Jefferson City, Missouri: Kettle Corn Testing

        

Kettle corn at Longmont Farmer and Craft Fair, Colorado. June 2023.

                                   

Being always on the lookout for good kettle corn, I've felt bereft in mid-Missouri, as my very favorite Missouri kettle corn dealer - A1 Kettle Corn - at the Truxton Exit on Interstate 70 - is kinda far away for a casual drug run, and when I have gone by since my arrival, they haven't been at their usual place outside the Pilot / Flying J truck stop. I have learned that they've closed, due to one of the owner's illness.  Je suis triste, both for the owners and for me, selfish person that I am.

My hunt for a replacement ensued. 

First I tried other local kettlepreneurs to replace my A1.

Ready Popped Popcorn in Jefferson City: B

Pricey at $10 per middle-size bag. It's a high-quality bag, which probably accounts for some of the cost (in addition to having to pay rent for its storefront, which is the only supply point I'm familiar with). Both the mouthfeel and flavor are fresh.  Flavor is nice, as in nice, like the nice-lady-next-door kinda nice.

GoPo in Fulton: C

Also pricey, also in a fancy bag, also of middle size. They call it "butter kettle" corn, using Kerry Gold butter. So the result is more high-end movie popcorn rather than kettle corn. Also, it had a stale taste and mouthfeel. Please do not gentrify my kettle corn. I'm a little mad at this so-called kettle corn.

Chelle's in Jefferson City: C

Eight bucks for a loosely-loaded mid-size bag. Who doesn't pack the popcorn tightly in their bags?! Although the vendor told me she made the popcorn fresh the morning I bought it, its taste and mouthfeel were stale.

After the above uninspiring experiences, I thought to try commercial kettle corn. I put the best first:

Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn. April 2024. Jefferson City, Missouri.

Boom Chicka Pop: B+

Damn good.  I could go with Boom Chicka Pop and feel entirely satisfied. Crunchy. Fresh. Excellent balance of sweet and salty. The seasoning is almost not-quite-enough, which keeps my grade at a B+ instead of an A, but overall, I'll say it again: it's damn good. 

 

Great Value kettle corn. April 2024. Jefferson City, Missouri.

 

Great Value kettle corn: C+

I toyed with giving this a B-, but really, it's a good C+. Its popcorn essence comes through clearly, not overwhelmed by other components. It's crunchy and fresh. However, it doesn't have quite enough salt; not quite enough sweet. I would choose the Great Value over the Smartfood without hesitation. 

 

Smartfood kettle corn. April 2024. Jefferson City, Missouri.

Smartfood kettle corn: C

Crunchier and fresher than GoPo and Chelle's. And only four bucks. However, the sweetness smothers the salty, so it's not a product I'd buy again.

 

 

Indiana kettle corn. April 2024. Jefferson City, Missouri.

Popcorn Indiana: C-

Unremarkable.

An itinerant character:

On my road trip to Las Cruces in the spring, I picked up a bag of Pappy's kettle corn in Vaughn, New Mexico, at a c-store. I weren't happy wit' Pappy.

Pappy's kettle corn. April 2024. Vaughn, New Mexico.