A new San Mateo shop is inspired by a Brazilian treat

As you head out into the night to accompany your kids trick-or-treating, watch horror movies or drink in a costume at your favorite local establishment, take a moment to read Adrienne Mitchel’s sweet story about a San Carlos couple’s new shop selling Brazilian truffles (because what’s more Halloween than chocolate?).

Renata Stoica grew up in Brazil and began making brigadeiros as a child to help support her family. She visited San Francisco as an adult after a suggestion from a traveler in Peru who was from the city, and she wound up extending her stay and eventually meeting her future husband Andrei at a party in Palo Alto.

Renata and Andrei started a brigadeiros business out of their home before opening a factory store in South San Francisco. They built up their business by offering team-building experiences to Silicon Valley tech companies, providing virtual workshops during the height of the pandemic. Tomorrow marks a big milestone for tinyb chocolate – its first brick-and-mortar store, featuring a gift shop and a private events space.

And speaking of tomorrow, get geared up for November with our rundown of the month’s events.

Happy Halloween!

Julia Brown
Six Fifty Editor
editor@thesixfifty.com

Meet the Silicon Valley tech executive cultivating companies and hundreds of rose varieties

Rajeev Madhavan’s Atherton property is overflowing with more than 2,000 roses – a number that rivals San Jose’s Municipal Rose Garden.

How to spend November in Silicon Valley

Even as the shorter days and autumn chill set in, there are still plenty of reasons to get out and explore the Peninsula. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening all month long.

How a tiny chocolate truffle changed San Carlos resident Renata Stoica’s life

Brigadeiro is much more than chocolate for Renata Stoica – it is a special part of her culture, from serving as her childhood livelihood to inspiring a passionate business reflecting her life’s story.

Congrats to Will B. of Redwood City, who was the first reader to correctly identify where last week’s photo was taken (it’s Filoli in Woodside!).

The first person to reply to this email with the correct place where the below photo was taken will win a prize from The Six Fifty and a shoutout in our next newsletter!

Rancho Day: Nov. 2 Los Altos History Museum’s interactive Rancho Day takes participants back in history through games, exhibits, demonstrations, performances, crafts and traditional Mexican food.

Springline’s Diwali Celebration: Nov. 8 Food from New Delhi Restaurant, cocktails and mocktails from Burma Love, a marketplace and live performances are planned for Springline’s Festival of Lights celebration.

Meeting of Acoustic Women: Nov. 9 Musicians Emily Zisman, KatGrüvs and Karen Soo Hoo will perform a concert benefiting Aragon High School’s music department.

CASP Open Studios: Nov. 9 The artists of Palo Alto’s Cubberley Artist Studio Program offer a peek into their processes, along with food trucks, programming and activities by other local organizations. Free prints for the first 200 attendees.

Mike E. Winfield: Nov. 9 Catch the “almost family-friendly” comedian at one of his two Stanford sets.

Kandace Springs: Nov. 10 Catch soul/jazz vocalist, pianist and songwriter Kandace Springs when she performs in Half Moon Bay.

Patchwork Show: Nov. 10 Artisans and makers will be selling their unique wares as part of this bi-annual makers festival, which also features DIY crafts, food and more.

Nobuntu: Nov. 13 Nobuntu, an acclaimed vocal group from Zimbabwe, performs traditional Zimbabwean songs, Afro jazz and gospel.

Plan Ahead

Of Microbes and Mushrooms, Science and Sculpture: Nov. 15 Textile artist Minga Opazo, photomicrographer Tracy Debenport and science-based artist Jenifer Wightman will discuss their work at an event hosted by the Stanford Arts Institute.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters: Nov. 15 The long-running rock band is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a tour.

Winter Wine Walk: Nov. 16 Taste wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains while strolling downtown Menlo Park, with proceeds benefiting the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation.

Fantastic Feasts and Where to Find Them: Nov. 19 Kepler’s hosts an evening of food samples and drinks, featuring four culinary writers: Carole Bumpus, Sara Calvosa Olson, Jennifer Newens and Vina Patel.

Domenico Winery’s Holiday Boutique and Craft Fair: Nov. 19 Find unique gifts and handcrafted items from small businesses at this event, which will also feature a full bar, wine and food for sale.

Turkey Trot: Nov. 20 Midpeninsula Open Space naturalists lead a leisurely 4-mile hike at Rancho San Antonio, with a break along the way. Keep an eye out for wild turkeys!

Dude, Where’s My Flying Car?: Nov. 22 Automotive industry veteran, aviation enthusiast and author Tim Jackson presents his book on the future of electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Nov. 23-Dec. 22 See Scrooge, dance at Fezziwig’s and find all sorts of fun treats when the ever-festive and immersive Dickens Fair returns.

Fiddler on the Roof: Through Nov. 24 Tradition! Palo Alto Players’ latest production is the beloved musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Zoppe Italian Family Circus: Through Dec. 1 Downtown Redwood City once again hosts Nino the Clown and his dazzling troupe of circus performers as they return to amaze local families on their annual visit.

Silicon Valley stinks: The science and mystery behind the rare corpse flower bloom
A giant endangered flower that smells like rotting flesh bloomed for the first time at San Jose State this week. We got a glimpse (and a whiff) of all the excitement.

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