brownie was soft with hot fudge dripping off the top, and it was stuffed with crunchy nuts and Ferrero Rocher biscuit. You can order a minimum of 9 pieces, for Rs. 2000. They also do Nutella cupcakes.
Yumi Cake
Yumi makes these Nutella eclairs which are just oozing with hazelnutty goodness.
They also do a Ferrero Rocher cake slice which is super opulent. It’s priced at Rs. 600. Yumi was a home baker type thing, but now they have their own outlet on Marine Drive, right next to Shoppers Stop.
Dark Temptations
Dark Temptations (a home baker in Nugegoda) makes a delicious Nutella brownie, basically their signature dish. We usually get it with strawberry topping, but you can get it covered with anything from M&Ms to Oreos.
Itsy Bitsy Cupcakes
If you’re looking for a Ferrero Rocher cupcake, you can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Nuke from Itsy Bitsy Cupcakes. These cupcakes have giant heaps of icing on them, inclusive of chocolate cream, nuts and a Ferrero Rocher. Bite into the soft cake, and there’s a lovely gooey chocolate center.
Candy Cakes
If you’d like to try your Ferrero Rocher in a jar, Candy Cakes does that. The Fero-Choc cake jar is basically brownies and cream, except with sprinklings of Ferrero-Rocher biscuit on the top and in between.
Shopper’s Stop
This is the source. If you want to buy Nutella, Ferrero Rochers, Tic-Tacs, or any sort of imported candy, this spot on Marine Drive is the place. They do a range of imported goods, but the kids pack this place after school mainly for the sweets.
Some more place that we don’t have dish photos of:
Ambrosia
Ambrosia is one of our favorite grown-up home bakers. They use Nutella liberally – try their Simply Nutella chocolate cake or Strawberry Nutella Paradise.
Brick Lane Cookie Company
The Brick Lane Cookie Company (with a spot near Dutch Hospital now) does a Nutella cookie (Rs. 160) which is quite nice.
Waffle Corporation
If you prefer waffles as a Nutella delivery system, the Waffle Corporation (on Duplication Rd near ANC) does that. Most of their waffles are less than Rs. 500, and they’re quite good.
Conclusion
This, of course, is just a sample of places that have been influenced by products Michele Ferrero invented or produced. Indeed, in our own office people eat Nutella straight out of the jar. He died at 89 years old, having lived a full life, and making millions of people happy.
