Meet Houston Chocolate Hero Sharon Leonard of Sweet Bribery — and Try Her Special Cake & Ice Cream Treat!

On Sunday, January 20 from 2 to 4 p.m., enjoy a special Galaxy Pop — a chocolate cake and ice cream pop — from pastry chef and owner Sharon Leonard (formerly Gofreed) of Sweet Bribery at 250 West 19th. It’s available for all of Houston Chocolate Heroes Month, which runs through February 10. The month-long showcase is sponsored by Callebaut, maker of a wide range of fine chocolates chosen by top pastry chefs around the world for its consistency and high quality. During the January 20 event only, guests can buy one Galaxy Pop and get one free — so bring a friend!

Sweet Bribery debuted in September 2018, making it one of Houston’s newest craft ice cream and pastry shops. However, Leonard, worked on her craft for nine years at top restaurants, including Uchi, Main Kitchen at the J.W. Marriott and State of Grace.

“We focus on making everything in-house, including quality ice cream and baked goods,” says Leonard. We make a wide variety, including our Crème de Menthe Brownie, chocolate chunk cookies and Tailgate Cookie with pretzels, potato chips, butterscotch chips and caramel M&Ms. It has a little salty and sweet for everyone.” There are also nine ice cream flavors, two sorbets and one frosé.” In addition, Sweet Bribery has a wine and beer program, some of which Leonard uses to make adult ice cream floats.

Picture of Sharon Leonard wearing a pink bow tie and apron in front of an ice cream counter.
Sharon Leonard of Sweet Bribery is one of the chefs featured during Callebaut’s Chocolate Heroes Month. Photo by White Beard Photography.

Leonard says that she’s used Callebaut chocolate for over a decade, starting in culinary school. Both milk and dark chocolates are used in her chocolate ice cream, and Callebaut is being used for the Galaxy Pop as well. “Everybody seems to have a cake pop, but not many have a cake and ice cream pop,” explained Leonard. “The Galaxy Pop is going to feature the Callebaut dark chocolate ice cream and strawberry crunchy pearls, then it will also have cake inside made with Callebaut cocoa powder. Then, it all gets dipped in more Callebaut chocolate to make the shell!”

When selecting chocolate to use, as an ice cream maker Leonard says that it’s important that it freezes with good texture. However, it has to melt well, too, for toppings and dips — and she’s found that Callebaut does both. “I’ve always had success in whatever format with Callebaut, whether it’s baking it into a brownie, using cocoa powder or using the chocolate to make the ice cream. It’s consistently good,” she said.

Leonard says she personally is a “dark chocolate girl.” “I think when you’re a kid you like milk chocolate. It’s sweeter and more accessible, but then as an adult, when your palate is refined, you can pick out specific notes in the different chocolate origins. I love when you melt a piece of chocolate on your tongue and get first fruity cherry notes and then bitter chocolate notes.”

Sweet Bribery is one of eight independent Houston businesses featured during Houston Chocolate Heroes Month.  Click to view all the Houston Chocolate Heroes on a map. Visit any of them to pick up a Houston Chocolate Hero Month Passport and collect a sticker for each of the treats through February 10. Once you’ve collected all eight stickers, use the attached, pre-stamped envelope to mail the passport and receive a FREE Chocolate Heroes apron!

For the most up-to-date information, follow and tag these on social media:

Facebook: Callebaut.US and HoustonFoodFinder

Instagram: @CallebautChocolate and @HoustonFoodFinder

Twitter: @HTownFoodFinder

Use hashtags #ChocolateHeroes and #HoustonFoodFinder to keep up with the latest posts!

For questions or additional information on the Houston Chocolate Heroes events, please email us. We look forward to seeing you and trying these delectable chocolate creations as a community!

 

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