PRESS - Rosie Cheeks Cotton Candy

ST. LOUIS RIVER FRONT TIMES

Heather Roth's Cotton Candy Cart Spins Gourmet Flavors While You Watch

When Heather Roth’s daughter, Margaret, asked to have cotton candy at her sixth birthday party instead of cake, she knew she had to make it happen.

“I had to figure out how the hell I was going to make cotton candy,” she says. “That’s basically how Rosie Cheeks and the whole concept of the cart started — by being an experience for her and her friends.”

Roth’s brand-new business, Rosie Cheeks Cotton Candy, offers gourmet cotton candy, spun live for party guests or events across the St. Louis area from a (very cute) cart. Roth offers unique flavors such as Aztec chocolate, chile mango, lemonade or peach. You can even add glitter.

She says she was inspired by her work as a wedding photographer. “I see how much people love experiences, whether it's somebody making margaritas right there on the spot, or seeing how excited people get with tableside guacamole. You know what I mean? Like, it's really fun to just add something like this to sparkle at an event.”

We recently caught up with the cotton candy entrepreneur to learn more about her unusual flavor offerings — and whether there’s such a thing as too much cotton candy. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What's your earliest memory involving cotton candy?

It was definitely during circuses I grew up with like Barnum & Bailey. I don't know how much they do it anymore, but that's where I grew up and had cotton candy. It was always the prepackaged things that were pink and blue.

How much trial and error went into fine-tuning your flavors?

It’s been a whole year, and I'm still learning. It takes me a couple spins to kind of get going. It's kind of like when you make a pancake and you flip it and it's not the first one you want to eat. So it's the same with cotton candy. I'll start spinning and have to toss that one but my girls are like, “No, we’ll still eat it.” But yeah, it's fun.

Do you still eat it for fun today?

Um, yes. I tried chile mango yesterday. I've got some ideas for the future I want to do. I just got to take baby steps on everything. But I do want to prepackage some things and so I've been testing out the length of time it stays fresh. I ended up eating at least five cones of chile mango. It’s really not for kids, my girls did not like it, but it's definitely for adults. It was a good one.

By Paula Tredway

https://www.riverfronttimes.com/food-drink/heather-roths-cotton-candy-cart-spins-gourmet-flavors-while-you-watch-42174856

FEAST MAGAZINE

Heather Roth is spinning pure joy with Rosie Cheeks Cotton Candy

The latest business to hit the St. Louis event-planning scene comes from the creative minds of Heather Roth – professional photographer and owner of the mobile cotton candy cart business Rosie Cheeks Cotton Candy – and her 6-year-old daughter Margaret.

The idea of a bookable cotton candy-spinning experience came to Roth when Margaret requested cotton candy for her birthday treat rather than a traditional cake. Inspired by her daughter’s sugary dreams, Rosie Cheeks Cotton Candy was born as an ode to female empowerment. “I want to foster creativity in my girls and teach them real-world entrepreneurship by being a positive role model and involve them in this endeavor,” Roth says.

With a name derived from childhood cheeks flushed with the warmth of the summer sun, everything about the brand sparkles with modern nostalgia. “I want to add a touch of magic to every occasion,” Roth says. The brand's delightful cotton candy carts can show up at any special event: bridal showers, office parties, birthday parties, fundraisers, weddings and more. Every cart has vibrant colors, is equipped with customizable signage and has an optional edible fluff topper perfect for Instagram-worthy photos. Currently, the large Unicorn cart (complete with a vintage fringe umbrella) and the small hot pink Dolly cart are available for booking; they come complete with varying hours of interactive cotton candy spinning. A "sugar connoisseur" accompanies the cart to provide a hassle-free experience at both small parties and larger events.

By Jaylen Heady