Coming to America
Carmelita was born in Venezuela and immigrated to the United States as a child, but she did not follow the typical path of the South American immigrant. She was born into money, and was raised on posh Park Avenue in downtown Manhattan. After graduating from Columbia University with a degree in chemistry, she developed one of the earliest recipes for the time-release capsules commonly used for prescription drugs today. She entered into a lucrative partnership selling her product to SmithKline.
Carmelita moved to north Philly for love, and found herself with a chance to start fresh in the early 1970’s. Recognizing synergies between the processes for creating the hard coating of pharmaceutical pills and that of candying nuts, she decided to transition her career into snack manufacturing. Setting up shop in the north Philly neighborhood of Frankford, she adopted a Spanish technique called “mani garapiñado,” or “panning” the nuts. Working with rotating copper kettles – not unlike cement mixers – over open flames, cashews, peanuts and almonds were tossed in simple syrup and a little butter. Watching over the glowing cauldrons was the master nut roaster, armed only with a long wooden paddle, making sure nothing stuck and everything browned evenly. The recipe was time-consuming and laborious, but worth the effort. Carmelita soon found customers all over the region, including Dean & Deluca in New York, Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, and the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Giving Back
Carmelita knew she was fortunate. Her parents were wealthy, she had amassed a nice sum due to the SmithKline relationship, and now the nut business was booming. She saw an opportunity to use Society Hill Snacks as a means to give back to her community. She added more vats and hired more staff. Legend has it that she never refused a request for employment, creating opportunities for anyone who came looking. She treated her staff like family, and fostered an environment where the Latin American community could thrive.
When she passed away in 1981, the Philadelphia Inquirer referred to her as “The Grand Dame of the Philadelphia Spanish-speaking community, the unchallenged Elder Stateswoman of the Cult.” Her staff carried on in her memory, and has passed down the operation several times over the last three decades. We first offered their products in our stores in 2011, and in the past eight years they have become staples of our assortment. The aforementioned Black Lava Cashew – which is caramelized and accented with black Hawaiian sea salt – has developed a cult following, while the Cinnful Cocoa Pecan – coated with cocoa and cinnamon – is our go-to condiment for triple creams and blue cheeses.
Carrying On
So, when Society Hill informed us last year that there was no one left to carry on the line, we stepped up. Not only did we want to continue Carmelita’s legacy, but we were legitimately concerned about what life would be like without Black Lava Cashews. L’Amuse Gouda, itself a butterscotchy, salty and crunchy gem, would be without its soulmate. Or Delice de Bourgogne, the lush triple crème from Burgundy, would feel naked without Cinnful Pecans and an amarena cherry. And Parmigiano Reggiano would so desperately miss its Tres Toffee Pecans.
Today, it’s a Di Bruno employee stoking the flames and manning the wooden oars. The original copper pots, now over 100 years old, are as effective today as they were during Carmelita’s tenure. And you know we’ll be adding our own twists to the recipes.
In celebration of our new venture, we are expanding the offering with several new snack mixes. Click here to see the full lineup, and make sure not to miss these exciting additions:
Loco Coco Almonds – Tossed in a clear chocolate glaze and roasted to perfection. A new must-pair with Stilton.
Black Lava Peanuts – Caramelized and tossed with black Hawaiian sea salt. Great for snacking or on top of ice cream.
High Society Nut Mix– Roasted peanuts, smoked almonds, cheddar cheese, roasted pepper sticks, cashews and pepitas. A crunchy, savory blend designed for cocktail hour.
We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate Carmelita through food. Pop into a store for a sample, or order online. You won’t be disappointed!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hunter is a Di Bruno lifer. For as long as he can remember, his mom brought him into the cramped, aromatic Italian Market location as a weekly ritual. Before graduating high school, he was working behind the counter, slicing prosciutto, and making the famed cheese spreads in twenty pound batches.
He now serves as head cheese monger, and he has had the distinct pleasure of traveling the world with Emilio, honing his palate over countless dinners, trainings, and trade shows.
In Food 4 Thought, Hunter’s mission is to share our favorite discoveries while addressing the impact they have beyond the culinary world. We believe that the best foods have a story to tell. They’re crafted with consciousness; they honor the past with an eye towards the future. These are the products we’re most proud to have on our shelves, and the producers we’re most passionate about supporting.
Please comment on the blog. Come talk to a monger. Cook for friends and family. Come join the conversation!
