|
january, 2001 previous reviews
not jerky. not chew. jerky chew. |
winston-salem has the best snacks
As each day passes, I find more reasons to be happy that I moved back here. There's the mild weather, friendly folks, and the best darn whole can of cookies you ever ate at one self-indulgent sitting! Winston-Salem is two old towns rolled into one. Salem was here first. In 1766, the Moravians settled here to escape religious persecution in Europe, and built a successful community near what is now downtown. It merged with Winston, the neighboring town, in 1913. To preserve the historic community of Salem, however, our city rebuilt what is now Old Salem. There, you'll find Salem College and Academy, as well as the restored Moravian village. It's a beaut, too. I'm quite the lucky gal, living less than a mile from here; it's a great place to take my evening walks with Wilma. People visit Old Salem for lots of reasons. It's beautiful, historic, and educational. What most people don't realize is that Moravians make the best snacks in North Carolina. The very best. If I had less willpower than I do, I wouldn't be able to keep the first item in my home. Thankfully, I am able to eat a handful at a sitting and put them away. Ooh, but it's difficult to close the door on those "world famous, paper-thin" Moravian cookies, especially the ginger-flavored ones. These aren't your mama's ginger snaps, guys. These are thin as paper (seriously), and have nothing but real food in them: butter, molasses, and a handful of stuff that you can actually pronounce. You can get them mail-order, or you can pick up a tube when you come to visit me. Or you can just steal the ones out of my pantry--but I wouldn't advise that last one. Forget I said anything. Cookies also come in Black Walnut (my second-favorite; I swear they smell like blueberries), lemon, and sugar (also deeee-licious). Don't bring wine when you visit me; bring cookies. The Moravians didn't stop there, though. They make salty snacks, too, to cover everyone's weaknesses. I had never even heard of the second snack before I moved here, but one bite and I was hooked. Like, the people-at-the-bakery-know-me-by-name hooked. They're Cheese Straws, and they're rather difficult to describe. Texturally-speaking, they're somewhere between a Chee-to and a sugar wafer, rather dry, but oozing yummy cheese taste. The mild ones are the best, though they've started to make flavored straws with a little spicy kick. When you're eating cheese straws, you just need to be sure you've got a drink on hand. For some, they're an acquired taste--they are deceptively rich (again, all-natural ingredients), and not the least bit greasy. Heavenly, I say. Heavenly. So, for those of you who only think of Winston-Salem as the home of big tobacco, don't get your shorts in a bunch too quick there. We've got snacks, baby, and they beat the heck out of smoking. I'll be looking for you at Winkler Bakery--just be sure to scratch Wilma on the head and give her one of your cookies.
Old Salem |
