R.I.'s new biggest little addiction

Posted 5/13/15

"I would like the take the word 'popcorn' out of it completely," says Roselette DeWitt, founder, proprietor and chef of the Biggest Little Popcorn Company. That's no small feat, given the fact that the foundation of her product is, in fact, popped …

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R.I.'s new biggest little addiction

Posted

"I would like the take the word 'popcorn' out of it completely," says Roselette DeWitt, founder, proprietor and chef of the Biggest Little Popcorn Company. That's no small feat, given the fact that the foundation of her product is, in fact, popped corn.

But one little bite (and you will certainly be unable to stop at one) reveals that Biggest Little resembles any other popcorn you've ever had about as much as foie gras resembles a bucket of KFC.

That is, not at all.

DeWitt, who has lived in Rhode Island since 1986, hails originally from Southampton, England, a part of the world well-known for its residents' appreciation of sugary treats. DeWitt is no different: "I've always had a sweet tooth," she says. "I baked my first cake at age 7."

She came upon her product's original recipe quite by accident. She was making a batch of banana toffee for Christmas one year, and decided to coat some popcorn with her concoction. To her horror, the popcorn seemed to absorb the toffee, rather than cling to it. It created a product with infused flavor—not caramel corn, not kettle corn.

And it was wonderful.

"It's not sticky, it's not oily," DeWitt notes. "And it won't stick to your teeth."

DeWitt decided her product needed a wider audience and began manufacturing from a commercial kitchen in Cranston. When she heard about Hope & Main in Warren, Rhode Island's first culinary business incubator, she jumped at the change to get on board. Their commercial baking kitchen allowed DeWitt to increase her productivity by a factor of 6—exactly what she needed to grow her now one-year-old business.

She uses "mushroom" popcorn (named for its puff-ball shape when popped) and she takes the extra step of running the popped corn through a large sieve, passing on the smaller pieces. You won't find any small bits at the bottom of a bag of Biggest Little. The big, pillowy kernels serve as the perfect vehicles for a variety of fabulous flavors, some inspired by the flavors of her native England, like Traditional Banana Toffee and Sweet Masala Curry, and others inspired by her adopted home, like the R.I. Coffee Milk flavor. Other flavors include Original Butter, Mexican Vanilla, Lemon Bliss, Lime, Light, Orangetine, Hot Cinnamon, and seasonally, English Christmas Cake Spice and Pineapple Coconut.

DeWitt has demoed her product across the state, to consistently rave reviews. She reports that sommeliers are big fans, as they have found that Biggest Little flavors make for excellent pairings. The Sweet Masala Curry is a perfect complement to a dark beer, while the Mexican Vanilla goes seamlessly with a nice glass of red wine.

"This is an adult treat, while reading a book, a quiet moment with a drink or cup of coffee," says DeWitt. "Of course, I do have people who buy it for their children, but mostly it's adults."

Biggest Little popcorn is a treat—and certainly not diet food—but that is not to suggest that it isn't healthy. It is baked, and  made exclusively with all-natural authentic ingredients.

"It's an incredible product," DeWitt says, with the confidence of someone speaking absolute truth. "People really like it, and more of them need to hear about it."

They soon will. Her product will be carried by the Whole Foods Market in Cranston beginning in June, and can be purchased locally at the Pantry at Avenue N in Rumford; Grapes and Grains in Barrington; Blount's Market and Tom's Market in Warren; Kate and Company in Bristol; Clements Market in Portsmouth; and the Provender in Tiverton. DeWitt will also be at the farmer's market at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol, this Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You can also check out the selection of Biggest Little online at www.biggestlittlepopcorncompany.com

DeWitt is happy to make special pickup arrangements for locals who want to avoid shipping charges.

For DeWitt, the sky's the limit. "This is not a hobby," she says. "I definitely have plans for this."

Biggest Little Popcorn Company

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