Treat Local with Nummerland Paletas Desserts
Remember those exquisite Nummerland paletas, those magical Mexican-style popsicles, we covered in the post “Feel Good About Indulging”? Now imagine those all dressed up as a gourmet dessert.
Envision a creamy Mexican vanilla paleta with custard relleno, butter tart custard with brandied raisins, pate sucrée crumble, and topped with whipped cream, which virtually is a butter tart on a stick dancing on your taste buds. What could be more Canadian and delicious as that?
Actually, Nummerland has at least six answers and more to that question. Sisters Carolynn Pawluk (Taste Maker-In-Chief) and Leanne (Sales and Marketing Mastermind) draw on their childhood memories to conjure up these delicious innovations. They spent every summer in the Okanagan since they were three and four years old. Memories of their first strawberry, cherry, and other fruits they first picked in their childhood remain vivid and play into the purity of their products.
Another important element that informs this woman run, woman led company is in their DNA. The duo were the daughters of the hotelier who built the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff and created its legacy through outstanding hospitality. (The Rimrock Banff is now run by the Accor group out of France – the only emblem property in North America.)
Growing up in an environment where the goal was generally to make people happy sparked the joy in the two sisters in their respective careers. Says Leanne, “Today, that approach equates to our love of people, farmers markets, catering, and being part of the community.”
As Operations Manager, John Schmidt, leverages his 30+ years in the organic natural grocery business to extend the reach of Nummerland with the sisters and a small team. Last summer, working up to 16-hour days, Nummerland produced up to 4,000 paletas per week to distribute. In peak season, a large part of that work is processing the abundance of local fruits, which transformed into paletas is summer in a bite.
BuyBC Treat Local
Nummerland is officially BuyBC, explained on its website, “B.C. food and beverage products are celebrated for their diversity, freshness and quality. Buy BC helps people choose local food and beverages to support B.C.’s agriculture industry. If you see the Buy BC logo on a product, it means that product was grown, raised, or made in British Columbia.” Each bite of Nummerland paletas celebrates the farms, orchards, and growers right here so not only can you #eatlocal you can #treatlocal. Each handcrafted flavour is their love letter to the Okanagan and Fraser Valley — fresh, local, and full of sunshine.
Which brings me back to the paleta desserts. At a media preview, along with that delectable butter tart, the tasting menu paid homage in such creations as:
– Reverse Apple Pie a la Mode – Creamy Mexican vanilla paleta with custard relleno, ambrosia apple pie topping, dulce de leche drizzle, pate sucrée crumble, whipped cream.
– Banana Split – Creamy banana paleta, fudge drizzle, Summerland strawberry drizzle, whipped cream, macerated strawberries.
– S’more – Creamy Mexican vanilla paleta, graham cracker, dark chocolate dip, brulèe marshmallow fluff, chocolate drizzle, graham cracker crumble.
– Café Caramel – Creamy coffee paleta with dulce de leche relleno, whipped cream.
– Fruit Cheesecake – Creamy cheesecake paleta, strawberry drizzle, macerated strawberries, graham cracker crumble, whipped cream. With Option 2 of sour cherry pie topping.
A common theme in the menu is whipped cream, which Carolynn jokes is her favourite food group. She mixes it up on the premises along with all the key ingredients such as graham crumbles, sauces, marshmallow fluff, and macerated berries.
While it was a challenge for me to name a favourite, my love of coffee and dulce de leche had me leaning in on the Café Caramel. Oh, but that Reverse Apple Pie a la Mode and Banana Split had me travelling back in time!
Where To Find Nummerland
Be sure to follow Nummerland on Nummerland Instagram and Nummerland Facebook pages for the latest news and events. You can treat yourself and people you love at the shop, 1 to 6 pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays; 1 to 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays; 103, 9316 East Jubilee Road.
For Summerland’s Light Up, you will find them in the heart of the action at Artisans of the Okanagan, Victoria Drive. 4 to 9 pm. Check out more details on Light Up the Vines with Bottleneck Drive.
Watch for them at Summerland’s Sip and Shop in December and the indoor farmers market.
Why wait, though, Nummerland is available for catering and what a way to bring joy to your holiday festivities! Why not include Nummerland in your wedding, anniversary, or birthday gatherings?
Symphony of Flavours and Skills
The sisters, always close buddies, have travelled together numerous times to Mexico and in Argentina, over a six-week period, immersed themselves in the food culture. Leanne notes, “I, of course, enjoyed the wine and in the mid-2000s, we spent a week in Mendoza travelling from bodega to bodega. It was just like the Okanagan, charming, accessible, and amazing wine. The tour operator was often the owner-winemaker. Carolynn and I were the only guests, so she did all the Spanish translation because nobody spoke English.”
Carolynn trained in the pastry arts in Argentina and Mexico honing those language skills. In fact, she took the Xacinto Ice Cream Master, 60-hour intensive program taught completely in Spanish. She was the first person with English as a first language and Canadian to graduate. There is no doubt the Nummerland rendition is truly an authentic paleta made in the same manner as those found throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the United States on food carts.
A fan of novelty flavours, Leanne also brings a wealth of marketing expertise having depth of experience with start up companies. She has done branding for food and beverage, hospitality, and consumer brands, plus she is studying as a perfumer. For Nummerland, she is sales, marketing, business development, finance, ideation, branding and so much more. Here, she lets her tenacious spirit loose in a business she loves with her beloved and talented sister Carolynn.
Together they intensify the symphony of flavours, textures, and aromas that is Nummerland.
