Returning to the Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show for a second year, I found a few of my old favorites in their usual booth locations and was thrilled to discover a few newcomers as well.
The first thing to catch my eye? Colorful, fun lollipops from Kencraft Candy
Fruit seemed to be a bigger theme this year and EPI.llc specializes in cherries.
There is something still magical for me about beautiful designs on chocolates.
This set from American Chocolate Designs was particularly gorgeous.
Licorice (or Liquorice as the Australians call it) has always been one of those so-so candies for me. However, I really liked this version from Kookaburra Liquorice because it tasted like a combination of red licorice and bullseye candies.
Not everything at the show was edible. Lots of vendors had beautiful wrapping like these ribbons from MNC Stribbons and the cupcake liners from Viking Importing Company.
Thanks to ChristinEats, I already knew I liked the combination of alcohol and sugar. Quintessential Chocolates takes it a step further and injects their confections with liquid liquors and fine wines. These were amazing.
Good to note: you have to eat it all in one bite.
West End Confection Company capitalized on the cupcake craze by combining them with frosting to become yummy cupcake truffles. I could have eaten these all day.
The guys at the Electrofreeze Ice Cream Machine booth have a great sense of humor. Even served upside down, the ice cream is delicious. I especially liked what I called their ‘red velvet’ ice cream and they referred to as their ‘chocolate and cherry combination.’ It’s not pictured because I ate it before remembering to shoot photos.
Seems to be the one lesson I just can’t learn.
Have a favorite candy from your childhood? Write about it in the comments.
Have a recipe/story that uses candy? Email me at amiablelife@gmail.com
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I grew up in Canada, and was startled to discover most of the candy I grew up with was not in the US when I moved here 25 years ago. I loved Smarties(the chocolate kind), Coffee Crisp, Mr. Big, and Mint Aero bars–sometimes I can find them at a British or Irish import shop.