Popcorn and a P.I.

Did you ever wonder who that Great American Kettle Corn trailer belongs to on Underhill Boulevard by Sailon Auto Electric?

Well, here's the story:

Syosset resident Terry Igneri, a retired patrolman for the NYPD, had gone with his family to enjoy some of the Pennsylvania theme parks a few summers back.  A wonderful aroma wafted by his nose, and as he trailed the delicious scent, something caught his eye: people were lined up by the dozens purchasing freshly made kettle corn.  It was love at first taste. 

"After we got back from Hershey Park and Dutch Wonderland, I did some research and determined that there were no companies producing fresh kettle corn locally." Igneri said, "I even saw the popcorn being sold at Wrigley Field.  This was a trend I realized was worth checking out."

Terry now works as a private investigator, so he put on his "sleuth goggles" to track down a company to build a custom trailer. 

"Unfortunately, nobody on the Island had the capability," he said. 

Igneri uncovered something very interesting; turns out that the RV and trailer capital of the world was Elkhart, Indiana.  Working in cooperation with a liaison in New Jersey and a manufacturer in Indiana, the process began.

"It took almost three months from start to finish designing and constructing the trailer with all my detailed specifications," he said. "It's like a restaurant on wheels."

With his four sinks and a 160-quart kettle installed, the logo designed, the Board of Health certification approved, and his course in food peddling safety completed, his trailer was ready to roll. 

"I have been selling kettle corn for over a year now and after all that hard work, it really paid off," Terry said.

Not all popcorn is created equal.  The Great American Kettle Corn Company uses only the best mushroom popcorn. Here is a crash course on the two types of popcorn:

1.  Snowflake popcorn:  generally light and fluffy with the appearance of wings.  It is served mainly in movie theaters, street fairs, and ballparks.

2.  Mushroom popcorn: pops dense and doesn't crumble.  Mainly used for candy confections and caramelizing.

Next spring, when you track the smell of kettle corn at a local festival, stop on by say hi to Terry and taste a sample. It's all natural (popcorn kernel, corn oil, cane sugar, and salt), no preservatives, no cholesterol, and no trans-fat - and just purely delicious.   

Phone:  516-732-8692