Ice Cream Tour U.S.A.
 

Just wanted to summarize some of the findings from the other ice cream thread, in case you don't have time to peruse through the nearly 200 responses logged so far. <BR><BR>The Boston-Cambridge area was pretty much the hands-down winner as the Ice Cream Capitol of the nation. Oft-mentioned sweet shoppes included: <BR>Herrell's, Kimball Farms, Toscanini's, Cabot's, Richardson's and Ron's Gourmet. <BR><BR>Other great ice cream stops across the country include: <BR><BR>University Creamery at Penn State; <BR>Babcock Hall @ Univ of Wisconsin;<BR>Blue Bell Ice Cream in Texas; <BR>Graeters in Louisville/Cincinnati;<BR>Deitchs in Findlay Ohio; <BR>Dairy Barn in Durham N.H;<BR>Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, Zanesville OH;<BR>Whitey's in Rock Island Il;<BR>Central Dairy in Jeff City, Mo; <BR>Mr G's Flavor Freeze, Gettysburg PA; Storr's @ Univ of Connecticut; <BR>Ray's in Royal Oak Michigan; <BR>Jaxson's in Dania Beach, Fl;<BR>Danielle's in Las Vegas, NV; <BR>Tillamook Cheese Factory, Oregon; <BR>Kimball's in Jaffrey N.H; <BR>McConnell's in Santa Barbara, CA;<BR>Fossellman's in Alhambra, CA; <BR>Bennett's in Hollywood, CA (farmers market at CBS TV on Fairfax); <BR>Bert & Rocky's in Upland Ca and PalmSprings (try the cream cheese chocolate chip!); <BR>Dr. Bob's in Upland , CA; . <BR>Amy's in Houston, TX. <BR> <BR>and for frozen custard: <BR>Ted Drew's in St Louis, MO; <BR>and Carl's in Fredericksburg, VA. <BR><BR>Each summer my cousin Kimmie and I go ice cream touring, generally in New England, and these are the results of our taste tests: <BR><BR>Grand Prize Champion Best Ice Cream Overall: <BR>Benson's Homemade Ice Cream in West Boxford, MA ( near Andover). <BR>recommended flavors: Coffee Fudge Brownie; Coconut; Fresh Raspberry (in season); Peanut Butter Cup<BR>It's worth the trip! But don't order anything larger than a "small" !!!!!!!<BR><BR>Honorable Mentions: <BR>Richardson's, Middleton MA (toll house cookie); <BR>Ron's Gourmet, Hyde Park MA (chocolate peanut butter); <BR>Herrell's, Cambridge MA (chocolate pudding); <BR>Bedford Farms, Bedford MA (chocolate explosion); <BR>Meletharbs, Wakefield MA (oreo cookie); <BR>Rancatore's, Belmont MA; <BR>North Street Dairy Cone, Waterville, Maine ( peanut butter chocolate chip, mocha chip, grapenut); <BR><BR><BR>P.S. At the website icecreamsource.com, you can mail-order several different ice creams from all over the U.S.

joesource, just wanted to say thanx a mint!! I've copied it already and with weather like this, I'm lookin' forward to tasting! =)

What about Brigham's Chocolate Chip?????

I was in New England last fall, in Vermont, Montpelier to be exact, is the home of Ben and Jerry's. You tour the factory and receive free samples of the newest flavors. The "out in the country setting" has the B&J cows around the property. Worth the stop on any ice cream tour.

Linda,<BR><BR>The best part of Brighams were the pointy scoops (on cones) that they rolled in the big bowl of jimmies.<BR><BR>Star Market sells "Original Brigham's Hot Fudge" ...but's not very good.<BR><BR>The mellow fudge(milk chocolate based) at Cabot's is tough to beat

Mmmmmmm.....now that would be a good thread to start......Where to find the best HOT FUDGE in the U.S.A. !!!!!!

Mare,<BR><BR>That's a great idea!.<BR><BR>I'll start the thread<BR>

I'll be happy to do some research on THAT topic! <BR><BR>Anybody else out there like Hot Fudge even WITHOUT ice cream!????

I would like to add:<BR><BR>Velvet in Utica, Ohio. Actually in an old mill and<BR>Toft's-Sandusky, Ohio.<BR><BR>

Joe, I liked how you managed to plug icecreamsource.com and make it seem reputable. Save your money, everyone, it's a scam.

It's a scam?? How so? Rated "best overall ice cream site" by the Wall Street Journal. <BR><BR>Yes, having ice cream shipped in dry ice across the country is expensive, but a "scam" ?

Many people have placed orders at the site and never received any ice cream. Be careful plugging these web sites. You never know who's behind them.

Can anyone still get Mikes Cheesecake Ice Cream in your stores? They've taken it off the shelves around here. And the cheesecake ice cream bars coated in graham crackers??? Mmmmmm......

How about Mitchell's Ice Cream in San Francisco? They have both tasty and interesting flavors.<BR><BR>They have one that tastes like coffee cake. It's delicious!<BR>The interesting flavors include avocado, and corn and cheese. The avocado is actually good. I couldn't get myself to try the corn and cheese.

Tried garlic ice cream at the Garlic festival once, never again. Anyone know where to find licorice ice cream. Had some black-as-night and delicious in Maine once but the place is gone. <BR><BR>Had avocado ice cream at the Avocado festival one year and enjoyed it. They also had avocado brownies (chocolate brownies with mashed avocadoes substituted for the oil in the recipe). They were rich and delicious.

For those of you traveling the coast of Maine this summer, don't miss the Ice Cream Factory in Boothbay Harbor. SO good! <BR><BR>Build your own sundae and heap on the hot fudge!

Sloan's Ice Cream Parlor in West Palm Beach is a real throwback with great ice cream (my local favorite), but I think Graeters in Ohio is the best in the country. They rotate some of their flavors and have a website where you can order dry ice delivery.

Just a warning--stay away from icecreamsource.com. It's a waste of money.

McConnell's Ice Cream in California is definitely one of the best of the store-bought brands. I love their "Island Coconut". <BR><BR>Other favorites are "Deep Dish Apple Pie" from Dreyers Dreamery, and Haagen Daz Pineapple Coconut. And Breyers Peanut Butter Fudge. Oh, and Dreyers Tagalong Girl Scout Cookie Flavor. <BR><BR>I could go on and on! :)

I tried using icecreamsource.com a couple weeks ago, but never received anything. Trying to get a refund now. What a rip off!

To add the the frozen custard list: Hank's Frozen Custard between Conneaut Lake and Meadville, PA.

IceCreamSource.com is reputable. In Fact I have ordered from them several<BR>times and am very happy with their service. Maybe if your looking for cheap ice cream you should go down to your local super walmart.

Yes in fact I to have ordered from IceCreamSource.com and even done our corporate gift giving with them. No Scam<BR>No Problems. I would definately think before you make up things that are not true that can cause harm to a company.

You guys, I just tasted the BEST ice cream I have EVER had in my life! It is ONLY sold at Yellowstone National Park and it is made by Wilcoxson's EXPRESSLY for the park. You cannot get it anywhere else. The flavor you ask? HUCKLEBERRY! I'm not a big fan of berry-flavored ice creams (no matter the brand) but my friend got this and I had a bite. OH.MY.GOD. Yes, it was that good! We ended up having ice cream every single day of the trip. You can get it at the Old Faithful Inn Ice Cream Shop (Snack Shop) and for dessert at several restaurants in the park.

A correction to a previous poster. Ben & Jerry's factory is in Waterbury,Vt.

Any San Franciscan's out there know if "Uncle Gaylord's" ice cream is still around? I think it was based in Petaluma.

In Maine, you must try Giffords Ice Cream, made in Maine. Their strawberry is wonderful! Also, Deering Ice Cream form Maine is great, especially the lemon.

Just back from Boothbay Harbor in Maine where wife mentioned she'd read about the ice cream factory on Fodors. <BR><BR>Tried the Brownie Sundae (I chose peanut butter ice cream and wife chose coffee chocolate chip) and we both agreed that this was the best food recommendation that we'd ever gotten online! Stupendous!

Well, I was stupid and took the bait for icecreamsource.com. Don't know why Fodor's allows this type of shady advertising to go on on its forums. <BR><BR>Anyway, paid my money and got nothing in return. I've got calls into the Better Business Bureau and the state consumer protection agency now.

You reviews Toscanini’s, but not CHRISTINA’S?! Shame! Christina’s in Inman Sq, Cambridge, MA is the best ice cream in the world!<BR><BR>Also, Browns in York, Maine. A zillion flavors, huge portions, and a short stroll to Nubble light.<BR><BR>However, having just returned from Italy, I still say there’s nothing better than a smooth hazlenut gelato!<BR><BR>- Alice

Just stopped at Bert & Rocky's and would highly recommend it if you are traveling the 10 freeway near Ontario California. Take the Mountain St exit and go north about a mile to Foothill, turn right on Foothill and then 2nd left behind Jim's burgers in a mini mall. It is hard to find but worth it. The KAUAI PIE ice cream was stupendous, kona coffee ice cream with fudge whirl and lots of macadamia nuts. A little toasted coconut in there as well. Bert & Rocky's ROCKS! If you get the Sampler cup you get to try FOUR FLAVORS at once! Just heaven in this hot weather.

I actually like the Starbuck coffee icecream w/chips of dark chocolate!<BR>Yum

YOU REALLY NEED TO COME TO OHIO TO A<BR>PLACE CALLED HANDEL'S ICE CREAM CO...<BR>BEST CHOCOLATE PECAN IN THE WORLD!<BR>RATED NUMBER 10 IN US BY USA TODAY!!!<BR>IT IS IN AND AROUND YOUNGSTOWN OHIO!<BR>

Bensons! In West Boxford, Ma about a half hour drive from Boston. (Near Andover). <BR><BR>Haven't taken anyone there who didn't agree that it was the world's best. So fresh! Oh my, I need some, NOW!

Hey Mike W!<BR><BR>Just came back from West Palm and also stopped at Sloan's for their ice cream. It was on my "to do" list while visiting the area after seeing it on the travel channel. Quite the place! It is certainly on my list for places to visit/re-visit in the Palm Beach area.<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

Just found a new place for fantastic ice cream and sorbet. It is Florentino. You can buy the ice cream at t's factory located at 8891 Watson St., Suite 101, Cypress, CA 90630, (714) 827-5473. They have wonderful and unusual flavors such as blackberry champagne, chocolate hazelnut praline and lavendar honey. The prices are great too. Try it!

IMHO, Ohio is the capital of ice cream in the U.S. We're blessed with:<BR><BR>- Graeter's in Cincinnati, Columbus & Dayton. Simply put it's THE BEST. Even Oprah gets pints shipped to her.<BR><BR>- Handel's in Youngstown, N.E. Ohio, and Columbus. Has the most creamiest texture of any ice cream I have ever tasted. Bill Cosby gets pints shipped to him.<BR><BR>- Young's Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs. As you can tell, the stuff is made there, at the source.<BR><BR>- The various frozen custard places throughout N.E. Ohio and Columbus. A real taste treat.<BR><BR>- And last, but certainly not least, Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville. If you're ever travelling I-70 through Ohio, do yourself a big favor and stop. Besides some of the best ice cream (and plenty of it) around, the place looks EXACTLY like it did back in the late '40s.

My advice--stay as far away from icecreamsource.com as you can. Just another internet rip-off scheme!