Indulge in some sweet treats this season
Story by Stephanie Nicol
While we really don’t need a holiday to celebrate our favorite foods, we can use it as an excuse to overindulge in some of our favorite culinary delights.
February boasts several calendar- worthy celebrations—February 2 is National Tater Tot Day, February 9 is National Pizza Day, February 24 is National Tortilla Chip Day—but the most universally-recognized foodie holiday in February is, of course, Valentine’s Day, when nearly 58 million pounds of chocolate will be sold throughout the country.
So, in the spirit of this upcoming holiday, we’re going to highlight the Indiana Foodways Alliance “Sweet Temptations Trail,” one of 21 trails throughout Indiana sanctioned by this non-profit group of tourism and culinary professionals who serve to promote Indiana’s authentic food culture.
The Sweet Temptations Trail has more than 40 stops throughout the state, and includes bakeries, donut shops, eateries that serve great desserts, and confectioneries who make some of the best chocolates found in the United States.
One of those is Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville which is one of the oldest, continuously operated family-owned candy businesses in the country. While they’re famous for their cinnamon Red Hots, their chocolate “turtles” are a popular item, especially for Valentine’s Day.
Uranus Fudge, headquartered in Uranus, Missouri, will be opening their newest fudge shop in Anderson in early February…just in time for Valentine’s Day. Their made-fresh fudge includes a variety of tasty flavors, including Butterfinger, Blueberry Cheesecake, Toffee Bar, and more. They also offer sugar-free options. Uranus is set to be a fun destination when
they open!
If you want a treat for your eyes as well as your taste buds, a must stop
on the Sweet Temptations Trail is Ghyslain Chocolatier in Union City. Here,
each chocolate and dessert is artfully created and the experience of eating these decadent confections is almost like popping a small masterpiece into your mouth. Ghyslain Maruais, the master chef here, is certified in French pastry, chocolate décor, candy-making, and blown/pulled sugar, not a surprise once you experience it for yourself.
For more than 78 years, candy lovers have been travelling to Muncie to purchase hand- dipped chocolates and more at Lowery’s Candies. They pride themselves on using people, not machines, to make each and every chocolate that is produced and sold. For Valentine’s Day, they sell not only their traditional foil hearts filled with a variety of chocolates, but also specialty items like chocolate dipped krispie hearts, personalized cream cakes, and more.
South of Indianapolis, the Martinsville Candy Kitchen is an old-fashioned candy store, soda shop, and ice cream parlor that features homemade candy including peanut butter fudge, cherry cordial bark, and more.
Recognized as the fastest- growing chocolate company in the nation, South Bend Chocolate Company has retail stores and Chocolate Cafes throughout the Midwest. The variety of their offerings is extensive—who wouldn’t want a box of their Valentine Heart Turtles— and as an added bonus, they offer tours at their factory in South Bend.
In 1912, McCord Candies in Lafayette opened their doors for business, and today they’re still selling a wide variety of treats and sweets, including truffles, chocolate malt balls, caramels, toffee, and more.
For a complete list of all the stops on the Sweet Temptations Trail, go to www.indianafoodways.com
For More Information:
Schimpff’s Confectionery
www.schimpffs.com
812-283-8367
Uranus Fudge
uranusgeneralstore.com
Ghyslain Chocolates
www.ghyslain.com
765-964-7905
Lowery’s Candies
www.loweryscandies.com
765-288-7300
South Bend Chocolate Company
www.sbchocolate.com
574-233-2577
McCord Candies
www.mccordcandies.com
765-742-4441
Martinsville Candy Kitchen
765-342-6390
