The March 20
presenter for the meeting of the Rotary Club of Heber Springs was Nancy Smith
who, along with her husband David, owns Lambrecht Gourmet in Heber Springs. Nancy
provided a history and overview of the company for club members.
David and
Nancy originally worked in the retail industry for several years. Along the
way, they also owned a catering business for ten years. After David accepted a
job managing the Red Apple Inn Resort, he continued to prepare Toffee to give
away on special occasions. At the urging of the Inn's owners, they began
selling the Toffee to local gift shops in Arkansas. As popularity for the candy
grew, they soon took their Toffee to Gift Markets in Dallas, Atlanta, New York,
and Chicago. They now ship to Gift Shops in 45 states and continue to expand
every year. Employing one to two employees during the slow season, they expand
their operation to employ 12 to 15 beginning in October each year.
Using eight tons of butter, ten tons of sugar, and five tons of pecans last year to produce their delicious products, Lambrect Gourmet produces many different toffees today, but their first product was the Southern Pecan Toffee. Hoity Toity (white chocolate macadamia) Toffee and Caramel Mocha Almond Toffee were developed soon after, followed by Fleur de Sel Pecan (dark chocolate, butter toffee and sea salt) Toffee and Mole’ Toffee (a sweet and spicy toffee made with chilis and dark chocolate). To the delight of Club members, Nancy also brought along samples of these and Lambrecht’s Sweet and Spicy Glazed pecans, which she described as, “Dangerously addictive.”
While Nancy described the success of Lambrecht Gourmet as the “result of a very talented person,” – her husband David – David’s natural talent in cooking was enhanced by hard work and study at the world-famous chocolate academy at Barry Callabaut in Montreal, Canada where he studied multiple courses in chocolate making techniques. In 2012, these techniques helped him win the Gold Medal Award for Top Toffee in America at the Salon International Chocolate Competition as well as a Gold for being a Toffee Partner at the International Taste Awards.
Although
Lambrecht Gourmet ships all over the nation, locals are not out of luck. Locals
can purchase their toffees at several locations around Heber Springs, including
Ozark Country Market, Panache and the Golf Pro Shop at Red Apple Inn, and
during the Christmas season at Ellen Hobgood Gallery downtown. For more
information about the company and their products, visit their website at www.lambrechtgourmet.com.
Rotarians are “People of Action” who are making a difference locally, nationally and internationally. The Object of Rotary is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise." The Rotary Club of Heber Springs meets each Tuesday at noon on the ASU-Heber Springs Campus. For more information about the Rotary Club of Heber Springs, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/TheRotaryClubofHeberSpringsAR.
