Dick: I think there's probably a law against microwaving ice cream. <BR>

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, Zanesville, OH. I've known this since childhood, and USA Today confirmed it with a national survey last October. I went back over Thanksgiving -- the first time in 20 years -- and nothing has changed except the prices.

I don't know about you=all....but I'm pure loving this!! <BR> <BR>Now just to live long enoug that (a) I can find pants to fit and (B) I can try all this deeeeeelishous sounding stuff! <BR> <BR>We stopped in for a cone today -- a little local place -- she must have taken ....easily 1-- but it was way closer to 2, - minutes apiece...to stuff each of our orders into its requested (dish...cone...) container.

I don't know about you=all....but I'm pure loving this!! <BR> <BR>Now just to live long enoug that (a) I can find pants to fit and (B) I can try all this deeeeeelishous sounding stuff! <BR> <BR>We stopped in for a cone today -- a little local place -- she must have taken ....easily 1-- but it was way closer to 2, - minutes apiece...to stuff each of our orders into its requested (dish...cone...) container.

Without a doubt - Ted Drew's in St. Louis Missouri. Anytime I am in St. Louis we have to stop at one of the only two creameries in town. There is no going inside - you order from a walk-up window. Go any day (open May to December) at any time and there are 30-40 people waiting for the most delicious frozen delight!

Jess: Ooops...forgot to say, Thanks! I'll tell my TN relatives to check out the freezer section.

I am a microwaver too. Usually a 13 second blast does the trick. I used to whip the ice cream with a spoon to turn it into a creamy consistency, but lately have been primarily a microwaver.

Utah State University Aggie Ice Cream- their Centennial flavor was the bestest! Cream cheese flavored with bing cherries, graham crackers and chocolate chunks. Heaven! People wait in lines coming out the door!

What a riot!!! I am LOVING this discussion!!! Thank you Raeona!!! Isn't it just the WORST when you're in the mood for a great cone and the ice cream is BAD???? Anyway, my vote is for Whitey's ice cream in Rock Island, IL -- I went to college there many years ago and still haven't forgotten the wonderful smooth creamy texture of their ice cream. I too am a microwaver.

<BR>The really BEST ice cream in the world is at the 'Little Creamery in Brenham", Blue Bell is the best. They eat all they can and sell the rest! It truly is the best I have ever had and I am a nut about ice cream. My favorite is homemade vanilla or butter pecan. Wish everyone in the world could get the ice cream we get here in Texas.

Though I, like Cheryl, love Bing's in Puerto Vallarta, my vote is for a local favorite, Jaxson's in Dania Florida. <BR>

Let's hear it for Kimball's in Littleton!!! Glad to see there are other Kimballs fans out there.

<BR>Beth Just out of curiosity how much is a banana split at Kimballs now.The 35 cents I refered to earlier was in the early 1960's.I.m really dating myself LOL

Doumar's in Norfolk, VA. They claim to have invented the waffle cone.

Dan: They still do "Apple Pie ice cream" in these parts, tho I've only seen it in the hand-scooped i.c. "shoppes" and have never tried it myself. I'll do a quick loook-see in the local freezers and see if anyone stocks it, packaged. <BR> <BR>For purists, there's a difference between i.c. and froz. custard, of course (I'm NOT a purist; my spouse is). In the F.C realm, there's a chain (mostly in the Midwest and a couple in TX, I think) called Culver's that does a scrumptious sundae. Frozen custard is way big in Wisconsin (funny, how in some other states, they've never even heard of it??). Anyway, for those who need a fix in the dairy state, there's a place at the far north end of Milwaukee (ok, the suburbs). It's a big silvery building to the east and south of the hwy at Silver spring Rd. and I-43 , and another a few miles on at I-43 and Mequon Rd. (Freddy's). Also, one more, just north of Algoma on hwy 42. Eat quick, summer's on the wane! <BR> <BR>

Beth: A banana split at Kimball's in Jaffrey, NH, is $4.70. <BR>

Marilyn, in truth I've never had a banana split from Kimballs because the thing is just too big. But the $4.70 that Dan quotes is probably about right. If I recall, a "small" scoop is around $2, although there is something like a pint of ice cream in a "small".

Carvel anyone?

You really can't beat Hershey's Moosetracks ice cream right here in central PA. Loaded with HUGE chunks of chocolate and mini-peanut butter cups in rich vanilla ice cream. There's got to be some other sweets in there - just can't think of them. Eating it is like a chocolate adventure - like eating a big creamy, chocolaty chunky candy bar!

About this Moosetracks ice cream. You can get it at small ice cream shoppes that serve the Hershey brand. The Ice Cream Cafe in Camp Hill and the ice cream counter at Ashcombe Garden Center in Mechanicsburg are two places to check it out.