Growing up in the Midwest, on a rare hot hot summer day, my dad would get out the hand cranked ice cream maker and after everyone took several turns cranking the mysterious machine, we’d enjoy the most delicious silky soft vanilla concoction. It was kind of a tan color and you had to eat it fast before it melted which was no problem at all!
My go-to has always been chocolate chip, and Rich Farm in Oxford, CT gives you huge scoops of farm-fresh ice cream. BUT, the best we've ever had was the soft serve strawberry with chocolate dip at the Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans (Quebec.) It tasted like FRESH strawberries (they were in season) and the coating was a thick, luscious chocolate (they are a world-famous chocolaterie, after all.) At the first tasted we were TRANSPORTED. We still talk about it.
I’m going way back to my childhood for this one. My dad loved to eat! And for a special occasion, he and my mom would take us to dinner at a restaurant called The Paddock”. My sisters and I ordered shrimp sauté and chocolate parfaits every time. We felt very grown up. Was it the best ice cream in the parfait? I really don’t know, but it’s part of a best memory.
My favorite is soft ice cream vanilla and the best I ever had was a stand on Hilton head South Carolina. The last day that the shop was open for the season the line was unbelievably long as everyone waited in 80° temperatures to get their last cone of ice cream before clothes for the season. So so good. The best regular ice cream I’ve ever had is from the creamery right here in Beaver Pennsylvania. It is run by Penn State satellite campus. The best was the apple pie ice cream which I never thought I would like but absolutely adore.
Favorite ice cream memory: Berthillon in Paris. Current favorite: gelato direct from Italy by way of Brooklyn delivered to a shop a short walk away from my house. A miracle in my small town in upstate NY.
I'm a Cincinnati native and Graeter's IS good, but my favorite is Spotty Dog in Richmond, VA. All homemade, 100% real ingredients, they started in 2017 by offering free scoops in their neighborhood, then porch-delivered pints ordered online and pop-ups all over the city, then did a GoFundMe and opened a brick and mortar in 2022 in my daughter's neighborhood. We take family walks for ice cream and there's always a line out the door, with the friendliest, most patient people visiting while we all wait! The Biscuits 'n Tea is to die for--lavender & Earl Grey ice cream with McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits mixed in. The Banana Puddin' is pretty fantastic, too!
My absolute favorite is erdbeer (strawberry) gelato from any of the gelato shops in Rome. A close second is Brown Bread ice cream at Murphy's Ice Cream in Galway Ireland.
But when I'm not able to travel (boo!) then my go-to is a fresh fruit if in season or coffee and chocolate if there is no fresh fruit.
I don't know if I have a favorite ice cream but now that I have read Jacque T's post I am definitely going to Galway for the Brown Bread ice cream. I'll send you a photo when I get there someday!
Unfortunately no longer around, but childhood favorite was strawberry cheesecake (or sometimes blueberry cheesecake) ice cream from local legend Pat Mitchell's Ice Cream in little Endicott, NY. Those in the know would eat their cones while sitting on the cemetery wall next to the shop. Now I love my own homemade spiced pear ice cream made from the pears on my trees (off to dig my ice cream maker out of the cabinet so I can freeze the container...)
I actually don't know the place or the flavor I had, but the creamiest ice cream I ever had was 24 years ago in Wales. This was also a place where the sheep wandered around loose and people spray painted them to identify who they belonged to. I wish I knew the name of the little town where we had ice cream.
I'm tempted to say Double Chocolate Malted Crunch from Thrifty, but I think that would be heavily influenced by nostalgia. Otherwise, I'm remembering this gelato from a little restaurant In Costa Mesa, California, called Vitaly. I asked what their best-selling flavor is, and they introduced me to strawberry balsamic. It sounded disgusting to me because I thought it would be vinegary. It was not--just vanilla gelato laced with a punchy, intensely strawberry ribbon. It was difficult to eat quietly because I just wanted to groan with pleasure the whole time. So, so, so good. Oooo I need to go get gelato. Alas, I now live about 7 hours from Costa Mesa.
Hands down best soft serve, Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream in Saranac Lake, NY. Actually, more like on a stretch of road in the middle of a field north of Saranac Lake. I moved to the west coast a few years ago and it may be what I miss most about the east coast.
Growing up in the Midwest, on a rare hot hot summer day, my dad would get out the hand cranked ice cream maker and after everyone took several turns cranking the mysterious machine, we’d enjoy the most delicious silky soft vanilla concoction. It was kind of a tan color and you had to eat it fast before it melted which was no problem at all!
Wow-hard to beat homemade!
My go-to has always been chocolate chip, and Rich Farm in Oxford, CT gives you huge scoops of farm-fresh ice cream. BUT, the best we've ever had was the soft serve strawberry with chocolate dip at the Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans (Quebec.) It tasted like FRESH strawberries (they were in season) and the coating was a thick, luscious chocolate (they are a world-famous chocolaterie, after all.) At the first tasted we were TRANSPORTED. We still talk about it.
I’m going way back to my childhood for this one. My dad loved to eat! And for a special occasion, he and my mom would take us to dinner at a restaurant called The Paddock”. My sisters and I ordered shrimp sauté and chocolate parfaits every time. We felt very grown up. Was it the best ice cream in the parfait? I really don’t know, but it’s part of a best memory.
food memories are the best
My favorite is soft ice cream vanilla and the best I ever had was a stand on Hilton head South Carolina. The last day that the shop was open for the season the line was unbelievably long as everyone waited in 80° temperatures to get their last cone of ice cream before clothes for the season. So so good. The best regular ice cream I’ve ever had is from the creamery right here in Beaver Pennsylvania. It is run by Penn State satellite campus. The best was the apple pie ice cream which I never thought I would like but absolutely adore.
Favorite ice cream memory: Berthillon in Paris. Current favorite: gelato direct from Italy by way of Brooklyn delivered to a shop a short walk away from my house. A miracle in my small town in upstate NY.
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream in Denver, CO! Homemade ice cream and waffle cones!
Oooh going to have to try them next time I'm in Denver!
I'm a Cincinnati native and Graeter's IS good, but my favorite is Spotty Dog in Richmond, VA. All homemade, 100% real ingredients, they started in 2017 by offering free scoops in their neighborhood, then porch-delivered pints ordered online and pop-ups all over the city, then did a GoFundMe and opened a brick and mortar in 2022 in my daughter's neighborhood. We take family walks for ice cream and there's always a line out the door, with the friendliest, most patient people visiting while we all wait! The Biscuits 'n Tea is to die for--lavender & Earl Grey ice cream with McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits mixed in. The Banana Puddin' is pretty fantastic, too!
We are in Richmond frequently and will try Spotty Dog. The Earl Grey sounds delightful!
We usually go to Blue Cow. My usual is blueberry cheesecake, not too sweet, but rich and creamy.
Kalee, Spotty Dog is on Jefferson Ave. in Church Hill. Check their website for hours--enjoy!
We will be in Richmond next week! Thank you!
My absolute favorite is erdbeer (strawberry) gelato from any of the gelato shops in Rome. A close second is Brown Bread ice cream at Murphy's Ice Cream in Galway Ireland.
But when I'm not able to travel (boo!) then my go-to is a fresh fruit if in season or coffee and chocolate if there is no fresh fruit.
Brown Bread ice cream! I am so curious about this.
Kind of the texture of gingerbread in ice cream, but not as sweet. I was skeptical, but ending up loving it.
Now I have added another reason to go back to Ireland. 🍨
I don't know if I have a favorite ice cream but now that I have read Jacque T's post I am definitely going to Galway for the Brown Bread ice cream. I'll send you a photo when I get there someday!
Unfortunately no longer around, but childhood favorite was strawberry cheesecake (or sometimes blueberry cheesecake) ice cream from local legend Pat Mitchell's Ice Cream in little Endicott, NY. Those in the know would eat their cones while sitting on the cemetery wall next to the shop. Now I love my own homemade spiced pear ice cream made from the pears on my trees (off to dig my ice cream maker out of the cabinet so I can freeze the container...)
Ooh, spiced pears sound lovely all by themselves! Put them in homemade i e cream—WOWZA!
La Lecheria in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The red chile honey ice cream is amazing.
My favorite is Salt & Straw Arbequina Olive Oil. Slightly lemony and not too sweet. Perfect texture. They also have pie flavors this month. Mmmm
Ben and Jerry’s phish food!!
I actually don't know the place or the flavor I had, but the creamiest ice cream I ever had was 24 years ago in Wales. This was also a place where the sheep wandered around loose and people spray painted them to identify who they belonged to. I wish I knew the name of the little town where we had ice cream.
I'm tempted to say Double Chocolate Malted Crunch from Thrifty, but I think that would be heavily influenced by nostalgia. Otherwise, I'm remembering this gelato from a little restaurant In Costa Mesa, California, called Vitaly. I asked what their best-selling flavor is, and they introduced me to strawberry balsamic. It sounded disgusting to me because I thought it would be vinegary. It was not--just vanilla gelato laced with a punchy, intensely strawberry ribbon. It was difficult to eat quietly because I just wanted to groan with pleasure the whole time. So, so, so good. Oooo I need to go get gelato. Alas, I now live about 7 hours from Costa Mesa.
Anything involving malt gets a thumbs-up in my book, regardless of where you buy it. My current supermarket fave is Tilamook’s Malted Moo Shake!
Hands down best soft serve, Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream in Saranac Lake, NY. Actually, more like on a stretch of road in the middle of a field north of Saranac Lake. I moved to the west coast a few years ago and it may be what I miss most about the east coast.
Grom’s in Italy.
And I’ve tasted a fair amount of ice cream around the world.