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GATHERING ROUND a campfire is ingrained in us. Bonfires, campfires—fires by any name all have the same effect. We love them.
White Point Beach Resort has declared 2015 the “Year of the Marshmallow” and is celebrating the soft, decadent delights by infusing them with a different local Nova Scotia product on the first Saturday of each month—taking these sweet treats to gourmet heights! What do they plan to do with them? Here’s a hint: it involves one of everyone’s childhood favourites.
Donna Hatt, marketing director at White Point Beach Resort, is passionate about many things but s’mores are pretty close to the top. The combination of gooey treats and a blazing fire is a recipe for lasting memories.
Bonfires and marshmallow roasts have been an important part of the experience at White Point since the lodge’s inception in 1928. The tradition continues each summer with scores of young and young at heart gathering to relive and recreate fond memories.
Every evening during July and August, (and on weekends for the rest of the year) the lodge hosts two bonfires for its guests along with a marshmallow roast overlooking the ocean; the first is for families and the second is a more intimate affair for the “older” kids. “Under a star filled sky, as the sound of the surf rolling in, we roast, chat and enjoy real face-time,” Donna says.
S’mores play a very important part in this experience. And while the resort has made them one of their signature treats, s’mores have been around longer than the lodge itself, although not by much.
It might not be fair to assume that everyone knows what a s’more is. To make a basic s’more you need four key ingredients: two graham crackers, four squares of good quality chocolate and a perfectly toasted marshmallow. To assemble, simply place the chocolate on one of the crackers, add the warm marshmallow and top with the second cracker; squeeze the crackers together and open wide.
Let’s parse out how this tasty treat came into being.
An American Presbyterian minister named Sylvester Graham invented graham crackers in 1829. He intended them to be used as a staple in a diet meant to supress sexual desires. It’s quite ironic that they have become widely used in a dessert often described as sinfully good.
The first written indication that people were enjoying s’mores came in 1927 when the Girl Scouts published a recipe for “some mores” in a guide called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. The marshmallow treat obviously caught on and Merriam-Webster Dictionary recognized the word s’more, defining them by way of a simple recipe, in their 1974 edition. The name, as far as anyone knows, comes from the connotation that once you have one, you’ll want s’more.
At White Point, Donna said that the response to their “Year of the Marshmallow” has been phenomenal. Year of the Marshmallow may appear to be about roasting marshmallows but its purpose runs much deeper—giving people the reason to get together and connect (maybe even reconnect) face to face.
Folks are coming out to the monthly speciality roasts, and really enjoying the experience, Donna says. The first one, called “Bacon Jam Infused S’mores,” using bacon jam from chef Jason Lynch at Domaine de Grand Pré, made people think twice, she adds. “People were curious. Once they gave it a try, they loved it.”
The great news is that these speciality s’more events are not exclusive to White Point guests but are also open to anyone who purchases a day pass. The first Saturday of each month, check out the White Point website to discover what the Taste of Nova Scotia s’more will be for that night.
Ready for s’more? Here are some time-tested tips for roasting perfect marshmallows. While branches with a sharpened point add to the nostalgia, roasting on metal skewers actually results in more evenly roasted marshmallows. As for when to begin roasting, coals are better than flames, although who doesn’t love pulling off a burnt-to-a-crisp cap, popping it in your mouth and starting again?
If you can’t get out to the resort or don’t have access to a bonfire, fear not, all is not lost. S’mores can be made in the microwave as well. Place a graham cracker on a plate, cover with a chocolate square and a large marshmallow then microwave for 10 to 15 seconds and carefully remove; top with the second graham cracker. Whichever way you decide to enjoy your s’mores, I hope you will follow Donna’s lead and “face-time” with someone you love over an open fire sometime soon.