The result of Joyce Hardcastle's own Nanaimo Bar. She aims for an aesthetically pleasing bar with a smooth top. She said the tasty dessert freezes exceptionally well. (Submitted)

By Ian Holmes

Sweet tooth

“It’s really cool to see:’ Nanaimo Bar pioneer closely watching iconic treat’s resurgence

May 25, 2019 | 7:00 AM

NANAIMO — The woman responsible for the officially recognized Nanaimo Bar recipe can’t believe the attention the beloved dessert is getting these days.

Nanaimo’s Joyce Hardcastle said interest in the Nanaimo Bar spikes periodically over the years but the tasty dessert has never been in the spotlight as much as it is now.

“Recently it’s had a bit of a revival. It’ll be interesting to see how long that goes on, I’m curious to see.” Joyce Hardcastle

Hardcastle said she’s blown away and honoured to be a part of Nanaimo’s storied history.

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“People introduce me sometimes as ‘Oh, this is Joyce Hardcastle, the Nanaimo Bar lady.’ It still absolutely amazes me and makes me laugh. I think it’s just great, I’m loving it.”

Joyce Hardcastle lost count a long time ago how many times she’s made Nanaimo Bars: “Thousands and thousands,” she chuckled. (Submitted photo)

She believes a New York Times article several months ago played a huge role in the Nanaimo Bar’s latest resurgence.

“It’s very helpful for tourism. People when they come here they want to buy a Nanaimo Bar, when people have visitors they make Nanaimo Bars for them. I think it’s a great thing, I love it,” Hardcastle said.

A past version of a Tim Hortons donut and current offering of a Nanaimo Bar-inspired McFlurry only further reinforced the popular treat’s brand.

Hardcastle was disappointed with the Canada Post version of the bar depicted in a stamp released earlier this year, believing the postal service relied on an image for a Nanaimo Bar flavoured Cheesecake.

“It bothered me, but it got a lot more people talking about the Nanaimo Bar,” Hardcastle said.

She had no idea the dessert would evolve beyond an appreciated, low-key treat when entering a recipe contest more than three decades ago.

One hundred applications to nail down a singular Nanaimo Bar recipe were submitted when the call went out in 1986 from then mayor Graeme Roberts.

“Mine was more basic and I think that’s what they were looking for,” Hardcastle said. “It’s like apple pie and chili, you just want something that’s basic and that gave it some form.”

Nanaimo Museum general manager Sophia Maher said their Nanaimo Bar exhibit garners a lot of attention and questions from tourists.

“It’s certainly a conversation starter. It’s fun for the city to have our name attached to a dessert that gets such recognition around the world and is so popular,” Maher told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Maher believed the Nanaimo Bar is taken for granted by locals who don’t appreciate its overall value to the community.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes