Friday, November 17, 2006

WABASH VALLEY FARMS POPCORN

Wabash Valley Farms Popcorn
P.O. Box 188 Reynolds, IN 47980
800.270.2705 (toll-free tel)
(5 8-ounce packages for $5.99)

A reader alerted us to this terrific company. Based in Monon, Indiana, Wabash Valley Farms produces, just as the label says, “great popcorn”—and, just as the label says, provides “ways to enjoy it.” This means two things, chiefly. The first is a fabulous popcorn-popper, a real old-fashioned, whiz-bang affair with a hand-turned crank that ensures even popping of all kernels. Give me this over a microwave any day! The second “way” is the diversity of popcorn flavors that Wabash offers.

Now, purist that I am, I started with the Regular Popcorn which I hand-cranked with glee. Wow! After resting it for a few minutes, it crunched beautifully on my palate, absolutely avoiding the dreaded stick-to-the-teeth popcorn effect. Moreover, it had wonderful flavor—leagues beyond normal home popcorn flavor, and decidedly over the line into movie-house popcorn flavor!

Grudgingly, I popped up the White Cheddar Popcorn—and found myself unmoved (I’m told there is a Zesty Cheese Popcorn that’s much better). So when I approached the Kettlekorn Popcorn—a sweet caramelized affair—I was sure that another popcorn downer was in the cards.

Indeed, only once in my life had I loved caramel popcorn, and that was at the legendary Garret Popcorn Shop on N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, where they’ve got the art of fresh-popping down to a science. I followed the package directions carefully (you must!), pouring the sugar into the crank popper at just the right moment—and to my astonishment, was rewarded with my favorite Wabash Popcorn of all! Gorgeous, haunting flavor of butter and caramel. An ideal, thin candy crunch on the exterior, that’s so light you are compelled to go for another handful. After 5 minutes or so out of the popper, the Kettlekorn Popcorn starts to clump, so, if you like separate kernels, you must break it up. I say do so—then wait a few hours for the best crunch of all.

Wabash Valley Farms will sell you a pack of 5 pouches, all the same flavor (your choice), for $5.99. Or you can buy an assortment (4 Regular, 2 Kettlekorn, 2 White Cheddar) for $8.99. I say, go for the popper too: they’ll sell you a Gift Set deal which includes the machine, 2 Regular pouches, 1 Kettlekorn and 1 White Cheddar for $29.99, a great deal.

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