Gastronomalies: Chocolate by Mueller's Chocolate Covered Onion
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
It’s about time we re-drew your attention to a formerly famous confection. The sweetie of the hour is the Chocolate Covered Onion, which sits quietly behind a display case at Chocolate by Mueller (Reading Terminal Market). Even in the wake of TV appearances and receiving its very own Twitter page, this veg has managed to stay down-to-earth.
You’ll spot the Chocolate Covered Onion nestled among the glitzy – psychedelic carnival pops and jewel-like clusters of rock candy in reds, oranges, and yellows – and the bizarre – wrinkly cocoa ears, fleshy mahogany noses and curly-tailed rats in dark and milk chocolate.
The candied creation was born of the eighties, a brainchild of Glenn Mueller and his wife, Theresa. “We were in a building at 5th and Market, right next to Channel 3,” explains Glenn. “The comedians were doing a half-hour spoof called ‘Double Muppets, Hold the Onions.’” The jokesters asked Glenn and Theresa to dip an onion in chocolate as a gag for the show, and the rest is history.
Next time you’re trolling the city for a gift (housewarming, birthday, wedding, you name it) consider the onion. Crazy yes? Awesome? Also yes.
