Maplewood sure knows how to throw a party. The last thing I expected to be doing on a cold Saturday in January was walking around to 15 eateries, tasting sweets. Yet that is just what I did thanks to Maplewood’s Sweet Tooth Tour. Even more surprising: how much fun it was discovering businesses I didn’t know about, greeting fellow nibblers as we passed on the street and, of course, sampling goodies at every stop.
This was the sixth annual tour, and now I understand why the city has to cut off attendance at 500 (can you believe?). For $21, participants saunter up and down Manchester Road and Sutton Avenue, stopping at the participating bakeries and cafes. It didn’t feel crowded because ticket holders have between noon and 5 p.m. to get to all 15 stops—and if you’ve ever walked downtown Maplewood, you know the entire area spans about six blocks, max.
Business owners greeted us warmly and couldn’t wait to share their goodies, everything from matcha sugared popcorn (Traveling Tea) to chocolate gooey butter cake doughnuts (Strange Donuts). They were eager to talk,visit and tell us about their journey as small business owners in a community that wholeheartedly supports them. That’s the culture here, which is probably one of the reasons the Sweet Tooth Tour regularly sells out. It’s not just about the sweets, but also about the chance to support the notion that local, mom-and-pop businesses are good for a community. That’s obvious when you see how many folks are walking the streets, munching and sipping their way through the tiny town (in winter).
Most shop owners made a special food item for the event, along with offering other provisions they wanted people to know about. Kakao passed out spicy passion fruit bonbons, as well as chocolate salt caramels. Larder & Cupboard showed off its dehydrated pineapple slices dipped in chocolate, plus tastes of butterscotch bourbon sauce. Vom Fass offered wine, and Great Harvest gave out cheddar garlic bread to accompany their tour items.
Did you know Living Room and La Cosecha Coffee Roasters both roast their own coffee? Or that Living Room serves breakfast daily until 3 p.m.? It’s been on Sutton for four years, but Saturday was the first time I noticed it. The owner served her goodies outside as snowflakes fell and a toasty fire pit crackled nearby; you have to admit, there’s something uniquely appealing about that scenario. Kind of like Maplewood itself. Next up: the Maplewood Coffee Crawl March 23.
