Two Filipino Dessert Entrepreneurs Open Shop in Rosslyn

A new dessert shop born from a partnership between two local food entrepreneurs has opened its doors in Rosslyn, bringing together fine chocolate work and scratch-made baking under one roof.

The Sweet District opened this week inside the Upside on Moore food hall at 1700 N. Moore Street, tucked between Lili’s and Tony Boloney’s. The shop is a joint venture between baker Audrey Angeles and chocolatier Aaron Salvador, who previously ran their businesses — Frost & Flourish and Just Ron Chocolate, respectively — independently out of the food hall’s shared commercial kitchen.

From Shared Kitchen to Shared Storefront

The idea to join forces came naturally after months of working side by side. Salvador said the two noticed real crossover between their regular customers, which made a formal partnership feel like the next logical step. Rather than continuing as two separate operations serving overlapping crowds, they decided to combine their offerings into a single brand.

That decision gave rise to The Sweet District, a shop that folds Angeles’s baking background together with Salvador’s chocolate expertise — while also drawing on the pair’s shared Filipino heritage for some of the menu’s more distinctive items.

What’s on the Menu

The shop’s lineup spans both sweet and savory options. Classic American baked goods like carrot cake and cinnamon rolls sit alongside rich desserts including double chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, and pot de crème. For something more savory, customers can pick up puff pastries filled with spinach and feta or margherita-style fillings.

Filipino flavors run through much of the menu as well. Salvador points to the halo-halo — a layered dessert of shaved ice, jellies, and fruit — as one of his top recommendations. Chocolate lovers can also choose from a range of bars in flavors such as dark chocolate, salted pretzel, matcha green tea, and coffee crunch, along with bon bons, ube and vanilla soft serve, and wafer crunches available in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and matcha.

A Strong Debut

According to Salvador, the shop’s opening drew enough business to sell out of several items — a turnout he credits in part to name recognition. A smaller, branded selection of the pair’s goods had already been sold at The Lightning Cafe elsewhere in the food hall, giving customers a preview before the full shop opened.

The launch also gave Salvador something he doesn’t usually get working behind the scenes: face time with the people buying his food. Since he and Angeles typically work out of the downstairs kitchen, opening day offered a rare chance to meet customers directly and hear their reactions in real time.

Visit The Sweet District

The Sweet District is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with both pickup and delivery available at its Rosslyn location.