Dakota’s POP Parlor

This woman is a food genius! Mail ordered the new flavors (13 piece sampler) for my cousin & her family for Christmas. She also sent me a complimentary order of her newest creations to sample here in Florida. Can you say, «WOW!» Dakota’s gourmet popcorn continues to be my favorite indulgence and I look forward to all of the combinations she offers to the world. 5 STAR POP! :)

In LA we take our treats seriously. There seems to be an abundance of high end desserts these days… cronuts, artisinal cookies, gourmet cupcakes, etc. Just when you thought every category had been re-​invented, Chef Dakota Weiss pioneered a new twist on a familiar treat we all grew up with. This is not fiddle faddle-​cracker jack where every bite tastes the same.
After sampling Dakota’s Pop Parlor at The W in Westwood, I discovered popcorn can be remarkable and dynamic like great cuisine is intended. Her popcorn makes you want to discuss the ‘notes’ in a similar way that a great glass of wine fires synapses in your brain causing you to verbalize the intricacies of taste buds that you didn’t know existed. Highly recommended if you want to gift a memorable treat or are looking to reward yourself with something different. My favorite is the Pumpkin Hatch and Buzzed Nanuts.

Napa Nirvana and Chicken and Waffles are my favorite! This is an amazing idea and Chef Dakota really has a strong knowledge of flavors and textures. Her flavors are incredibly experimental, yet familiar at the same time. There is something for everyone! The sweet, the savory, the spicy. Or for those like me. I like to the mix of flavors. I mixed the ghost chili with the Chocolate Malt Toffee and was blown away!
I’ve been sending them as gifts lately. It’s WAY better than those damn Edible Arrangements. «Oh yay… you got me melon…» Who get’s excited about that? Send someone some Napa Nirvana and see how they light up. It’s so much better! I love this stuff!

Top Chef Alum Dakota Weiss has created something very few of her contemporaries have been able to do; namely, create a signature snack food with a strong branded element. Dakota’s Pop Parlous is just that. Her flavors are so far out and fun you won’t taste anything like it anywhere else. I tried the Hazelnut Praline toffee and it was pure amazement, as was the Pumpkin Pie Toffee, Piñón Nut Brittle and hatch Green Chile toasted Pumpkin Seeds. You don’t think these flavors will go together, but Chef Dakota is obviously a master popcorn mixologist, and they work to a «T!» The Honey Lime Cashews and Ghost Chili was a tad too adventurous for my timid tastebuds but everyone else around me loved it! A great gift, especially with the holidays around the corner! Love it!

Chef Dakota and her team represented at the LA Times Taste Festival that was held at the Paramount Lot. As a casual popcorn lover (I am no aficionado), I dug into my bag that I was kindly handed.
«Um, what IS this salty/​sweet/​spicy concoction?!»
Seriously, every bite was heaven. She and her team were so nice and we sampled so many different types of gourmet popcorn. My favorite was Truffle Honey Toffee with Black Pepper and Parmesan. Wow, fancy flavor explosion in my mouth! Love, love, loved her flavor combinations and this would make the perfect surprise gift to any popcorn lover.
Thanks again for all of the wonderful popcorn treats we got to try that night, it was surely memorable and seriously mouthwatering!

YUM !

Growing up Caramel Corn was my guilty pleasure. I eagerly awaited the holidays when the giant tin of popcorn would arrive! Being in the restaurant business for 20 years and developing a more sophisticated palate this guilty pleasure is one that has stayed with me… but now it has been elevated to another level Dakota Pop!
I ordered 4 flavors which were perfectly packaged in adorable mason jars with fun blue ribbons and tags reading the various flavors. I found every flavor to be as interesting and delicious as the first. One thing about popcorn is keeping it crispy… my fiancé could hear me crunching in the bedroom (where I was hiding as not to share just yet). Crispy bits of waffle cone with a lovely poultry essence and a hint of sage. Sweet, savory, crunchy salty goodness. These popcorns capture that «Umami» experience. And don’t let the Honey-​Lime Toffee Cashew and Ghost Pepper fool you with it’s innocent exterior. It packs a burst of spice that will have you reaching quickly for that chocolate milk!
Try them all! I know what all of my friends will be getting for Christmas :-)