No doubt, you’ve seen some of the variations on pretzel flavors put out by the big companies: garlic, black pepper, honey mustard, etc.
But what about zesty ranch or fiesta taco? What about peppermint cocoa or cinnamon? Maybe barbecue or spicy?
That’s what’s on the menu baked up by Pickerington resident Nay Dismore.
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Photos courtesy of Nay Dismore
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Photos courtesy of Nay Dismore
Dismore is owner of hospitality consulting company Nay’s Creative Ways, and part of that company is Pretzels with a Twist, launched in 2014.
“We put a new twist on a classic snack,” Dismore says. “We didn’t try to improve the pretzel itself; we try to take it to a new level.”
Having grown up in New Albany, Ind. as the 10th of 16 children, Dismore has spent about 30 years hosting parties, meetings, tea parties and other events through her company, leading her friends to nickname her “The Hospitality Queen,” she says.
“I teach hospitality and I teach manners,” she says. “It’s amazing what a lost art manners are.”
Dismore still hosts specialty tea parties on a smaller scale, but she decided to go a different direction with her business and eventually landed on gourmet pretzels, she says. She chose pretzels because they are low in calories and easy to make, and she got good feedback whenever she served them at events.
After experimenting with other flavors at the commercial kitchen at Food Fort Columbus through central Ohio nonprofit the Economic & Community Development Institute, she held tastings around the area.
“I saw that people were indeed interested and liked the pretzels that I’ve come up with,” says Dismore.
When she realized she needed more help, she began contracting with ARC Industries’ Sunapple Co., which offers three kitchen facilities throughout central Ohio, where she and her team make the pretzels. They are sold online and at 10 Ohio storefronts.
Each pretzel has a different recipe and seasoning blend that must be mixed extensively both before and after baking.
“One of the secrets of the flavoring of these pretzels is the stirring,” Dismore says. “You’ve got to stir them to get the seasonings and everything mixed in there very well before you bake them.”
She avoids online research and the common chocolate-covered and yogurt-covered pretzels, preferring to stick to her less common flavors.
“I know I can take my pretzels anywhere,” she says. “I love seeing people happy when they eat them.”
Nay says that she couldn’t have done anything without the love and support of her husband, Terry, who helps her come up with creative ideas for her business.
When not making pretzels or engaging in her consulting business, Dismore takes the occasional side gig as a stand-up comedian, often as part of Xtreme Gospel Comedy.
William Kosileski is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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