Sometimes it’s the little things in life… and for my husband, one of those things is fresh homemade caramel corn. See the smile on his face? Caramel corn put it there.
It would be easy to drive by and not see the Kettle Korn building—it’s set back from the street on a promenade that cuts through the middle of the block, in the middle of the downtown Shipshewana shopping district. But we always make a point of stopping there. If the older Amish gentleman who makes the popcorn treats is busy with the big kettle, then the wonderful aroma drifts out to greet any pedestrians on the main street. There are jars with free samples, as if the aroma isn’t enticing enough!
Even if he’s not on duty, the treats are for sale, on the honor system. A wooden box sits near the various kinds of popcorn (caramel corn, kettle corn, cheddar cheese corn), with a sign above it giving the prices for small, medium, and large bags. You put your money in the slot and take your treat. We’ve resorted to asking total strangers for change for a big bill, so we don’t go away empty-handed!
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There’s another wonderful popcorn stand south of downtown, Vernon Miller’s Blue Ribbon Kettle Korn, located in the parking lot of the Red Barn Shoppes. Someone is usually standing by giving away samples—often a young Amish woman, probably a daughter or niece... Warning—if you try it, you will buy it.
We have found that caramel corn is a nice snack to much on during the three-hour trip home. So with a cooler in the back full of pies, meat, cheese, and other goodies, we make our way back to everyday life, with a taste of Amish Indiana to get us home.
