gourmet

The future tastes good

"You are about to make a new friend," "You are cautious in showing your true self to others," "Help, I'm trapped in a fortune cookie factory!"

The fortune cookie.

Break it open and just discover your destiny, or play a little game — swap the cookies with your partner before reading, or just add the phrase "in bed" at the end of your fortune — however you have your cookies, it's always a surprise. And at Fantastic Fortune Cookies in Rollinsford, it's a big surprise. With two huge sizes of delicious cookies — as big as your fist or even huger — and a fortune you can create yourself, these cookies are tasty and filled with fun. Read more...

Taste of home

With hundreds of farms, craftspeople and artisans in the Pacific Northwest, even Dorene Kirkingburg – while setting up her locally-made gift store in Olde Towne St. Helens – is learning of new regional products everyday.

Kirkingburg, 50, is what you might call an expert on Northwest wares. Read more...

Consumers look to spice up home meals in the recession

The Spice House on North Wells Street hasn’t needed a special recipe to deal with the recession.

Traffic to the Illinois- and Wisconsin-based specialty spice store isn’t slowing, and sales are equally brisk among the business’s three main customer groups: restaurants, in-store and online. Read more...

New popcorn shop gets cracking

If you're looking for a healthy, tasty snack, a new eatery on Verona's west side has just the thing.

Kernel Sullivan's Popcorn Shoppe and Cafe opened Jan. 13 in the former home of Moose Creek Deli, 600 W. Verona Ave. Read more...

Mediterranean Market in Middleburg Heights offers a whole new world of 'old-world' favorites

One of the nicest things about northeast Ohio is its ethnic diversity. This area is home to thousands of people whose heritage comes from the Mediterranean, and that was the inspiration for opening the Mediterranean Market three years ago. Read more...

Chocolate and flower shops busy for Valentine's Day

Procrastinating romantics were out in full force Saturday, using the final day before Valentine's Day to pick out the perfect gifts to please their sweethearts.

"Valentine's Day is a last-minute holiday," said Gayle Harte, owner of Gayle's Chocolate, 417 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak. "People don't shop ahead." Read more...

Chocolate comeback: Kilwin's reopens shop in downtown Birmingham

Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream, at 162 N. Old Woodward Ave. in downtown Birmingham, re-opened Feb. 6 under new ownership and management.

Linda Luhtanen, who also owns and operates the Kilwin’s store in downtown Plymouth, purchased the Birmingham location at the end of January from Candi and Bob Wanicke, who had previously operated it. Read more...

Oh so sweet Kellerhaus

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us. With it come roses, greeting cards … and candy. Every year I can look forward to a box of chocolates from my husband on Valentine's Day, and I don't mean the kind of candy that may have been sitting on the shelf for a long, long time.

I'm talking about the real thing: handmade chocolates in a variety of tasty fillings sitting snugly in the candy box just waiting to give up their flavor in that first bite. My husband knows only one kind of candy is really acceptable for a Valentine's Day gift: Kellerhaus candy. Read more...

Penny's in Brunswick offers one sweet shopping experience

Can you envision yourself as the next great chocolatier or candy artist showing your skills on a Food Network challenge? Or maybe you’d just like to be able to decorate a cake for your child’s birthday or give a delicious gift you know will be truly appreciated.

Where do you start? A good place would be Penny’s Sweet Supplies at 4276 Beverly Hills Drive in Brunswick (that’s just off Pearl Road across from Mapleside). This 1,200-square-foot store is packed with all you’ll ever need to make life sweeter for yourself or someone else. Read more...

Simple gift leads Chili man to new garlic business

Bob Emens knew his nearly 30-year career at Delphi Automotive was winding down, and seeing how he was only in his 50s, he needed something to do in his retirement.

A gift from a friend — garlic scapes — pointed him in the perfect direction. Read more...