Barbie’s Soft Pretzels

Newtown Farmers’ Market is an overcrowded, under-​maintained, slightly tarnished version of the Amish markets in the Lancaster area. They have proliferated to other locales around Bucks, but this was one of the first. Honestly, it needs a refurbishment, as it gets dingier by the month.
Yet, there are a few stalls where the food product is original and tasty. Barbie’s Soft Pretzels is one of them. They don’t have a sign anywhere near the shop, but if you know your way around, it is right across from the sushi place near the main entrance. Lately, I have become slightly addicted to their Jalapeño, Onion and Cheese Pretzel Dog. They claim it to be a beef hot dog encased within a soft pretzel shell, with the Jalapeño Slices, Sautéed Onion and Melted Cheese all stuffed within the pretzel. The current price is $ 2.50 per, and it seems a good deal. The pretzel is the same as you can get as a traditional twist, but the taste and texture are strongly influenced by the contents within. Each bite comes at you with succeeding sensibilities of slightly salty pretzel, the garlicy dog, with a rush of jalapeño arriba, and finally the subtle cheese to finish each chomp/​chew. Damn enjoyable with each repetition.
Today, they had a special on Blueberry Shakes (in season), so why not? I watched the young freulein put in two scoops of vanilla ice cream (they have their own supply right next to the Goodnoe case — they should work out a deal to use the local iconic brand), and then a copious amount of Blueberry mash. She blended it for at least two minutes. The taste was superlative with the straw constantly clogging with the sapphire blue berry slurry. The best moment was when extra suction was applied to my end of the straw and the blockage finally gave way and exploded in my mouth.

In my munchies days, that would have blown my mind.
So, yes, I am a fan of Barbie’s. Yet, I wish they kept their stall cleaner. As I stood and looked down into the lemonade machine, the clear sight of mold in the corners gave me pause. It had not been cleaned well in ages. Sigh…
I ate my lunch anyway, as I felt the obligation to post this review.

Never come to the Amish Market without getting these AMAZING soft pretzels, warm, and dipped in butter, with a light salt sprinkling… ADDICTED!

Have you ever had a jalapeño and cheese hot dog before, with homemade pretzel dough wrapped around it in strips? When I opened up the foil, I’m looking and looking for the cheese and the jalapenos and I saw nothing even resembling this.
Oh well, maybe she gave me the wrong dog, so I took one big bite and low and behold those peppers and cheese were inside of the hot dog! Wow, talk about a shock to the taste buds and flavor. Talk about putting the HOT in hot dog! How do they do that? They have to make their own hot dogs?!
I had a coupon for buy one get one free soft pretzel which led me to Barbie’s, however after seeing their displays of soft pretzels and pretzel products, I would have stopped here without the coupon.
I also did get my two pretzels and it is unlike any soft pretzel I have had, almost like they used a starter for the dough, which was sweet, yet salty. These very soft and delicious pretzels are made right before your eyes
This dough is baked around all beef hot dogs, sausage or cheese. They also have pretzel pockets, filled with either bacon, egg and cheese, a pepperoni pizza filling, a cheese steak filled pretzel pocket, Stromboli or roast beef and swiss cheese.
Pretzels are coming out of their ovens here with sour cream and onion, cinnamon and sugar, to small pretzel bites filled with pieces of hot dogs or cheese.
They have hand dipped ice cream and fresh squeezed lemonade. If you buy a milkshake for $ 3.75 you can have a free soft pretzel.
With all of Barbie’s twists and turns of the dough and knowing just how to stuff it, it is no wonder she has crowds standing around watching and anxiously awaiting their turn.
I can’t wait to go back and try the pepperoni pizza pretzel pocket! Say that ten times fast.