When I was a kid in the 1950s and ’60s, we used to buy caramel-covered popcorn at the Karmelkorn Shoppe in downtown Syracuse. In 1986, Dairy Queen bought the franchise which had been founded in 1929 in Casper, Wyoming, by Bill O’Sullivan.
A Karmelkorn Shoppe later opened at the Carousel Center mall. Now that the mall has morphed into Destiny USA, Karmelkorn has been joined by the Kandied Kernel.
The Kandied Kernel opened down city at 325 S. Clinton St., in the Joseph L Cross Building, on March 12, 2012, and then opened its kiosk on Destiny’s second level.
In early November the Kandied Kernel expanded again, opening a shop at 663 Old Liverpool Road at the location which previously housed Pascarella’s Last Stop Bakery and, for many years before that, the Sandwich Chief.
Sweet alternatives
With its incredible variety of tastes and colors, The Kandied Kernel easily out-pops Karmelkorn.
Their corn is popped fresh daily in pure coconut oil. Their caramel corn is made with real maple syrup, brown sugar, butter and vanilla, just like you’d make it at home … if you had the time or inclination to do so.
The “candied” selections offer plenty of sweet alternatives. Some of the varieties are grape, hot cinnamon, creamsicle, lemon, blue raspberry, blueberry, watermelon, sour apple, cherry, banana, chocolate, orange and Kuse Kolors, to name a few.
They also serve “savories,” popcorns with salty flavors including cheddar, dill pickle, sour cream and chive, parmesan/garlic, ranch, barbecue, bacon and cheddar, pizza and butter-flavored movie theater popcorn. For those on low-sodium diets, Kandied Kernel also offers no-salt popcorn.
The shop’s business cards contain a warning: “Our product may be habit-forming.”
For details about bags or bushels of Kandied Kernel products, call 439-9404 or visit KandiedKernel.com
Krankin’ at Lakeview
Speaking of Old Liverpool Road, there’s a new diner where Reggie’s used to be at Lakeview Lanes, at 715 Old L’pool Road. It’s called Krankers Diner.
Meanwhile, Ascioti’s To Go has opened at the old Squadrito’s location, 207 Osxwego St. (a.k.a. Old Liverpool Road), in Ponderosa Plaza. The Ascioti family which has operated a meat market in Solvay for 99 years, specializes in Italian sausage, authentic Italian cheeses, imported dried pasta and its own “world-famous” meatball mix; asciotismarket.com/.
Fifteen hours of feasting
The Gardenview Diner, 650 Old Liverpool Road, is now opened from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week.
“We figured why not,” said Nik Ionnides, who owns the popular eatery along with his brother, John. The brothers saw several other area restaurants closing – Friendly’s, Kirby’s, etc. – and thought this could be a good time to expand its hours. “We’ve got a good staff, and for John and I it only means another six hours a week,” Nik said. “Anyhow it gives Rob Cooper, our number-one cook , a chance to make some of those dinner dishes he does so well, like chicken marsala.”
New customers aren’t the only people the Gardenview got from Kirby’s closing. Waitress Sandy Thomas worked for 32 years at that Route 57 restaurant but after it closed a few months ago, Sandy landed on her feet on the other side of town, at the Gardenview, where breakfast is served all day long and its Friday-Saturday fish fries are fantastic; 451-5525.
Tinsel tunes
The Maria DeSantis Band will celebrate this season’s winter wonderland with a free holiday concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Liverpool Public Library. If Santa’s smiling on us, we’ll get a chance to hear Liverpool native Keith Condon sing some of your favorite Christmas standards; lpl.org; 457-3010.
The Mario DeSantis Orchestra presents its annual Christmas at The Palace show at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at The Palace Theater in Eastwood. The big band’s special guests sure to include Liverpool’s own master saxist, Joe Riposo. For ticket info, visit desantisorchestra.com.
