BERTHILLION or HAAGEN-DAZS?
 

I know everybody's going to be mad but I like Haagen-Dazs better than Berthillion. <BR> <BR>I see many posts about trying the ice cream while in Paris and, while it's good, it's just not as good as Haagen-Dazs to me. <BR> <BR>Anyone going to Paris should absolutely try it. It's part of the culture. But, alas, I'll have to remain true to my Haagen-Dazs. <BR> <BR>Favorite flavors: <BR> <BR>Chocolate - Dulce De Leche (Carmel) <BR>Vanilla - Belgian Chocolate <BR>& Rum Raisin! <BR> <BR>Happy Eating! <BR> <BR>

Ooooooooooooohhhhh... starting an ice cream war are we??? <BR>I'm in the middle. I prefer Berthillon's sorbets, and Hagen-dazs for the richer ice creams. Rum raisin is one of my vices too! But on a *hot* Parisian day... well a Berthillion sorbet hits the spot! <BR>

Yea to both, but the big daddy of this list will always be gelato, eaten not with a plastic but a wooden spoon and accompanied by a biscotti. <BR>Shlurrp. <BR> <BR>BTW Vote on HD's best flavor: vanilla Swiss Almond.

When I went to Paris for the 1st time, my Let's Go urged their readers to get Berthillon on Ile de St. Louis. So my friend and I dutifully sought the place out and were quite disappointed with the result. A little later we found a Haagen Dazs further into the island (I think these memories are correct) and we pounced on the American ice cream. It just doesn't compare. The funny thing is that when we were at Montmartre we went crazy over a gelati store. We couldn't believe this incredible ice cream and all the flavors. Little did we know, a few days later when we were in Italy, we would discover the joy of eating gelati 2-3 times per day! So my vote is for Haagen-Dazs!

Hi, Lynn. Don't really know about Berthillion but I say that Haagen-Dazs is the Best. <BR> <BR>Of course the gelato in Italy (especially the Tira Misu flavor) is delicious. But Haagen-Dazs is easier to acquire; you can find it in many countries. <BR> <BR>I've heard about the chocolate ice cream in Le Carrousel (between the Louvre and the garden) but did not get the chance to try it when I was there in October. <BR> <BR>Absolute HD favorites: <BR>Swiss Almond Chocolate <BR>Dulce de Leche <BR>Strawberry Cheesecake <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

I was too disappointed to Berthillion. We had to queue for a long time just to get a small cone of over-priced ice cream. I prefer Movenpick (esp. maple cyrup / wall nut).

I'm not a big fan of Berthillon, too touristy and too snobbish, but Haagen-Dazs are much too sweet and too rich for me. It just kills all the taste. Especially that sugar ! So, I too vote for gelati ! BTW the HDs you eat in France are made there, near Lille.

About seven years ago, while visiting my brother who was living in Paris, we went to Berthillion, but rather then just getting a cone, we got it to go. The package was amazing, perfect styrofoam container which kept it just right for hours, and when we got it home we discovered it was a bombe! Molded ice cream in various flavors. We all loved it. Haagen-Dazs is a wonderfull American company, but where else can you get Berthillion but in Paris? I think that makes it special. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, last summer I got a cone of Berthillion at the little cafe behind Notre Dame. It was hugely overpriced and ordinary. I do see why Haagen-Dazs is wining this poll. <BR>

Ann - <BR> <BR>I do agree that being a "Paris" ice cream makes Berthillion more special than it would be otherwise. Fortunately, we did not have to wait in line like Janne did. I would have been real upset if I had to wait in line for an hour or more to get what I ended up with. <BR> <BR>To anyone reading this and going to Paris for the first time...try it, why not? It's not bad, it's just not "fabulous" like some of the books tell you. <BR> <BR>You might as well check it out for yourself just in case you like it or, at the very least, just so you can respond to threads like this and get you "2 cents" in. <BR> <BR>Happy Traveling!

I must add one more ice cream note. The Tartufo at Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona in Rome. Best chocolate i've ever had - of course it is gelati.

I wax nostalgic at Janne's recommendation of Movenpick. It was the ice of our italien restaurant in Munchin. The best ice cream I have ever tasted was in Moscow, at a hotel that I have forgotten the name of. Italian ice is of course, the best, but I look forward to tasting this french brand. We have Haagen Daz here in Minneapolis, so it was not so much of a treat to taste it in Brussels, even if it is the best in the world. <BR> <BR>

OK, you can have your store-bought ice cream with fancy-sounding names. I'll take homemade peach ice cream, hand-cranked on the back porch on a warm evening. And I get dibs on licking the paddle!

Lynn: I've been to Paris several times, but I haven't tried the Berthillion ice cream. HD is pretty good, I'm usually a chocolate kind of guy, so anything with it is my favorite. <BR> <BR>Like Arizona, I kind of like the home made or local ice cream, also. My favorite: "Spaghetti Eis" in Dreieich, Germany. It's a little town about 20 miles south of Frankfurt and they have a small shop with the ice cream made on the premises. Spaghetti Eis is soft vanilla ice cream that is formed like pasta and covered with crushed, warm strawberries. Nothing like it. <BR>

Lynn: I've been to Paris several times, but I haven't tried the Berthillion ice cream. HD is pretty good, I'm usually a chocolate kind of guy, so anything with it is my favorite. <BR> <BR>Like Arizona, I kind of like the home made or local ice cream, also. My favorite: "Spaghetti Eis" in Dreieich, Germany. It's a little town about 20 miles south of Frankfurt and they have a small shop with the ice cream made on the premises. Spaghetti Eis is soft vanilla ice cream that is formed like pasta and covered with crushed, warm strawberries. Nothing like it. <BR>