Turkey Joints and Other Places

Rome, NY, has several unique attractions and is one of my favorite New York State destinations. It is home to Fort Stanwix that played a critical role in the Revolutionary War. Today the fort is open for tours and the Willet Visitor Center has excellent displays and videos along with ranger-led tours of the fort. Just a short distance away is Erie Canal Village, a living history museum recreating a nineteenth century village on the site where, on July 4, 1817, construction began on the Erie Canal.

While I was visiting Rome I discovered something else unique when someone asked, “Have you tried our Turkey Joints? They are amazing.” Turkey Joints? I had not, so I headed to Nora’s Candy Shop. Turkey Joints are a wonderfully unique confection with no feathers. The outer shell of the 6-inch long ‘bone’ is a shiny silver, crisp spun confection that is tasty all by itself. But the “bone marrow” is the best part as it is made of chocolate and Brazil nuts. The Brazil nuts create a knob in the confection that resembles a bone joint.

Turkey Joints

Nora’s Candy Shop, founded by Nora Haritatoes, has been in business since 1919. The Turkey Joints are made from the family’s secret recipe using the same handmade techniques and procedures that have not changed from the 1920's. The Haritatos family emigrated from Greece and settled in Rome. Like most immigrants they were poor and as Sharon Haritatos, explained, “By sheer determination and hard work over the years they started several businesses. They had a hat blocking and shoeshine shop, vending machine businesses and the candy store/restaurant

At one time, the shop was open seasonally, but now they are open year round with Turkey Joints especially popular around Thanksgiving and Christmastime. The line of candy has been expanded to include a variety of many traditional types of homemade chocolates, such as their homemade Peppermint Paddies and to-die-for Chocolate Covered Ritz PBs. They have also elaborated on their Turkey Joint's original flavor adding new varieties including Inside Out Turkey Joints, Chocolate Covered Turkey Joints, Peanut Butter Sticks, Midnight Cashew Sticks, Coconut Almond (Coco-monds), Raspberry Truffle and Orange Truffle Turkey Joints. Gotta’ love those joints!

Later in the day when I was in nearby Sylvan Beach, a fun retro amusement park and beach on Oneida Lake, I stopped at A&A Treasures. The store had everything from furniture to jewelry but no Turkey Joints. The manager said, “I stock Turkey Joints especially at holiday time but they fly off the shelves.” Luckily I bought a jar of Turkey Joints when I was at Mona’s for my husband, John, who was unable to make the trip. John was delighted with his jar of Turkey Joints which he declared were wonderful… and then the jar disappeared to one of his secret hidey spots! The good news is they can be ordered on line, but not during the summer months as the spun confection and chocolate are cool-weather friendly and don’t do well when shipped in the hot weather.

Visit at www.turkeyjoints.com.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Sandra Scott is a frequent contributor to travel publications and to Creators Syndicate and has co-authored two books on local history. She lives in Mexico, NY.

Photos by J. J. Scott.

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