Take a jaw-busting break

Ferrara Pan is a candy-maker on the west edge of Chicago. Its buildings can be seen as you head west on the Eisenhower expressway. Depending on what they're making, you might catch a whiff of cinnamon or lemon. Ferrara Pan candies such as Lemonheads, Jawbusters, or Red Hots, are a Chicago (if not a US) tradition, having been around for generations. I think a lot of their appeal as well is that they really haven't changed their graphics style on their candies, so there is something soothing and nostalgic about going to the candy store and seeing their candies.

Anyway, I was recently given a box of Red Hots with the check at Glenn's Diner (they have Red Hot pancakes on the menu there--didn't try 'em, Red Hots were never my favorite), so I thought I'd check out the Ferrara Pan website just to see what they're up to. It's a very interesting site, with virtual tours of the factory that show how each candy is made. The Jawbusters in particular, I found really interesting--each one is formed around an individual grain of sugar, just as a pearl is formed around a grain of sand. Perhaps that simile is a bit too high brow for a Jawbuster, but the tour is interesting all the same.