John Zavalick mixes up a fresh batch of donuts.
Wethersfield Farmer’s Market Kicks Off
WETHERSFIELD - Carmela Zavalick can’t figure out how her husband, John, a retired police officer who co-manages their mom and pop donut business without gaining so much as a pound.

       â€"How ironic is that?” John says with a laugh. â€"A cop makin’ donuts.”

       â€"He doesn’t look like he’s had a donut in his life,” Carmela says from the front of their Sweet Madeline’s stand, named after their daughter, at the Wethersfield Farmer’s Market outside the Solomon Welles House.

       â€"I do it in secret,” John says, as he hustles behind her to prepare the couple’s signature, fresh-made donuts. â€"That’s the key.”

       That and self-control, because just a small taste--John and Carmela have donut pieces laid out for prospective customers to sample-is enough to get people rushing back. Wethersfield resident Elaine Speranza got one, and now she’s doing some pro-bono marketing for Sweet Madeline’s.

       â€"You have to try one,” she says, as she pulls me over to the stand, where a crowd is already gathering. Speranza passes me a sample and goes right back to diverting foot traffic over to the Zavalicks. Watch out, Dunkin Donuts.

       Sweet Madeline’s almost instantaneous sensation in Wethersfield is characteristic of the rapid growth the business has seen in just a year in operation. Wethersfield’s is just one of five farmer’s markets John and Carmela participate in, and they just got the nod to set up shop at the Big E.

       â€"We’re very blessed,” Carmela says. â€"We didn’t expect it to take off this fast.”

       And the business is dedicated to their daughter in more than one way.

       â€"This is how we put our daughter through college,” John says. â€"One donut at a time.”

       Or 80 at a time--that’s how many are in the mixer at a time. But they never have more than one tray out at a time.

       â€"We try to give everybody hot donuts,” Carmela says. â€"We want everybody to experience that.”

       Sweet Madeline’s is one of 20 new vendors to hit the Farmer’s Market this year, but the lineup also includes some old favorites.

       Walk over to the sidewalk along Hartford Avenue to the black Nora’s Cupcake truck and order an Irish Car Bomb.

       â€"I would say the most popular we have is the Irish Car Bomb,” says Jason Cawley, who is running the truck today.

       The recipe?

       Guinness chocolate cake filled with Jameson chocolate ganache and Bailey’s cream cheese frosting, according to Cawley.

       A couple of customers step up and each order a peanut butter sundae cupcake. The Middletown-based Nora’s Cupcakes boasts more than 200 flavors, including vegan options.

       Stanley and Dorothy Hayes, owners of Sweet Pea Cheese, have some variety to, and they do it all with one main ingredient: Goat milk.

       â€"There are a lot of people that don’t do the cow milk because they’re lactose intolerant,” Stanley says. â€"So when they find the goat milk, they’re really happy.”

       Stanley and Dorothy sell bottled goat milk, as well as an assortment of homemade yogurt flavors.

       The farmer’s market runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays.
MORE WETHERSFIELD NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Jun 09 2015  |  COMMENTS?