While in Hawaii the past couple of weeks I had the fun of having ice cream a few times while I was there. In the International Market Place there is a booth which sells great coconut/macadamia nut ice cream cones. Baskin Robbins is all over, and added a local treat - macadamia nut hot fudge sundaes - yummy! Then of course there's Ghirardelli's and coupons in the Waikiki books for dollars off their decadent sundaes. But my favorite was the pineapple ice cream cone - in the waffle cone with a pineapple stalk in it - out at the Dole Plantation.

I am surprised, shocked really, that no one has talked about Bassett's Ice Cream in the Philadelphia area. Very rich and super taste (some flavors better than others but then again that is why they make different flavors). The best we have found in US and we loved doing the experimental field work. Ben and Jerry's reverse chocolate (white chocolate chips in chocolate for starters) isn't shabby either.

ok i cannot believe i am responding to a post that is now 5 years old that no one will see. but i have to set you all straight.

In Boston:
-Cabots in Newton, MA: Overrated.
-Most ice cream in Boston: Overrated and overpriced

In Michigan:
-have family ties to Rays- it's great
-Who said the concrete in Charlevoix?? you are my new best friend. i found this very site trying to google, "concret milkshake, charlevoix"
-Michigan State Dairy store: IT ROCKS.
-Kilwins: in Ann Arbor: only OK.
St. Louis:
- It's ALL about Ted Drewes. It was good in '96 and I know about that debate.

I hope someone actually reads this.

OK Snoop'd:For many years I served those lovely ice cream bombes and tromp l"oeil fruits that Rays Ice Cream in Royal Oak made. They were awesome. My favorite was pear. I often served them as the sole dessert at a party.

The peaches were also wonderful.

I graduated from Michigan State many many years ago and a favorite spring memory was a great ice cream cone taken down to eat at the river. Is the creamery still there? LMF

Yummy topic!! The most memorable for me growing up in WASH DC area--Polar Bear Custard stand!!!! Wiler's Ice Cream and of course Giffords. Has anyone heard of them?? Polar Bear was the best!!!
I can't beleive this thread is ongoing for so long!!

I haven't read the whole thread so I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but for some awesome GELATO there's a Dallas-based chain called Pachiugo that is on par with some of the stuff you get in Italy. Most of the Pachiugo stores are in Texas, but there's one in Tulsa and one in Chicago somewhere.

www.pachiugo.com

Two faves: For super rich and scrumptious ice cream, the Utah State University ice cream store in Logan. It's made by students and faculty as part of their ag program and it is to die for.

For good, if not great, ice cream in a party atmosphere, any of the Ferrell's Ice Cream Parlors in a variety of California cities - they may be other places too but I've only seen them in California.

Just came back from a trip to St. louis and went to Ted Drews for custard and it was the best custard I have ever had. My second favorite is Leon's custard in Oshkosh WI.

You want great frozen custard, come to Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard in Kansas City. It's... well, FABULOUS!

alright clearly i've given this more thought. i forgot about Toscaninis in Boston- it's almost like gelato, and REAL gelato at Athans in Boston. It is the real deal. I've been to Italy and had both terrible and good gelato. And this is the genuine article. So I take back the Boston comment. LMF, I would assume the MSU dairy store is there. Remember how the cones we huge and only 50 cents? I loved their mint chip.

Ben/Jerry Coffee...try it, good!
Have anyone knows how was that ice-cream called vanilla between 2 waffles, not cookies...

I see how old this thread is, but thought, "Why not?" No surprise that it's in WI. Hansen's Dairy in Green Bay. Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dwooddon--We used to have a Farrell's here in the Portland, OR area ages ago! I remember going there on our birthdays for huge sundae's. Wow, had not thought of that in years!

Ben & Jerry's in VT is fun. After the tour and tasting you pass by a fun mirror that makes you look very tall and skinny, lol!

The two best are:

Jake's in Atlanta, GA
and
The Creamery in State College, PA

I almost forgot- White Mountain Creamery in the Boston area (one in Wellesley, one near BC in Chesnut Hill).

The Sweet Cream and Oreo ice creams are to die for.

I'll put in a plug for Taos Cow ice cream, only available in parts of New Mexico. Yum!

Lee Ann

I'll stick w/my original answer from 2/25/03 in Vienna, near the Hotel Astoria.

Wow! What a lot of other places I need to visit now that I know where to find the best! My first choice is a local (Pittsburgh) ice cream chain: Brusters. I've been to the Ben and Jerry factory, Berthillon (and some others) in Paris, The Creamery in State College, all over Rome sampling some wonderful gelato, and various other cities, but I still like Brusters best. I don't know if it's actually the ice cream or what they add to it. For example, their turtle is LOADED with fresh (lightly salted) pecans and caramel. I just hate it when I order say a butter pecan and find about 3 pecans ground into a million small pieces! Their Chocolate Raspberry Truffle is WONDERFUL. Anyone else tried Brusters?

Anyone ever tried the new chain, Coldstone Creamery? A friend of mine purchased this franchise and she raves about it. We don't have one in our area yet.

maggi, you read my mind- I recently tried Cold Stone's "cake batter" flavor ice cream which is wonderful...anyone who baked with their family as a kid and enjoyed "licking the bowl" will be in heaven...