In 1947, just two years after the end of World War II, a new chocolatier arrived on the scene.
They delivered high-quality, comforting confections and friendly service to a nation that had been through a lot. More than 70 years later, walking into a Kilwins is still food for the soul. The first thing you notice is the intoxicating aroma of crisp, freshly made waffle cones, followed by a dazzling array of treats wrapped in glittering cellophane. Next, you may perceive how cheery the atmosphere is, and that patrons at the ice cream counter are given all the time they need to make the all-important flavor determinations that will set them on the path to their perfect scoop.
Kilwins’ soft, rich ice cream begins with fresh milk and cream from family farms. They prepare the premium base in small, Kosher-certified batches. To make the “The Perfect” Apple Pie, vanilla, cinnamon caramel swirls, baked apple pieces and pie crust chunks joins the base. “It’s just my favorite,” says Max Wilhoit, the General Manager of the Kilwins at Shelter Cove. “Everyone should give it a try!” Other popular flavors include the Sea Salt Caramel, the Toasted Coconut and the New Orleans Praline Pecan. They carefully freeze it in custom tubs and shipped exclusively on Kilwins’ own refrigerated trucks.
Kilwins’ commitment to excellence shows in its reviews, which are sprinkled with adjectives like bouncy, cloud-like, rich and creamy.
Visitors detail the fast, friendly, helpful and respectful service. They mention the hand-dipped caramel apples, all manner of treats dipped in chocolate, the pralines and the original recipe Mackinac Island fudge. They hand-paddle it and leave the fudge cooling right in front of you (clever!). Also, in a season when piping hot drinks are the ticket, there’s Kilwins’ traditional hot chocolate, a festive party of chocolate shavings, fluffy whipped cream and homemade marshmallows. No matter the season, Kilwins has its complement. “Anyway,” asks Wilhoit with a grin, “what beach trip is complete without goodies?”
Kilwins takes customer and employee safety very seriously and has enacted a number of measures to ensure a safe but enjoyable customer experience, including: contactless ordering, socially distanced dining tables, floors marked for indoor foot traffic, face masks for staff and hand sanitizer available to all. It is also limiting the number of people in the store at one time to six.
Hilton Head Kilwins: (843) 785-2727 , Shelter Cove, 28 Shelter Cove Ln, Unit 112-B
www.kilwins.com
By Dani Ray
