Are you all familiar with the most delicious treat ever to come out of Chicago?
I wrote the following short tribute to the delectable Frango Mint that is in this month’s Saveur magazine. I got the gig solely from my blog, believe it or not. The editors at Saveur were looking for someone to write about Frangos and found this piece I wrote two years ago about the decision, bemoaned by Chicagoans everywhere, to change the name of Marshall Field’s to Macy’s. I find myself drooling over every page of the beautifully designed Saveur including this page (click to enlarge) that shows such a realistic image of Frangos I’m tempted to lick the paper (or my computer screen):
I’ve yet to step foot in Marshall Field’s State Street store since the name change and still think that decision was a travesty, but I was in touch with the Macy’s PR person when I was writing the article and they do seem committed to keeping the old traditions. They are still doing the same holiday events in the now 100-year-old Walnut Room and they're making sure that Frangos remain an icon for the store—even bringing production of them back to Chicago where it belongs. The story in the article about how Frangos got their name is the official version, but many people claim that they were originally called Francos (after Frederick & Nelson Company, the store that originated the candy) causing Field's to change the name when Spanish dictator Francisco Franco rose to power in 1936. Fun story, but not one embraced by the current owners. I guess huge corporations aren't eager to evoke authoritarian regimes in their company's folklore.
My brother Bruce used to head up the video department at Marshall Field’s and his office was just under the huge Frango kitchen on the 13th floor. The smells wafting through his department used to hypnotize me when I visited my brother. I'd walk out of his office in a trance. Must. Have. Frangos. Bruce said that the woman who ran the kitchen, Miss Peach (!), used to constantly bring samples down of new flavors they were trying out, encouraging his staff to eat as many Frangos as they could and then report back. Mmmm, what a fun and fattening perk! He told me the store had a strict policy about stealing (anyone caught taking Frangos home would be in big trouble) but that all employees, while at work, could eat as many as they liked.
Saveur edited my article, which is to be expected, changing the ending I had because it was too similar to a line in another article. Kendall read the published version and immediately knew that the last line was rewritten by the magazine's editors: “…just give me an old-fashioned Frango mint, and I am the picture of contentment.” “When were you EVER the picture of contentment?” she asked (with love). She’s right, of course, that is the last phrase I’d use to describe myself. Except maybe when a Frango is melting on my tongue...
I. LOVE. FRANGOS. They are divine!
Funny about them getting to eat as many as they wanted. I toured the Hershey factory out here in California once and they had the same policy...I think it's a bit diabolical. :)
Posted by: nabbalicious | October 05, 2007 at 06:16 PM
I love Frango and also grew up with them in my house. My mom used to love them. I send my aunt who lives in Florida a box a couple of times a year because she misses them! Thanks alot Danny for reminding me of how good they are...I might not rest until I pick up a box!
Posted by: Arlene | October 05, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Hi Danny, I first had these when a friend of mine moved to Chicago and sent them to me. OH MY GAWD...they are the best things EVER!
Posted by: cruisin-mom | October 05, 2007 at 08:51 PM
I remember that post from way back when, and I can vividly recall that I was one step away from KILLING YOU for posting pics of Frangos. How frigging MEAN can you get, teasing us with those gorgeous spectacular chocolates that we cannot get anywhere but Marshall Field's (Z"L)? Honestly, where are your morals?
Next time you're in chicago, send me a box. Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a Frango mint on top?
Posted by: margalit | October 05, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Oh, and I forgot to add, the year I moved back from Israel to the US, I got a job in a department store candy department. It was crappy Russell Stover candy, but the policy was the same. Eat as much as you want, but never take anything home. They thought that employees would get sick of chocolate quickly. They were WRONG. I ate and ate and ate and gained something like 30 lbs. They wanted to promote me, telling me "I had a future in chocolate" but I knew even at that tender age that I would eat chocolate at binge rates for the rest of my life. My career in chocolate ended that very day! I had to quit before I couldn't fit through the door.
I love freaking chocolate.
Posted by: margalit | October 05, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Oh lovely. Congratulations. It's a beautiful spread!
Posted by: Vicki Forman | October 06, 2007 at 07:54 AM
I realize this means they will take away my Chicago card, but I never "got" Frangos. I love the Fannie Mae, and the plainer the better--dark chocolate, white cream filling. Occasionally a hostess mint or English toffee for variety.
However, I am most thrilled by your fairy story of Saveur finding you via the internet. *That* is frangolicious!
Posted by: Colleen Wainwright | October 06, 2007 at 10:06 AM
What a compliment to your blogging powers! You're the best!
Posted by: Mindy | October 06, 2007 at 10:23 AM
My timing is vunderbar..so here I am with a big huge vat of freshly made Cabbage soup on the stove to start my first day on that ever popular diet thinking..Hmmmm Danny Miller's Blog..Haven't checked in in a while..Wonder what's going on over at "Jew Eat Yet"...and BAM..Big box of Frango's staring me right in the face. Thanks Danny Miller!!! You sabotaged my Atkins induction last time with a detailed description of your top 10 L.A. eating establishments and now THIS!!!!
Looks like it's back to the "Fat" jeans I go :-)
Posted by: Andrea | October 06, 2007 at 03:21 PM
I've never had a FRango before either. maybe it's because I was too young when I lived in Chicago and I probably wouldn't have appreciated really good candy anyway.
Posted by: churlita | October 06, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Danny, what a coup!
SAVEUR is a wonderful magazine...and now that magazine has a new wonderful writer to add to their roster!
Oh, and I have one more thing to say: "Mmmm...those look yummy."
Posted by: Pearl | October 06, 2007 at 08:10 PM
I have subscribed to Saveur for more than 10 years and when the latest issue came I said to myself, "I bet there's an article by Danny Miller in this" and there was! That's how much I've grown to associate your commentaries with Chicago!
It's great to know that they found you through the blog. I've always feared that public blogging would land me in "hot water" with my corporate clients around here who tend to be pretty conservative but it's nice to know that real writing gigs can be found through a well-written blog as well.
Posted by: Pam G | October 07, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Congrats on the article!
Frangos sound like another good reason for me to put Chicago on my list of places to check out.
Posted by: Melinda | October 08, 2007 at 09:48 AM
Danny,
Last night I was in line at our Seaside Market to pay for my sushi, when I spotted Saveur: Chicago. My BOC friend from LSD/Chicago told me about your article several weeks ago and asked me "is this the Danny Miller you keep mentioning?" SO there it was in front of my eyes. I asked the cashier if she would mind if I read the article at her counter before the store closed at 10 PM.
What a great article!!
I loved frango mints growing up, but having little 'chocolate' willpower, I abstain!
I love the way Kendall and you read through each others words.
Ode to Contentment.....
Posted by: sandy | October 08, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Until now, I would have told you I'd never had a Frango, but I would have been wrong. One Christmas, when we were kids, someone sent this box of mints to my family as a gift. We were allowed one every night before we went to bed, and I was devastated when they ran out. They were absolutely the most delicious chocolate mints I've ever had, and I've been seeking them ever since, but I had no idea where to find them. Now I know what I'm doing first thing next time I'm in Chicago.
And CONGRATULATIONS on being discovered through your blog to write the article. I'm not the last bit surprised.
Posted by: Emily Barton | October 09, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Shocking as it may be Danny...I have not had a Frango anything in all my many many years of loving chocolate...That even shocks me!! (lol) I must see if I can get them through the Internet! I too woild like to feel "contentment"...lol!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | October 10, 2007 at 12:11 AM
Good thing I'm not editing Saveur. I immediately read that last line and changed it to "...I am the picture of content-mint."
(ooh, now I feel I've wasted my first comment on your wonderful blog. Forgive me! I just couldn't resist....)
Posted by: jk | October 10, 2007 at 12:29 PM
I really like your article. It's in my favorite food magazine. I'm not a huge fan of mint and chocolate together, but I think these might turn me around. I'm dying to try one.
Posted by: Ian | October 12, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Danny, I was first introduced to these when I was about 5 years old. They've always been my "dream" candy. Imagine my disappointment when I received 3 boxes of them for Valentine's Day this year, and 2 of the boxes had TERRIBLE candy inside!! (I still haven't opened the 3rd box.) These were surely old boxes of Frangos, since parts of them had melted together and they were getting that white bloom that old chocolate gets. Also, they weren't the yummy melt-in-your-mouth consistency, but hard and nasty. I will try to keep the memory of Frango mints alive in my mind, but now it won't be easy.
Posted by: sj | February 16, 2009 at 01:28 PM