My wife LOVES popcorn. She could survive off it. I, myself, am not a huge fan, unless it's the…read morecheese covered kind, and even then, I really have to be in the mood for it. So, while running errands, I wasn't thrilled when my wife asked to stop into the Kandied Kernel, a little popcorn and ice cream shop in Liverpool, that she was interested in. But curiosity won out, and we stopped in anyway. The Kandied Kernel was opened in 2012 by gourmet popcorn loving couple Dave and Missy, who realized there was a niche to fill in their hometown of Syracuse. There are now three locations in the Central New York area. Walking in, you're almost transported back to a simpler time thanks to the vibe of the store - they have converted antique country store display cases into popcorn bins, which are used to house and serve the popcorn. There are chalkboards and chalkboard painted walls throughout the shop with little messages and their menu written all over. The one employee working asked if we had been there before, and we told her we hadn't. She was very friendly, gave us the backround of the store and told us we could sample anything we wanted. We tried a few kinds and everything was very good. Bunch of different flavors, both savory and sweet. They have four sizes of bags you can purchase - kiddies, kween, king and kollosal. My wife and I got kiddie sizes of classic caramel, and then a white cheddar/garlic parmesean mix. The white cheddar was some of the best I've ever had. The cheese was thick and creamy on top of the popcorn. They scoop and bag it for you to your liking - like a general mercantile shop owner would have a century ago. The emphasis is on friendly and helpful customer service serving a unique and delicious product made with quality ingredients, and this location achieves that. Most days there are fifteen or twenty flavors to choose from. I still would not classify myself as a huge popcorn fan, but Kandied Kernel may have a hand in changing that.

Great selection of popcorn flavors and flavors change often. There is always something new to try…read more My favorite is the Atomic Wing and Blue Cheese. Flavors range from sweet to savory. Be sure to check out the bargain bins, they always have something different on sale. One thing to keep in mind is while credit is accepted, there is a $10 minimum.

It was much too pricy for my liking. The cookies were so sweet didn't have a balanced flavor…read more Mimi's Treats just wasn't my thing, after I tried it following a friend's recommendation.

Great things come to those who wait and after weeks of watching Instagram videos of Mimi's treats,…read morethe hunt was on! I will say my first journey into the unknown came up short but thanks to the heroic efforts of my wife the treasure was found! And the treasure was cookies!!!! And how sweet they are!! Mimi's Treats is at the CNY Regional market and if you do get a chance to buy some of her cookies do not hesitate. I hopefully will get to meet her myself one day, but word is from my trusted cookie side kick that she was so very sweet, kind, outgoing and had an inviting and generous energy. Oh yes the cookies! They are beautiful monsters with the taste to back them up. The sugar cookie and fruity pebbles were bursting with sweetness and accurate flavors. The cookies and creme was delicious and I loved having the Oreos baked in... May I suggest double stuffed Oreos?? All the cookies are baked to my version of perfection, soundly structured while holding, soft and chewy to almost gooey on the inside! Mmm mmm!!! I also know she offers so much more and you can order off her website. There are many more cookies to be eaten and I will not rest until they are all tried!! I know I'll be returning to the market to see Mimi and eating all of her cookies. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Enjoy!!

Wow. This popcorn. Addictive. We look forward to it every year at the fair. 5-6 bags doesn't seem…read moreenough. The staff is so incredibly nice. I brought my friend from Vegas this popcorn and he said it was the best he's ever had. Never change.

A belated shout out to this company that made up for an issue when I required their product for my…read moredaughter's wedding party. They realized they were closed for the fair on that date after we had ordered, which was sad for the kids. They came through with a generous offer of a flavor popcorn that had a longer shelf life we could obtain. It was delicious and a big, happy surprise for our guests. I would definitely use this company again. Who doesn't like sweet and savory food?

Why have I never heard of this place?! Amazing ice cream shop that has plenty of seating in the…read moreback (and a lot of parking spots)!! Ice cream was FABULOUS. I usually can't taste peanut butter in ice cream but this twist was YUM YUM YUM. Great place to come with the family on a summer day (with a cute photo spot in the back). Staff was friendly, helpful, and quick! Accepts cash and card.

I stumbled upon Big Dip when I first moved to the area two years ago, as it's by my chiropractor…read more I'd dubbed it my favorite spot in town, but I think it may have been bested recently by a competitor or two. On my last visit, my milkshake was practically milk and no bueno. I was with my mom during that trip, and she reminded me I also had a bad milkshake there at the end of last season. The problem is that it tends to be busy that bringing it to the attention of an employee means cutting the line...I did reach out via social media and I was told to order milkshakes 'thick' going forward. I went this past Thursday and ordered a vanilla cone with sprinkles. The vanilla was way too soft, and shouldn't have been served. I think that might have been the issues with the milkshakes-- the ice cream isn't actually the way it should be. My mom's chocolate peanut butter cone was fine, however. With prices being what they are and my last 3 to 4 trips having been underwhelming/super disappointing, I think it is time for me to move on from the Big Dip.

I remember the days this was Sweet Frog and one of our favorite spots back in high school! My…read morefriend and I came on a No Weigh Wednesday and it was a bit hectic. The line is super long, kids everywhere, but still always fun to fill your cup with no limits. I love trying multiple froyo flavors and all the toppings! The inside is super nice, clean, modern, and staff kept the line moving quick with lots of flavor options and endless toppings.

Our favorite mid week date night! No weigh Wednesday's have become a staple in our household. The…read morepeanut butter flavor is out of this world! The topping varieties are awesome! They also offer dairy free options

Best chocolate in the world! One bite and you're hooked!…read moreThere is no comparison to any other chocolate! You'll love all the different chocolates novelties too.

The chocolate is not the only thing that is amazing! If you like fudge, their fudge is a must…read morehave!!! It is by far the best fudge I've ever tasted. The flavor and texture are perfect! It's smooth and creamy, not gritty like most fudge. It's a definite winner!

Before my daughter moved to Syracuse, I used to love watching videos of Hercules Candy making their…read morecandy. I was fortunate enough to finally visit when I was in the area. First, from the outside, it looks fairly typical, inside is clean, and has whatever type of candy or chocolate you desire. Amazing experience. They have a guest sign in sheet where you sign in, leave a message and place a pin in your hometown. The staff were friendly, helpful and just delightful to be around. I came for the fruity pebble bark. As luck would have it, it was one of the few things they were out of, it's popular, that's probably for a reason. So we got a couple of small bags of chocolate. I for milk chocolate covered pecans and my wife, dark chocolate covered toasted coconut. Their chocolate is next level good! I've been around, I frequent any local candy places I can. This was fresh, rich, flavorful. Some of the best chocolate I've had. Do yourself a favor and if you're in the Syracuse area, make Hercules candy a place you visit. You will be glad you did.

Ok, so I saw this cute video on YouTube about viral blue cream chocolates. I loved the look of the…read morecandies and the process of making them, and figured I'd try them out ... just once on a whim. My wife light heartedly teased me, "you did not just spend $$ on a box of candy from an unknown shop on the other side of the country!" I was worried about them surviving the trip to Fresno. Well, they arrived today, perfectly intact with a tiny bit of chill left in the cooler pack to keep them that way. My wife tried one (it's up to four, I think, now), and then she wanted to know the name of "this shop I found". She immediately dug up the shop's website and began picking favorites. Hercules now has two solid fans now in Fresno. My wife has been looking for years for a chocolate experience she's missed for all that time, and these provided that. It's fantastic that you can order light, dark, or mixed as well as creams, nuts, or mixed to get exactly the variety you like best. We got all dark and a mix of fillings. They are perfectly sweet without being cloyingly so. And both the chocolate and the cream inside are so smooth without a hint of the crystalization present in even premium brand mass-produced chocolates (think Godiva). I should probably add that I love them, too. But I had a feeling I would watching them being made, so that was kind of expected. The red creams are amazing! There were some crunchy toffee ones that I really loved as well. I haven't hit a blue one yet like in the video, oddly enough, but there are plenty more to go! We will definitely be having more shipped out this way before the 100°F summer months make that too risky.

I have been a fan ever since Adam was selling bonbons in downtown. When I learned he was opening a…read morestorefront I knew I had to stop by quickly! Adam has been there every time I've gone in the past 2 months and is incredibly patient in answering any questions you may have. His monthly signature flavors are too hard to pick from so do yourself a favor and get one of each! Trust me, you won't regret it.

After hosting local events and popups, they just opened the storefront! I am so excited to be able…read moreto try their rotating chocolate bonbon flavors on a more regular basis now! Yesterday, they had 6 flavors, and I tried their Dark chocolate grand cru and their blueberry lime mint flavors. Firstly, these chocolates are beautiful! The colors are vibrant and shiny. You can taste the high quality chocolate and the care they put into making their product. I especially enjoyed the Blueberry Lime mint - the mint tasted so fresh, just like a mint leaf and the Bon Bon was full of delicious blueberry jam-like filling. Can't wait to try more fun flavors!