#15 – LIDDABIT BEER AND PRETZEL CARAMELS at NORTHERN SPY FOOD CO.

Once again Time Out New York released their Top 100 Dishes of the year and once again, I’m going to eat my way through every one. And no price point or subway delay will stop me. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100.

SADLY, NORTHERN SPY FOOD CO. IS NOW CLOSED.

I wasn’t surprised to see certain high profile, well-publicized restaurants on the Time Out list. And I was willing to bet (if I was a betting man) that somehow Northern Spy Food Company would have found their way on to the list. But I never would have guessed the dish that Time Out chose to represent the restaurant. Because the liddabit caramels aren’t made at or by the folks of Northern Spy Food Co.

Instead they’re prodcued by a company out of Brooklyn called Liddabit Sweets. Northern Spy Food Co. just happens to be one of the venues to buy the treats. I won’t talk too much about the restaurant itself here. I did dine at this casual rustic spot a while back and was rather underwhelmed. I was hoping to give them a second chance at Time Out’s request, but it was easier to stop by just for the caramels and take them to go (you can’t really dine in on the caramels alone). I’m sure I’ll find my way back here again soon for another proper meal. And I hope it will be better than I remembered.

But instead, let me talk about these caramels. Although Liddabit refers to a childhood mispronounciation of the owner, Elizabeth’s first name, it’s also appropriate because these candies are tiny. Northern Spy offers about five different caramel flavors so we did try a few besides the pretzel and beer nugget. Although I will say Time Out’s pick was definitely the best.

The Fig and Ricotta caramel sounded really unusual and exciting, but the sweet and savory just didn’t work well together -at least in this context. I really liked the spicy sweetness of the Chocolate-Stout Gingerbread caramels. And the Apple Cider Caramels were definitely of the season, but again, I don’t think the flavor combination was completely successful.

Well, there’s no doubt that sweet, salty, and bitter go very well together. And so the Beer and Pretzel caramel were just a tiny little bite, but the dark sugary flavors and the salty notes from the crunchy pretzels worked like magic. Although I found the beer flavor to be too subtle and I think the maltiness blended in too well with the caramel.

It’s clearly of the upmost quality and supports local businesses – made with Ronnybrook cream, Brooklyn Brewery beer, and Martin’s pretzels. And that’s the only good reason this tiny bite costs $1. Far from the most expensive item on the list (in fact, probably the cheapest), you’d need quite a handful to really satiate yourself on these sweets. And that could run into some money.

Would Northern Spy Food Co.’s Liddabit Beer and Pretzel Caramel make my Top 100 of the year? The sweet combination is pleasant and delicious, but I’d have liked a hint more beer flavor and a bigger candy for my money (even if it is just a dollar). 7 out of 10.