Fall season brings pumpkin flavor
By: Alex Kendall
-Managing Editor-
Fall brings about a time of falling leaves, football, apple picking, and a glorious moment for the pumpkin to rise to the top of the herbaceous food chain in pies, cookies, soup and numerous options that will satisfy anyone’s palette. Here are a few local options that feature unique and classical approaches to this fall favorite.
-Best Pastry-
Icing Cafe
-Pumpkin Cupcake-
$3.50 for one
$38.00 for a dozen
For the sweet tooth looking for the perfect pumpkin treat, Icing Cafe, a cupcake eatery, located off Telegraph Road in Oakville, who recently celebrated their first year in business on Sept. 1, delivers a powerfully delectable, made-from-scratch pumpkin cupcake that captures a flavor that store bought cupcakes fall exceptionally short of. The cupcake is made in house with a pumpkin cake base stuffed with a homemade caramel filling. Topping the pumpkin cake base are crushed almonds with a final glorious whipped cream cheese icing. Along with the pumpkin cupcake, Icing Cafe will also carry pumpkin cheesecake available at $3.75 a slice and, of course, homemade pumpkin pie. The cupcakes and other baked goods will be available through the end of the year.
-Best Coffee-
Kaldi’s Coffee
-Maple Pumpkin Latte-
12oz. $4.25
16oz. $4.85
20oz. $5.25
Caffeine. The lifeblood of college students that keeps them awake during their two-hour history class or the twelve-page term paper due the next day. This sustenance can be found from the corner gas station to the finest restaurants in the world. Kaldi’s Coffee provides just such nourishment this fall with their maple pumpkin latte. Made with a new recipe this year, Kaldi’s maple pumpkin latte gives the drinker a deliciously rich flavor that creates a warmth synonymous to curling up next to a fire on a cold autumn night. The latte is made with a fresh pumpkin puree mixed with pumpkin puree syrup and pure maple syrup. Topping the latte sits a swirl of whipped cream garnished with freshly grated nutmeg. Kaldi’s also provides for those looking for baked goods with some appetizing choices such as their pumpkin bread for $2.49 a slice and a new creation called pumpkin whoopies, a sort of pumpkin flavored “Moon Pie”, for $2.29 a serving.
-Best “Adult” Beverage-
Schlafly Brewery
-Pumpkin Ale-
$9 and some change for a Six Pack
Many breweries come out with specialty beers and ales each year from spring IPA to winter Ale and all the seasons between. One local brewery stands out this fall with their spin on pumpkin ale by incorporating brewing techniques that were long forgotten. Done in the traditional ways that early American colonists produced beer, Schlafly brews their pumpkin ale by mixing pounds of pumpkin, instead of grain, which creates a malt that incorporates fall flavors such as cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Unlike other beers, which often finish with a bitter aftertaste, Schlafly’s pumpkin ale finishes smooth, almost sweet, with the spices creating a satisfying finish that even non-beer drinkers can enjoy. Schlafly sells the ale in six-packs and draft at your local market.
-Best Frozen Treat-
Oberweis Dairy
-Pumpkin Ice Cream-
$1.99 Kid’s Scoop
$2.99 Single Scoop
$3.99 Double Scoop
With competition rising from big chain stores such as Baskin Robbins and Cold Stone Creamery, Oberweis Dairy released their newest fall flavor, pumpkin. Produced with fresh milk and cream delivered from the family-owned farms with a minimum of 18 percent butterfat, Oberweis’ pumpkin ice cream is one of the richest and creamiest ice creams on the market. With the use of real cream and not soft-serve, Oberweis has created an impactful flavor that will keep patrons coming back for the newest flavors each season. Oberweis’ pumpkin ice cream is available in multiple cone and scope sizes along with the option to mix it into a shake or malt.
If you or someone you know would like to submit your own pumpkin recipe, comment below or send an email to meramecmontage@gmail.com.
