Making candy at Papabubble
My television crew and I recently paid a visit to Papabubble, a shop in downtown New York City that manufactures delicious and unusual flavors of hard candy. One of the really nice and fascinating things about Papabubble is that the owners, Fiona Ryan and Chris Grassi, make the candy right before your eyes.  This glistening little shop is just the latest Papabubble. There are also shops in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Seoul, and Tokyo. It’s a small franchise and the owners are all friends. Their candies are beautifully artistic and I had so much fun learning the tricks of the trade, pulling and twisting and coiling warm, soft candy before allowing it to harden into a desired shape and design. Have a look at these photos taken that day, showing an artsy kind of sweetness that Papabubble is spreading throughout the world.
This Papabubble is located at:
380 Broome St
(between Mott St & Mulberry St)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 966-2599
www.papabubble.com
Hi Martha, You have a great blog. You give me so much inspiration to create. I love your paper crafting tools. I just got your circle maker from A.C.Moore. I have a hard time finding certain punches in the stores in South Portland Maine. I am looking for the Valentine Lace Edge Punch. I love this punch!
but cannot find it. I was hoping to be able to buy it at Michael's or A.C.Moore using my coupon. I cannot afford to pay full price so their coupons come in handy. Is there anyway you could help me find one? Thanks from Mary, a long time admirer of yours.
Posted by: maryD | February 12th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Terrific show today. I saved the Papabubble segment to share with my husband. And Darcy was as charming and creative as ever (only weeks after her baby!)
Happy Valentine's Day! XXOO
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Martha, the segment with the candy was SO interesting! I wanna know how they get the words imprinted onto the candy lol
Posted by: JoeyfromVA | February 12th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Martha
How sweet!
Happy Valentine's Day.
Martha when I spoke to you on the radio today you weren't sweet as candy to me lol!
PAM from California
Posted by: Pam From California | February 12th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hi, Martha,
Sounds like a fun---and tasty---time at Pappabubble.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | February 13th, 2009 at 12:21 am
You know what I love about you Martha, you have been doing this for how long? and you still look like you're lovin' it and discovering new things and great young artisans like these candy makers. Bravo! You earned that lollipop!
Posted by: Lesley | February 13th, 2009 at 2:24 am
I agree with Lesley. It is your natural curiosity and delight that comes through so often in your segments. It encourages me to be interested in hard candy making and I am not even much of a candy eater! I have all of your magazines since Issue #1 and watch your shows whenever I can. I am amazed by how you continue to discover, inspire and teach. You are a treasure!
Posted by: Wayne M | February 13th, 2009 at 2:55 am
Hello! Martha,
Nothing too sweet as you.
May you wake up with a happy face and stuff it full of your favorite Valentine treats.
Really though, 'how sweet it is' to be able to just say,"I Love You" to the world!
Happy Valentine's Day, Martha & The World!
Posted by: tinay | February 13th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Happy Valentine's Day too you. Papabubble is a great sweet shop. How appropriate, especially for the candy event of the year (Valentine's Day). Thanks for taking me thru such a wonderful and interesting candy shop. I now know how those beautiful large candy lollipops I have always admired are made.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | February 13th, 2009 at 4:30 am
What a creative name! I loved this segment.
Posted by: TheCottonWife | February 13th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Hi Martha,
The name Papabubble is so cute and I really enjoyed this segment on the show yesterday. My mouth was just watering because hard candy is my favorite! I'm surprised I still have teeth since I eat so much of it. I love the way you concentrate when you really enjoy something you are doing and you did look just like a kid in a candy shop! I thought they might sell the candy online but I didn't see a 'shop' link. Well, one more reason to go to New York as if you haven't given me enough already! Thanks Martha and Happy Valentine's Day! Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 13th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Martha,
I love your blog, thanks so much for sharing!! I check it out everyday to see what fun things you do and great places you visit. I especially love the ones about restaurants and places to go in NYC. I love NY and go often, although not often enough!
I will definately visit Papabubble next time I'm in town, looks like a cute place. I'm always looking for new and fun places to go, dining or shopping. Happy Valentines Day!
Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | February 13th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Martha,
I love that store! When we were in NYC we stopped in there and bought all different kinds of the pillow candy. It was melt in your mouth so good. Well worth the cost and the walk. I cannot wait to go back again this fall.
Hand made candy is hard to come by these days and they have the best candy. Thanks for blogging about them.
Posted by: Ken | February 13th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I have always viewed candy-making as an art form and specialty, compared to general baking and cooking. This segment shown on yesterday's (2/12's) show was particularly interesting, especially where different colors were incorporated into each other, and the handling and pulling, etc...the spiraled lollipops are really neat - those were my favorites. I can't even imagine all the flavors Papabubble would offer, as they do seem to have unusual and unique offerings that aren't run-of-the-mill.
By the way... I have totally devoured your 1989 MS'sChristmas book that one of my customers found at a flea market and gave me - I enjoyed so much the personability of the book and the text (written in YOUR words). It was just like an invitation into your home, with all the beautiful photography revealed to us, the readers. One picture included Teeny and Weeny, who were new kittens for you at the time...do I assume, based on the book's copyright date (1989) that they're now in kittycat Heaven? [awwww!] I also just purchased 'The Martha Rules' (I know, I know - gee whiz, I'm a little behind the times, right?!), so I'll look forward to digesting what pointers you have for me business-wise. OH...I FORGOT!...I also got an original copy of your 1982 Entertaining (I totally forgot about this!), so these books should be arriving next week. (Yes, I confess that I've been on eBay [giggle]...)
I'll be looking forward to your Valentine's Day show tonight when Edgar =^..^= and I (maybe Mandy =^..^=, too) get all settled in. Edgar asked me this morning, Martha, to wish you a purrrfect Valentine's day and he sends his love.
As do I!
=^..^=
mrrrow
"There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer...No door that enough love will not open."--Emmett Fox
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 13th, 2009 at 5:58 am
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
H-a-p-p-y V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e's D-a-y
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Posted by: Mina | February 13th, 2009 at 8:47 am
My daughter and I loved the show.Alison was so inspried (she is 15) by the candy show she would like to try to make her own candy.
The best thing I like about your show is that you inspire us to do these things for ourselves.
Happy Valentines Day Martha
Posted by: susan | February 13th, 2009 at 10:00 am
what a wonderful segment on the candy making. How creative are those two young ones! And thats a real lesson in strength training! /We wish them lots of success! Happy Valentines Day
Posted by: nancye | February 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Hi Martha, It's absolutely amazing how many of your blogs bring back wonderful memories of the subject at hand. This one takes me back to the '60's and '70's when I was a teacher of 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th graders, depending on the year. We used to be allowed to take our classes on field trips and one of our favorite trips was to a small candy factory in downtown Seattle. We got to watch them make everything from taffy to jelly beans. The kids were always enthralled with each process and especially happy when they each got a big bag of candy. Your fantastic trip to Papabubble reminded me of how candy canes were made. It was so much fun to watch you having as much fun as all of my kids did. Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 13th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Martha you have always come up with some awesome shows. The segment on the Papabubble candy was so cool. I was wondering if you knew anything about franchise opportunities on the Papabubble stores. I searched all over the internet and couldn't find anything about company contact information and/or franchise possibilities?
Thank you as always for sharing.
Barb
Posted by: Barb | February 14th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hi Cindy,
You will absolutely love the original (1982) entertaining book. I got mine at a garage sale for a couple of bucks a few years back and I think I got a good deal don't you think ha!
Enjoy reading it.
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | February 14th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
♥Love♥ you're blog!
Posted by: Gina | February 16th, 2009 at 2:28 am
This is so fun looking! Brings me back to those Willy Wonka days.
Posted by: Melissa Gutierrez | February 16th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I wish you could purchase their candy online!
Posted by: Anne Evans | February 16th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Martha,
I can't tell you how excited I was to learn that you were doing a segment about Papabubble NYC, the shop my son, Chris Grassi and his partner, Fiona own.
He called after the filming and then after the show was on in NY. I could hardly wait the three hours until it was shown in California.
I know the process and the techniques used to create the candy but as I watched, I felt as moved as when I watched Chris as a child, the first time he did an oral report, or a musical performance. And now making this sensory pleasing candy.
I thank you for giving me the greatest valentine gift - watching my son creating something that gives so much pleasure. Thank you and your staff for this opportunity. Barbara
Posted by: Barbara Grassi | February 16th, 2009 at 2:51 pm