Manhattan Beach Toffee Maker Earns Devoted Following
Dec 06, 2021 08:37AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Photo via Reggie's Welsh Toffee
A Toffee Maker is Born
"[Rhonda] started making large trays of toffee and would enlist me in the process. The large trays would make about seven pounds apiece and we would turn out, maybe, seven in a day. It's not a long process per tray, but with two working, one could cool, be scored and covered with chocolate and pecans before popping into the refrigerator, as another pot was being caramelized .
"She used Hershey's milk chocolate. I LOVED the stuff she made. She would give me big Mason jars full and I'd have to put it in the freezer so it was out of sight or, whenever I passed the refrigerator, I'd have to take at least two pieces out and eat them...She used to sell her toffee to other officers at the prison who named it "crack". Appropriate for sure.
"She would let me help because she knew I could never remember the recipe. It was not the ingredients; those are the same in almost every toffee recipe I've seen. It was the method of cooking.
"I became pretty good at making the stuff after my sister shared the tricks with me and, through repetition, I got it down. Not that I don't toss a tray out from time to time, but I pretty much have it now."
However, Kenner made one key change to the recipe: "My wife, an incredible cook and much more worldly than myself in flavors, suggested that I try dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. We tested a batch, and she was right. I tried a few different brands and found a delicious one at a very reasonable cost.”
So why is the toffee "Welsh" and not, say, "English"? According to Kenner, "My golf pal is from Wales, and still has a house there, which we’ve visited. He insists that everything is better if it’s Welsh."
All Profits to Charity
One key difference in Kenner's toffee-making shop is that it's not a for-profit operation. He donates all profits above the cost of ingredients and shipping to charity. (Buyers pay for shipping, but most local orders he delivers for free - This week he is delivering an order as far as Huntington Beach.)
The nonprofits that he has chosen mostly help with childrens' needs and food insecurity, such as No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen, Feeding America, and Project Angel Food. Kenner said he chose these causes to honor his father, who grew up extremely poor on a farm in Missouri. Later in life, his father gave generously to many nonprofits, especially those benefiting children.
"My dad and I are much the same in thinking that helping kids is the best," he said. "Kids are not responsible for their circumstances in life, and they are incredibly resilient. Judging from the mail I continue to receive in his name - he’s been gone since 2014 - he must have donated $20 to every kid-based charity. Project Smile, St Labre Indian School, even Boy’s Town. I thought that was just a movie with Mickey Rooney."
Kenner continued, "He helped everyone who asked or who appeared to need help...I guess I still strive to be more like him and to make him and my mom proud. Donating money to worthy causes seems a good way to do so, and if people get a product of which I'm very proud, all the better."
His toffee-making operation has helped him donate as much as $3600 in a year to his favorite causes.
Toffee-Tasters Rave
"Anyway...Alicia, the hostess, put some nice glass containers about with my toffee in them. I was in another room when someone asked loudly, 'WHERE DID THIS CANDY COME FROM!?'
"I went in the room and admitted guilt. The guy raved about it and said, 'You should run it by that woman in the other room. She's worked at See's Candy for about 15 years.'
"I took some in and asked the woman to try it and let me know if it was as good as See's. She had a piece...then another, and said, 'Honey...See's doesn't have ANYTHING this good.'"
- Dr. Howard Lewis (actually from Wales) says, “It’s fine”
- Micheal K. Chadburn (Reggie’s nephew) says, “I’ve made better” (in his dreams, perhaps)
- Bailey Kenner says, “I don’t like nuts” (Hey, you’ve been my son for 41 years and NOW you say you don’t like me?)
"I got an email this year from a woman who runs a small store in
Wales that sells only products made in Wales," said Kenner. "She asked if I might
consider putting some Reggie's Welsh Toffee in her shop. Sadly, I
had to admit to her that I was not Welsh, although we have spent time there. I
offered to send her a small box at no expense just so she
could wish I were Welsh. Didn't hear back."
Customers can order Reggie's Welsh Toffee for $10 for a 1/2 pound or $20
per pound (delivery is extra).
