Big Dippers

In 1939, Allen Schwartz began making candy in small batches on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. First, he concocted extravagant marshmallows, then he doused each piece with a special blend of dark chocolate. Customers lined up for these remarkable homemade marshmallows, which were completely different from ordinary commercial marshmallows.

Forty years later, the candy shop moved to New Hyde Park, where it is now run by Allen’s daughter, Rhoda, and her husband, Ira Boskoff, and hardly anything has changed. The fresh marshmallows are still light and pillowy, and they still arrive in the distinctive red-and-white checkered chocolate box they’ve always come in. Only there are now more flavors. Besides the original vanilla version (which is still the best), there are also chocolate, strawberry, maple, coffee, mint, banana and vanilla with caramel bottom to choose from.

The stuff is not inexpensive. An 18-ounce box of assorted sweets costs $27.25, including shipping. On the other hand, just one of the marshmallows goes a long way--although maybe not far enough. Eat one, and you’re likely to want another.

Schwartz Candies

31 Denton Ave., New Hyde Park, N.Y. 10040, (800) 522-2462

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