Meet Kelvin Van Rijn, founder, owner and CEO of The Fritter Shop. These are some seriously mouthwatering and authentic Dutch fritters! Whether you are looking for a midday snack or are in charge of desserts for your family function – they will hit the spot, guaranteed.
There are eleven delicious flavours to choose from: strawberry rhubarb, peach, lemon, chocolate banana, cherry, blueberry, banana almond, apple, almond deluxe, brownie and a rotating seasonal flavour (pumpkin in the fall, if you are looking to satisfy your basic cravings). From locally sourced ingredients to a secret family recipe, these fritters are unlike anything you have ever tasted.Initially, a traditional New Years treat in Holland; Kelvin brings a modern twist to the classic Dutch apple fritter. The original pastry is a ring of real apple dipped in batter then deep-fried. Kelvin switches it up by using a secret family recipe of dough, filling the fruit with custard and then deep frying it. Using the dough allowed them to expand the collection of flavours from just apple! Kelvin values the importance of sourcing local ingredients, already using apples from Blenheim and eventually sourcing berries from Innerkip. This ensures the best quality fritters every time! Kelvin and his family immigrated here from Holland in 2001, and he is now a marketing graduate from Fanshawe College. He decided to capitalize on the Dutch market in St. Thomas and London and began his business in 2016. There are big plans for the future of this bakery, including a Kick starter campaign in early 2018 to launch their very own food truck! Kelvin listens to his customers, and this will make it easier for fritter lovers to indulge in this divine snack. “Because our store is in St. Thomas there’s a lot of people who can’t get to our store all the time. So a food truck will allow us to get into London and reach those people so everyone can enjoy a fritter!” For now, Londoners can purchase fritters at three weekly markets: Tuesday at Western University, Friday at Masonville Mall and Saturday at the Western Fair! Visit Kelvin and the Fritter Shop team for the most delicious, warm and satisfying dessert you have ever tried.