CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News
When shopping for last-minute gifts, what could be better than beautifully packaged, hand-sculpted artisanal chocolates?
These two central Pa. women turned their love of chocolate making into their sweet, dream jobs.
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33 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg, 717-697-6950
“What will last forever,” thought Diane Krulac back in 1992, when she was trying to come up with a baked good for her daughter’s preschool.
“I was traveling for work -- sometimes all week -- and I needed something that would last. I thought of candy.” she said.
She borrowed her neighbor’s candy thermometer and through trial and error made the first batch of what would later be known as Poppin' Time Brittle Bark. This light, creamy peanut brittle has a unique flavor and crunchy texture from the pockets of peanuts, popcorn and pretzels.
“I later drizzled dark chocolate over the pieces. People loved it,” she said. In 2003 she took three versions of this "brittle bark" to a church sale and sold out immediately.
In 2007, when friend and store manager Vonnie Getz won the a chance to meet TV personality Rachel Ray, Getz took along three friends and a gift box of brittle bark. Ray went crazy --“get these people on the show” she allegedly exclaimed. The product was on the show within 30 days.
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At that point Brittle Bark was a wholesale business, but with so much demand after appearing on "Rachel Ray," Krulac opened a retail shop at 215 W. Main St, in Mechanicsburg in 2008. There wasn’t a lot of parking at this shop so the business eventually moved two more times before ending up at the current location at 33 W. Main St.
Henry Fry president and CEO of Fry Communications bought the Brittle Bark Co. wholesale distribution portion of the start up business around 2010. Krulak, however, kept the retail end and continues to offer beautifully packaged Brittle Bark at her shop.
In addition, you'll find chocolate dipped pretzels made by Sweet Jubilee Gourmet and -- Krulac’s latest passion -- beautiful artisan chocolates she crafts using five different machines and over 18 different chocolates from around the world.
Cocoa Creek Chocolates featuring decorative truffles and plant-based bars are made on-site with names drawn from area businesses. One taste of "the Aztec" is enough to form a habit. Ganache mixed with orange, cayenne and tiny bit of cinnamon fill the walls of this dark chocolate square. On top Krulac sprinkles fire salt, a product from the Calcutts Spice Company in Hershey. A little heat from the salt combines with the other flavors to give this chocolate its whimsical distinction. The lemon blueberry bar (with Haitian chocolate) and sunshine orange chocolates (using French chocolate) are house favorites.
As Krulac sums up in her brochure “the store reflects our passion for handmade, small batch products that bring pleasure to all of the senses.”
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Mimi Brodeur
16 S. Rosanna St., Hummelstown, 717-903-5233
Holiday extended hours:
- Dec 17-21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Dec. 23, 10 a.m-5 p.m.
- Dec. 24, 10 a.m-1 p.m.
Tina Marie Lerch grew up in Hershey surrounded by the wafting scents of chocolate. And for over 30 years she continues to bask in the cocoa infused air from her own small batch, artisanal chocolate making business Chocolates by Tina Marie.
“I’ve always been making chocolates on the side and selling them at craft shows or markets while I was working full-time," said the self-taught, chocolatier.
In August 2007 she opened her first stand at Farmstead Farmer’s Market on Laudermilch Road in Palmyra.
“We’ve been there for 12 1/2 years now,” Lerch said. “When I was downsized out of my job at General Mills in 2015 we started looking for a permanent place for the business, preferably in Hummelstown where my husband Ed and I live. I was totally done with the corporate Fortune 500 world.”
After three years of looking for the perfect place, they bought a shop in 2018 in downtown Hummelstown. “It’s only seven blocks from my house. ... Many long-time Hummelstown residence will probably remember the locale it’s been the site of the library, piano studio and a jewelry store,” Lerch said.
Chocolates by Tina Marie spills with beautifully packaged products from artisanal chocolates, to chocolate covered pretzels, assorted retro candies, and holiday specialty items such as the ever popular peppermint bark (layered dark chocolate, peppermint flavored white chocolate and topped with crushed candy canes).
“We feature over 30 handmade specialty chocolates. Seventy percent of the chocolates sold, including gluten-free and sugar-free, [are made] in house.” Lerch said. The signature, in-house chocolates in the case are marked by purple labels. All of the chocolates can be individually selected to create customized boxes.
Peanut butter meltaways are one of the first recipes Tina created and one of most requested items. They are an intense, creamy peanut butter flavor that literally melts in the mouth.
You can find Chocolates by Tina Marie at Olivero’s Vineyard, Pronio’s Market, Uncle Filbur’s and Aunt K’s and Farmstead Farmer's Market.
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