Delco woman’s cinnamon-sugar seasoning is great on French toast, waffles, even popcorn

Last year, Charisse McGill set out to build an empire out of French toast bites, selling her made-to-order treats to hungry ice-skaters and other customers at Dilworth Park’s “Made in Philadelphia” holiday market.

This spring, McGill and her company, Lokal Artisan Foods, started selling premade jars of the seasoning she uses to spice up the toast bites. Labeled “The only French toast seasoning you’ll ever need,” the canister contains McGill’s blend of cane sugar, cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. The blend can also be used to enhance other breakfast foods, like oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles, or added to snacks like popcorn. One of McGill’s customers even used it in a salmon recipe.

Since launching Lokal Artisan Foods last winter, McGill has been selling her toast bites at a growing number of community events and street festivals. She will move into a stall at the Piazza Pod Park in Northern Liberties for the summer, and she will be a vendor at forthcoming night market events. — Allison Steele

French toast seasoning, $8 at lokalartisanfoods.com; also available at V Marks the Shop, 1515 McKean St., Philadelphia; and at the Swarthmore Co-Op, 341 Dartmouth Ave., Swarthmore.