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A Modjeska is a confection consisting of
A Modjeska is a confection consisting of marshmallow
Marshmallow (, ) is a type of confectionery that is typically made from sugar, water and gelatin whipped to a solid-but-soft consistency. It is used as a filling in baking or normally molded into shapes and coated with corn starch. The sugar c ...
dipped in caramel
Caramel ( or ) is an orange-brown confectionery product made by heating a range of sugars. It can be used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, or as a topping for ice cream and custard.
The process of caramelizat ...
. It was created in the 1880s in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana borde ...
by confectioner Anton Busath (1845-1908) to honor Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska
Helena Modrzejewska (; born Jadwiga Benda; 12 October 1840 – 8 April 1909), known professionally as Helena Modjeska, was a Polish actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles. She was successful first on the Polish stage. After ...
, who was performing there in the US debut production of Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
's ''A Doll's House
''A Doll's House'' ( Danish and nb, Et dukkehjem; also translated as ''A Doll House'') is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having be ...
''. After Modjeska granted Busath permission to use her name for the candy, she sent him an autographed portrait, which he hung in his shop. Other Louisville shops began to make versions of the candy, which continues to be popular in the region today; in particular, Bauer's Candies in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Lawrenceburg is a home rule-class city in Anderson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,505 at the 2010 census. It is the seat of its county. Lawrenceburg is part of the Frankfort, Kentucky, micropolitan statistical area.
H ...
renamed their own "caramel biscuit" the Modjeska in tribute to Busath after his family's store was destroyed by a fire. Muth's Candies and Dundee Candy in Louisville, and Schimpff's Confectionery
Schimpff's Confectionery is a historic candy maker, confectionery store, and museum located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, within the Old Jeffersonville Historic District. It was opened in 1891 by Gustav Schimpff Sr. and Jr. at the current site, al ...
in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the Louisville metropolitan area
The Louisville metropolitan area is the Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 43rd largest United States metropolitan area, metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States. It had a population of 1,395,855 in 2020 accor ...
, also sell the candy.
See also
*Kentucky cuisine
The cuisine of Kentucky mostly resembles that of traditional Southern cuisine. Some common dinner dishes are fried catfish and hushpuppies, fried chicken and country fried steak. These are usually served with vegetables such as green bean ...
* History of Louisville, Kentucky
The geology of the Ohio River, with but a single series of rapids halfway in its length from the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers to its union with the Mississippi, made it inevitable that a town would grow on the site. Louisvi ...
References
American confectionery Marshmallows Cuisine of Louisville, Kentucky History of Louisville, Kentucky {{Louisville-stub