Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, January 10, 2010 00:18
Jane and Michael Stern love the sponge candy at Alethea’s in Williamsville, NY (a Buffalo suburb). What is this stuff called sponge candy? A specialty of the Buffalo, NY area (and also found in select geographical pockets around the country), it’s a crisp, airy, brittle chunk of caramelized sugar, usually enrobed in chocolate. The texture is unique in that the hard crunch gives way almost immediately as the center quickly dissolves, leaving the lucky eater with the mouth-filling flavors of caramelized sugar and chocolate.
They are also ecstatic about the top-drawer sundaes available in the ice cream parlor section of this candy store. Alethea’s makes their own sundae toppings, and that makes all the difference. We’ve been there and can corroborate everything the Sterns say about Alethea’s (as if their recommendations need corroboration!). Oh, wait… where are Jane and Michael saying all these wonderful things about Alethea’s? On this weekend’s episode of Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s The Splendid Table! Listen to the show on your local public radio station or, if that’s not possible, hear the Sterns, or the whole show, online. Also be sure to see the Roadfood.com review of Alethea’s.
