The Real Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin chocolates are definitely a Buffalo or regional “thing”. They are not an actual candy bar you can buy from a nameless and faceless dispensing machine. And you won’t find them at Wally-Mart or the neighborhood candy store. But you will find them at the Bella Mia Candy Store. This is a delicious mixture of selected nuts, coconut, marshmallows and Merckens chocolate. Think of what a Rocky Road confection might taste like if you laced them with coconut.

Charlie Chaplin Chocolates Are Delicious!

This is definitely a unique Buffalo Treat! This product is a much better kept secret compared to the recent national media (manic) focus on Buffalo Wings that occurs almost every year prior to Super Bowl weekend. Buffalo Wings may get a lot of hype – but Charlie Chaplins are the read deal!

And just where did the original idea for a Charlie Chaplin log come from? I looked around but can’t find a good answer – just consider this item to be almost as unique as our Buffalo Sponge Candy. If you ARE from Buffalo, NY (or have lived here for a while, but moved on..) – you already know how good candy and chocolates from this area came be. You might not miss the winter weather in Western New York – but you will almost certainly miss the chocolate.

Marshmallows are a critical part of our Charlie Chaplins and produce the light texture in your mouth while the Merckens chocolate melts. Your first reaction might be – whoa – that’s too much for me but you soon appreciate the light texture. Charlie Chaplins can be very sweet (and sticky and messy if you leave them in a warm room..) – but the combination of high quality ingredients is quickly appreciated by adults and kids alike.

If you think you are up to the challenge, Google around for a recipe and give it a try.   Better yet – avoid thebig  mess in your kitchen and all of the running around town to get the ingredients.   Stop in at  the Bella Mia Candy Store and buy it by the pound.  Delicious!

And here is one last thing to consider: if you order a few pounds (or more) be sure to keep the exposed (or cut end) end covered to prevent any dryness.   Marshmallows don’t survive long when exposed to dry indoor air or heat or sitting in the sunshine.   Better yet – invite some friends and family over after dinner and pass them around your table.   You can be sure that those Charlie Chaplin chocolates won’t last long.

Here we go again…more urban planning magic compliments of some R.I.T. students.  Good Grief.  What happened to the Planning Department at the University of Buffalo.  They are located just down the street on the Downtown Campus.  Been there for years – a ton of expertise and student horsepower just waiting to be unleashed.  And it takes students from R.I.T. to get some effort (and newspaper coverage…) to publicize the potential of Hertel Avenue as “Little Italy” ??? 

Who doesn’t know about (or appreciate) the Italian Festival each summer.  Good for business and good for the neighborhood and good for getting out and meeting your neighbors during a week of fun & food.  That is a busy week at the Bella Mia Candy Store.  We sell a ton of ice cream, T-shirt, candy and chocolates.  You can stop in early or stop in late.  We are always happy to see you!

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Let’s end this rant this way:  the last quote in the Buffalo News article says it all: ‘…Delaware Council Member Michael J. LoCurto said he thinks he can help snare city funds to further…”  Did he say snare?  I thought that was a way to catch a rabbit.  Oh well – if we can’t snare a rabbit, perhaps we should settle for some funding.

Now is not the time to just sit back and see what happens.  I wonder what the North Buffalo Merchants Association has to say about this initiative…