FoodCrafters Season 2 Episode 11 Snack

In season 2 episode 11 of FoodCrafters, titled "Snack," host Aida Mollenkamp explores the world of snack foods. From sweet to savory, this episode highlights unique and artisanal snacks that are sure to satisfy any craving.

The first stop on Aida's snack tour is at a popcorn shop in San Francisco called 479° Popcorn. The founder, Jean Arnold, was inspired by the idea of elevating the humble snack by using high-quality, all-natural ingredients such as coconut oil, black truffle oil, and fleur de sel. Aida learns how the popcorn is made and samples some of the unique flavors like ginger sesame caramel and white cheddar black truffle.

Next, Aida visits the Bunches and Bunches snack factory in Portland, Oregon, where she meets founder Tamalpais "Pai" Hochstrasser. Pai's snack creations are inspired by her travels around the world and her love of spices and flavors. Aida tries some of Pai's most popular snacks, including the Moroccan harissa potato chip and the sesame fig spread.

Continuing on her snacking adventure, Aida heads to Brooklyn, New York, to check out NuNu Chocolates. Founder Justine Pringle and her team make all of their chocolates by hand in small batches, using organic and sustainable ingredients. Aida gets to see the chocolate-making process up close and tries some of the shop's signature treats like chocolate-covered potato chips and the spicy hot chocolate.

No snack tour would be complete without a stop at a pretzel factory, and Aida heads to Martin's Handmade Pretzels in Pennsylvania to see how these classic snacks are made. Martin's pretzels are hand-rolled and slow-baked, resulting in a deliciously crunchy exterior and soft, chewy interior. Aida tries some of the different varieties of pretzels, including garlic and onion, and learns how pretzels have become a part of Pennsylvania Dutch culture.

To round out the episode, Aida heads to Los Angeles to visit The Donut Man, a local institution known for their fresh fruit-filled donuts. Owner Jim Nakano shows Aida how he makes the famous strawberry donuts, which are filled with freshly picked strawberries and topped with glaze. Aida also tries the peach and apple donuts, which are filled with the same fresh fruit that is used in the strawberry donuts.

Throughout the episode, Aida shares fun facts about the history of some of our favorite snack foods and highlights artisanal producers who are putting their own unique spin on classic snacks. Whether you're a sweet or savory snacker, there's something for everyone in this tasty episode of FoodCrafters.