Better Made Snack Foods
A Detroit icon, Better Made has been churning out savory snacks for nearly a century. Best known for its Wavy and Red Hot BBQ potato chips, the company has also expanded its offerings to include popcorn, pork rinds, cheese puffs, and more. The latest addition to its line of pretzels is the Gourmet Seasoned Pretzel Braids, dusted in a blend of butter, onion, garlic, and pepper. Better Made Snack Foods Gourmet Seasoned Pretzel Braids, at drugstores and grocery stores, bettermade.com
Dave’s Sweet Tooth Toffee
Dave’s Sweet Tooth Toffee prides itself on being handmade, homemade, and Michigan-made — not to mention, family-made. What started as a passion project for former Detroit firefighter Dave Chmielewski has evolved into a full line of toffees in a range of flavors carried on by Dave’s son Andrew. A fan-favorite is the Maple Bourbon Pecan. A collaboration between Dave’s and Journeyman Distillery based in Three Oaks, Michigan, the flavor layers Michigan maple sugar, dark chocolate, Journeyman bourbon, and buttery pecans. Dave’s Sweet Tooth Toffee Maple Bourbon Pecan, $8, davessweettooth.com
Daily Crunch Snacks
Is it a normal workday if you’re not mindlessly noshing on snacks while crunching numbers and sending emails? If snacking helps keep you focused — or at least you think it does — consider keeping a stash of guilt-free goodies at the ready. True to the brand name, Daily Crunch’s sprouted nuts are a crunchy-but-healthy treat. Try the Golden Goodness Sprouted Almonds, coated in antioxidant-rich turmeric and a dash of sea salt. Daily Crunch Golden Goodness Sprouted Almonds, $15 for two 5-oz. bags, dailycrunchsnacks.com
Hacienda Mexican Foods
Tacos may be reserved for Tuesdays, but tortilla chips are an everyday treat. At Hacienda Mexican Foods, the Gutierrez family has perfected the crispy, salty, stone-ground tortilla chip made in the heart of Detroit’s Mexicantown. Try the brand’s addictive Chili-Lime flavor for a snack with a kick. Hacienda Mexican Foods Chili-Lime Authentic Tortilla Chips, at grocery stores, haciendadegutierrez.com
Kar’s Nuts
Another snack food staple, Kar’s has deep Detroit roots with its roasted nuts dating as far back as the 1930s. As an homage to its start as a game-day treat at Tiger Stadium, now Comerica Park, Kar’s sponsored the original stadium flagpole and continues to provide its snacks to Tigers players. Have a sweet-savory energy fix with its Sweet’n Salty Mix, featuring a medley of peanuts, plump raisins, candy-coated chocolate rounds, and sunflower kernels. Kar’s Nuts Sweet’n Salty Mix, at grocery stores, karsnuts.com
Mindo Chocolate Makers
Named after a small town in Ecuador, Mindo Chocolate Makers creates artisanal chocolate bars made from pure cacao sourced from its namesake. The company operates in both Dexter and Mindo, and its North American and South American influences show up in each of its products. The 77% Michigan Cherry Bar, for example, pairs rich Ecuadorian cacao with tart cherries harvested from Traverse City and is handcrafted in Dexter. Mindo Chocolate Makers 77% Michigan Cherry Bar, $8.50, mindochocolate.com
Pop Daddy Popcorn
Pop Daddy has taken a classic snack item — popcorn — and made it even more alluring with unexpected flavors, such as Hot Sauce and Garlic. It’s even taken a healthier approach than the standard microwave-style, using pure olive oil rather than salted butter. But the brand’s proudest feature is its use of ruby red kernels, which are lighter on the hull, the cumbersome part that tends to get caught between your teeth as you munch on handfuls of popcorn. Put it to the test with a bag of the Original. Pop Daddy Original Popcorn, popdaddypopcorn.com for retailers
