Before we left Iowa for our winter snowbird nest, I made one last trip to Stringtown Grocery, a popular Amish store near Kalona, Iowa. I went to Stringtown to buy two totally unrelated items. Gruyere cheese…and popcorn!
I love to browse the aisles in that unusual store. You’ll find everything from canning jars to pots and pans. And the foods they stock will give you a glimpse into the items you might find in an Amish kitchen. So let’s take a quick tour…
The first aisle will make it very clear how much Amish folks must like candy. ALL KINDS of candy! And if you’re as old as me you’ll find some varieties of candy you may have enjoyed as a child. Like those orange slices. My Aunt Carol always had a crystal candy dish filled with those on her table. (Our little boys used to make a beeline for that dish whenever we visited.)
You’ll also find some candy types that seem a little odd to me. Like these Mini Gummy Fried Eggs!!!
I had no problem putting those back on the shelf! I am always amazed at how many kinds of candy are sold there…
And how about some jam? There is a flavor for everyone!
Now, on to the nuts and that popcorn. You’ll find all kinds of nuts in that store. And I bet you didn’t know there are MANY kinds of popcorn grown in this world. You can choose from regular yellow and white varieties to red popcorn and Lady Finger popcorn…and many more I have never even heard of!
I bought a HUGE bag of Peepaw’s favorite kind. It’s his nearly-nightly snack, no matter where we are. And he makes it the old fashioned way…in a popper on top of the stove. Do you want to know how he does it? Click HERE!
Remember…this is an AMISH store, so don’t look for a light switch on a cloudy day. Check out these cool skylights in every aisle. And those are gas lights hanging from the round black circles in the ceiling. And before you ask…refrigeration is handled by generators. BIG generators, I assume.
The Amish clerks are very friendly, but quite shy. They are happy to answer any questions you might have, but most Amish sects believe that a photo is “a graven image” and I am respectful of their beliefs. I never photograph an Amish person’s face.
There is more to Stringtown than groceries.
Amish people do not wear any type of jewelry, but this display of headscarves is a clear reminder of how Amish girls can use color to brighten their plain dress style. And how many black or blue stocking caps does one Amish boy need? Those caps reminded me of that old saying about Model T. cars. You could have any color you wanted…as long as it was black!
Now this brings me to my other reason for heading to Stringtown.
CHEESE.
And I can tell you…Amish folks like cheese. Lots of cheese. Many kinds of cheese. BIG HUNKS OF CHEESE!
You see, my Dad was Amish when he was a little boy, so I guess his previous generations of Amish genes have rubbed off on me as well, since I’m a cheese lover too!
I was in “Cheese Heaven” in that huge, walk-in cooler at Stringtown!
I had stopped several weeks earlier to pre order a BIG block of Gruyere cheese to take with us to Florida. The store didn’t usually stock it, but they placed a special order from their cheese supplier for me.
Now keep in mind, there is no phone in an Amish grocery store, but when my order came in, one of the Amish ladies called me and left a message on my cell phone.
How did she call me you ask? From an Amish phone booth that is located outside at the far end of the parking lot! It’s a phone booth that looks alot like this one, which is located at the farm where I grew up! And yes…that’s a solar panel next to it.
(Someday I’ll share the story as to how that phone both came to be located on my brother’s farm.)
Yes, the Stringtown Grocery has found a way to link their Amish culture to our modern world. And every time I cut a slice from that huge chunk of Gruyere I think about how our two ways of life are still connected to this day.
It’s a wonderful world we share…and a delicious one too.
Love that grocery.
Boughtmany a can of “dented vegetables” there.
C J
Thanks CJ…But I think you are thinking about Central Grocery Discount. (Stringtown doesn’t have canned goods…just bulk products.) It’s located on the same country road, but just past Stringtown. Sometime I’ll write about THAT place, too. It truly is a one of a kind store. I had never been there until this same “Cheese and Popcorn” expedition to Stringtown, and I also found some amazing “stuff” there. Like a 5 Umami Rush table condiment. 🙂 Lots of products I’ve never heard of…but being a “foodie” they all ended up in my cart!
Bon Appetit!
XOXO
Meemaw
Need to ask someone a question. Does Stringtown grocery take debit or credit cards or cash only?
Thanks for your question John. Stringtown is an Amish store with no electricity so no credit cards or ATM there. They accept cash and usually will accept personal checks too.
Happy shopping!
XOXO
Meemaw
We love Stringtown Grocery and Central Grocery Discount. We enjoy browsing and finding new things to try. Always come home with a trunk full. Especially like to stock up on baking items before my holiday bake-a-thon at Stringtown Grocery. Then we like to head to Tuscan Moon Grill for lunch!
Thanks for you comment Bonnie! I know what you mean about baking supplies! I bought LOTS to bring with me to the Sunshine State…including a BIG bag of their baking mix. (I plan to make cinnamon rolls with it soon.) And I’ll also be writing about my first attempt at making tapioca…the Amish version! As I said before, Mom was the best cook I’ve ever known, but she was always perplexed that she could NOT cook those tapioca pearls to the exact point to make that tapioca dessert that is served at so many Amish tables! I decided I’m going to give it a try…in her honor! Stay tuned…who knows WHAT might happen! 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
How did the cinnamon rolls turn out from the baking mix. Would you share the recipe?
The rolls turned out to be delicious! Just Google Meemaw Eats Cinnamon Rolls to see how we made them. Unfortunately you need the roll mix to make the “recipe” but you can see how we made them! And if you find yourself near any Amish store I bet they sell a similar type of the roll mix since Amish women love shortcuts in their kitchens just like the rest of us! 🙂
ENJOY!
XOXO
Meemaw
I love Stringtown Grocery and also the Country Store a couple of miles from the others. You never know what you will find. I needed clock hands and no success until I found them at Stringtown. We are 120 miles one way but try to get there several times a year.
Thanks for your comment Joanne! The Country Store is another of my favorite Amish stores too. My family has known the family who operate that unique store for several generations! In fact I’ve written several other posts about that store and their “second” location…the place to buy Amish boots and shoes. Head back to my previous posts and enjoy those as well!
XOXO
Meemaw
We visited last year during a trip back home! It was a wonderful little store where I bought some fantastic cumin that lasted me an entire year!!! My husband’s grandfather is passing as we speak, so we’re making another trip to Iowa very soon…I will definitely visit this store before heading back home!
Thanks for your comment Erin! Yes, a visit to the Stringtown store is like stepping back in time. And this year they just added a large gazebo type building that houses lots of garden plants and flowers. It’s a wonderful stop. And the old Cheese Factory/Kalona Creamery nearby is now offering eight flavors of homemade ice cream. 🙂 Just Sayin… 🙂
(And I’m so sorry for your husband’s loss…)
XOXO
Meemaw
I went to StringTown while in Iowa last month. I loved it and wonder where I can order their prepackaged food goods.
Thanks for your comment Sharon. I’m not sure if this will help, but I noticed this phone number on a block of cheese I have in my refrigerator. I know they have an Amish phone booth on the edge of their parking lot, and I’ guessing this is an answering machine hooked to solar power. (No…I’m not kidding!) It says “Stringtown Produce Hot Line # 319-679-9416. You might call that number and leave a message. I hope that helps!
XOXO
Meemaw
I come in for the butter! Best butter around always leave with at least 10 pounds of it as I also got my daughter and her family hooked on it. Also where I get her Maple Syrup!
Thanks for your suggestion Joyce! I’ll have to give it a try!(It’s a great place to explore!)
XOXO
Meemaw
Do you know if the butter is from pastured, grass fed cattle? We go through a lot of butter and have been trying to find a good, quality source. About how much does the butter cost?
Thanks!
I’m sorry I don’t have that information. I’m in my Florida home for the winter so I can’t stop by and check for you. But I seem to remember they carry an organic butter that is made locally in the Kalona area. Maybe one of my Iowa readers can answer that for you?
XOXO
Meemaw
I visited the store whenever I get the opportunity. I enjoy the soup mixes for use in the winter. We recently purchased the pizza crust mix when we were at the grocery store. I see that there are no instructions on the package, so I do not know how much water to add to make a nice crust. Can you tell me the amount?
The store sells a booklet that includes the recipes for all of their pre-packaged mixes. (I think it sells for 25 cents!) Unfortunately I don’t have that booklet with me here in our snowbird home. If one of my readers happens to have it I hope they can share the measurements and I’ll pass them along. Otherwise I think you might need to make another trip to the store. And that’s not such a bad thing either! 🙂 Good Luck!
XOXO
Meemaw
Hi Pam! Meemaw here!!
We’re back home in Iowa and I just remembered to check on the Amish store pizza crust mix directions for you. My Stringtown booklet says this:
Mix 3 Cups of mix with 1 1/8 Cups of warm water and 1 Tablespoon yeast. Let rise 30 minutes. Makes 1 large pizza.
So there you have it! Straight from the Stringtown Bulk Foods booklet!! 🙂 Hope that helps!!!
XOXO
Meemaw
One of the things I look for first, is the different flavors of “fig type cookies”. I love the strawberry and blueberry cookies. I buy several bags to carry me through till my next trip to Stringtown from Vinton, Iowa.
Sandy
Thanks for sharing your favorites at Stringtown! I’m glad you find treasure there…just as I do!
XOXO
Meemaw
I am looking for pickled veggies, like broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, okra, and more. Does this bulk grocery store have any of these? I live about an hour and a half away, but if they have them, it would be worth the trip. Also pickled eggs would be one to get.
I love these type of stores. 🙂
I wasn’t sure about that…so I put out an answer request to some of my local friends. Stringtown does stock some pickled veggie items. And so does Golden Delight Bakery near Kalona. (That bakery also makes the best glazed donuts in the world!) And I’m told the General Store in downtown Kalona also stocks a wide variety of pickled items. Good luck on your search!
hi was wondering what meat items they have and do they have bacon and how much thank you lynn
Hi Lynn,
The meat products at Stringtown vary so I can’t tell you what they have in stock. Sorry!
XOXO
Meemaw
Is there any way to order items from them and have them shipped out of state to our home?
Do they have a web page with items that can be ordered?
It’s hard to believe(since they don’t have electricity) but they DO have a Facebook page! They have a telephone in a little shed on the edge of the parking lot since Amish are not allowed to have telephones in their homes or businesses. And according to the Facebook page this is their telephone number. 319.683.2415. I’m sure you’ll get an answering machine but you can probably leave a message. Good luck!
XOXO
Meemaw
Hi I bought sugar cookies in the bag but I didn’t get the recipe to make them what do I need
If you look on their Facebook page they do list a phone number to call the Stringtown store. They have a phone booth in their parking lot, and they have a solar powered answering machine. 🙂 You could call and ask them to call you back with the recipe in question. Phone number 319.683.2415
Good Luck!
XOXO
Meemaw
I love Stringtown Grocery but have never bought popcorn there…so many options, I think I get overwhelmed. Ha, ha. Anyway, I’d like to remedy that on my next trip nd would like to start by choosing “Peepaw’s favorite kind” but I don’t see anywhere what that is. I even clicked the link to the ‘recipe’ but it still did not give the variety. Would you mind sharing that, please?
LOL! Thanks for your question! I asked Peepaw to tell me his favorite since he buys quite a few types of popcorn there. He tells me his favorite is the RED kind! Yes…red kernels! They pop up white when popped. There are very few hulls in that variety. He also buys the regular Lady Finger and sometimes the regular yellow and the white kernels too. So buy an assortment! Try them all! But be sure to try the RED kernels! Hope this helps…and let me know how you like ALL the ones you try! Happy Popping! 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
Can I buy baby pearl tapioca from u by mail. My family loves this recipe but have not made it for some years as am unable to find this product. They were just asking me about having some over thanksgiving. We do little traveling n live in Nashua iowa as are elderly. If can purchase this way please let me know. Thanks Betty bill
Hi Betty! I am not connected in any way to Stringtown Grocery, but you could write to them and ask them if they will ship to you. (They do sell Baby Pearl Tapioca in the store.) I don’t know their rural route mailbox info but their address is
2254 540th St SW
Kalona, IA 52247
I hope that helps!
XOXO
Meemaw
Hi Again Betty! I see they now have a phone number listed on Google!! They have a tiny white phone booth on their property and they must use a solar powered answering machine…so I guess you can now call and leave a message for them!! Their number listed is 319.683.2415
Good Luck!
XOXO
Meemaw
Thank you
Of Course, Betty. Good Luck!
XOXO
Meemaw
Thanks for the share Kevin!
I can’t wait to arrange a Kalona tour for you!(I used to be one of the local tour guides for the Kalona Historical Society.)
XOXO
Meemaw
I bought the blueberry muffin mix and need the recipe!
Boy are YOU a lucky girl! I have the recipe! In fact the Amish clerks usually remind shoppers the recipes for ALL of their bulk mixes can be found in the small paper recipe pamphlet they sell…for fifty cents!!! I happen to have one so I checked the Blueberry Muffin Mix… Here you go!
3 Cups Blueberry Muffin Mix
3/4 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Water
Mix by hand until well moistened. Fill greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
(You’re Welcome!)
XOXO
Meemaw