Check It Out: Vegan Delights, Artisan Ice Cream Treats, Spicy and Sweet in Bulk, and More

by 
Karen Plourde, Weavers Way Communications Staff

Bakery Bites

An uptick in local vegan sweets, thanks to Dodah’s Kitchen.

The vegan baked goods scene has steadily expanded in the last few years, but more is good, right? In that spirit, all our locations have added Dodah’s Kitchen individual cakes and cupcakes from Mount Rainier, MD. The company was started by three friends in 2017, and its selections are based on the vegan soul food cooking of co-founder Janice Cheever.

All the stores carry an assortment of Dodah’s cake squares for $4.79 each, including pumpkin, lemon, sweet potato and chocolate. Single lemon and chocolate cupcakes are the same price. As a non-bakery aside, all three also stock Dodah’s vegan mac ‘n’cheese and lasagna entrees, which constitute a healthy single serving by themselves, or a couple of servings when accompanied with veggies or other sides.

Going On in Grocery

iSwich Gourmet adds sorbets to their Ambler lineup.

West Chester-based iSwich Gourmet, purveyor of boxed singles and two-packs of artisan ice cream sandwiches, has expanded their line on Butler Avenue to include pints of sorbet. Three flavors are available for $7.69. Four varieties of two-packs and single sandwiches are stocked in Ambler’s freezers for $7.69 and $3.99, respectively. The two-packs are also in Chestnut Hill.

Bulk & Beyond

Ambler really takes to turmeric, Mt. Airy gets a little sweeter, and Cannabliss is back!

Turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as its unique flavor profile, are well known. So maybe it’s no surprise that Ambler bulk has beefed up its offerings that contain this flowering plant of the ginger family. Added to the jarred bulk lineup are Frontier organic whole turmeric root (99¢/oz.), organic turmeric ginger herbal tea blend ($1.99/oz.), and organic turmeric black chai blend ($1.79/oz.).

Meanwhile in Mt. Airy, the focus is on new candies from Marich Confectionery of Hollister, CA. Incredible Bulk Manager Caitlyn Ashton has added black licorice buttons ($6.99/lb.), chocolate strawberries (not the actual fruit, but candy-coated chocolate) for $14.85 a pound, and dark chocolate pistachios ($15.29/lb.)

Have you missed Cannabliss? Good news — GT’s CBD-infused kombucha, missing in action from Mt. Airy and Ambler since mid-autumn, has returned to both stores. It’s available only in bottles in Mt. Airy ($5.39 for a pint), but bottled and on tap in Ambler.

All Wellness and Good

Klean Kanteen reusable bottles and straws debut in the Hill. And mineral bath salts bulk up in Ambler.

Heavy hydration season will be here before you know it, and reusable is the way to go to keep beverages cold and help out the planet. Next Door has gotten ahead of the curve by adding a several sizes and colors of Klean Kanteen plastic-free insulated bottles, tumblers, and thermal Kanteens. They also carry four-packs of steel straws (some of which include straw cleaners), lids with a straw hole for their reusable tumblers, and replacement caps.

If you’ve overworked your muscles, a nice soak with bath salts might ease your aches and pains. Head for the back of Ambler’s wellness section, where Amazing Minerals Dead Sea salts are now available in bulk for $3.99 a pound. Beyond the bath, the salts can also be made into a scrub by adding a carrier oil (olive, melted-down coconut, grapeseed, etc.). Instructions for use are right on the bin.