by Avah Fetzer
Assistant Editor-In-Chief
The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.
Spice-scented candles, colors of orange and brown, apple picking, fluffy blankets, sweaters, fun holidays, and many more. Fall is the home to many comforting feelings and the vibes are unmatched. Out of all things that represent the season, nothing screams fall more than a tasty pumpkin-flavored food. I searched Hilliard for all of my favorite pumpkin foods and I was overwhelmingly impressed with how many delicious treats there are close by!
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Nothing represents fall more than a classic pumpkin spice latte. For as popular as the drink has become, I have never actually tried it for myself. Abby Meister (12) claims this is her favorite fall item because she “loves coffee”. Math teacher Mrs. Gmerek adds that it makes her “feel like fall”. I am also a firm coffee lover and was excited to try a pumpkin spice latte for the first time. I figured that I can’t go wrong with a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks as it was the winning drink of Delaney Warner and Blaise Runyon’s story in 2021. You can view their story here.
Personally, I was not as big of a fan of the latte as I thought I was going to be. By ordering it just as it comes (standard amount of pumpkin, espresso, milk, etc.) I tasted too much spice and not enough pumpkin. It honestly didn’t taste much different than a vanilla latte. With that being said, I found out there are either firm believers or strict haters of the drink and of pumpkin as a whole. Laura Togni (11) believes pumpkin-flavored foods are “so overrated”, adding, “the smell of pumpkin used to give [her] headaches”. Additionally there are people who just don’t like pumpkin at all, which would obviously obstruct their judgment on particular pumpkin items.
Crumbl
As many die-hard fans know, the Crumbl menu changes weekly. The flavors range anything from fruity to chocolatey to even seasonal flavors. The week of October 2nd, their menu included the flavor, “pumpkin roll”. This included a warm “pumpkin cookie with a perfect blend of autumn spices topped with a spiral of smooth vanilla cream cheese frosting”, according to the company’s instagram page. This cookie was just as delicious as it sounds. English teacher Mrs. Fought claims it sounds like something she would love because she likes “the combination of the flavor of pumpkin and the icing together”. This cookie was truly the perfect amount of flavor, and the soft texture made it even more loveable. I am hoping this delicious cookie makes a comeback before the pumpkin season is over!
Graeter’s
Pumpkin ice cream however, is what really excites me the most and there is no place that does it better than Graeter’s. Being an Ohio staple, their large menu and dense ice cream is so unique. However, out of all the flavors on the menu, nothing rouses me more than the end of September when the re-welcoming of pumpkin arrives. This ice cream seriously tastes just like pumpkin pie filling! Additionally, there are many seasonal menu items including the pumpkin spice shake and sundae, which are a must-try when ordering pumpkin at Graeter’s.
The Cheesecake Girl
When speaking to Gmerek, she also pointed out a new pumpkin dessert which I hadn’t considered before. She mentioned that when she visited the local business, The Cheesecake Girl, recently, they “made a s'mores pumpkin-flavored cheesecake”. She claims that “it was so good and [her] whole family loved it”. After hearing about how amazing this cheesecake sounded, I decided to make a trip for myself. Unfortunately they didn’t have the same cheesecake, but they did have a pumpkin spice cheesecake bite which I tried. It was delicious, however I still wish they would’ve had the s’mores pumpkin cheesecake. Luckily, the convenient location made up for it as it is located in center street market, what one may consider the heart of Old Hilliard. It makes it easy to get coffee, lunch, dessert, and many more all within just a few steps.
Krispy Kreme
Another popular food is a pumpkin-glazed donut from Krispy Kreme. This item is evidently so popular that they were even all out of them! Luckily this was a donut I have had before and love. Cailee Ritz (9) says, “pumpkin glazed from krispy kreme is top notch”. You can really never go wrong with a light, airy, original-glazed donut from krispy kreme. Adding the pumpkin into it is just the cherry on top! It’s a fresh and delicious-tasting food that just melts right in your mouth.
No matter what pumpkin foods you enjoy, fall is all about the vibe and memories. I encourage you to get out some more this fall. Try a new fall food; you never know what might surprise you as a new favorite seasonal treat!