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| In 1915, Sam Cortese had a wagon designed so that he could make his mother's special Italian taffy recipe as he rode through the streets of the city. Sam's grandson, Ron Kottemann, uses the same wagon today, continuing a family business that long ago became a New Orleans tradition. He and his mule, Patsy, can be found rambling down the streets of the city and parking, here and there, under the shade of an oak tree. They have no set itinerary, so catching sight of them is always a happy surprise. And, for a child exiting school at the 3 o'clock bell, there aren't many surprises as happy as finding the Roman Candy Man parked on the street outside, waiting for the children to gather around the wagon and choose their favorite flavors. Mom and Dad are usually pretty pleased, too! |
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| Luckily, folks who don't live in the city, can enjoy this wonderful New Orleans tradition, too. Roman Chewing Candy is available online: Click here. Be sure to watch the two short videos at the bottom of the page, "Walking in Audubon Park" and "Ringing the Bell" for a taste of local flavor to go along with your candy! |
| I was relieved and happy to learn that Ron, Patsy and the wagon had all survived the flood, the only casualty being Patsy's barn, which has now been re-built. They are back at work, roaming the streets of the city, making the days brighter for children of all ages. |
| The Roman Candy Man, ca 1980 |
| Please don't use the "Send Page" feature of your computer to send this whole page in an e-mail format. If you'd like to share it, copy & paste the link onto a message or use the form below to send a link. Thank you. Nancy |
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