With summer in full swing, schools out everywhere and road trip season well underway, what better time to look at some of the best ice cream parlors and frankly, ice cream producers, in North America. From Prince Edward Island to California, boutique organic to old school, here they are, in no particular order.
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
Since: 1870
Number of locations: 48 (2008)
Most popular flavor: Black Raspberry Chip
Where: Sacramento, California
Since: 1947
Number of locations: 1
Most unusual flavor: Garlic (made for the Gilroy Garlic Festival every summer)
Where: Austin, Texas
Since: 1984
Number of locations: 14 (2009)
Number of flavors: Over 300
Standard flavors: Sweet Cream, Just Vanilla, Coffee, White Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, Mexican Vanilla, Dark Chocolate
Where: North Aurora, Illinois, with retail stores in and around Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Detroit
Since: 1927
Number of locations: 39 (2006)
Notable ice cream feature: Minimum 18% butterfat
Where: New Haven, Connecticut
Since: 1972
Number of locations: 5 (2009)
Number of flavors: Up to 24 daily
Namesake: Ashley Whippet, famous Frisbee dog and subject of the 1977 Best Live Action Short Film Academy Award nominee Floating Free
Where: San Francisco, California (Mission District)
Number of locations: 1
Supplier: Straus Family Creamery, 45 miles away
Unusual flavors: Balsamic Strawberry, Honey Lavender, Roasted Banana
Where: New York, New York
Since: 1983
Notable features: Handmade gelato with 12% butterfat and 20% air by volume
Unusual flavors: Kalamansi Sorbetto, Green Tea & White Chocolate Chunks
Number of locations: Ciao Bella gelato is available throughout New York, New Jersey and as far away as Florida and California
Executive Chef: Danilo Zecchin
Honors: House purveyor for the James Beard Foundation, “Best Ice Cream in New York” in Zagat (2002)
Where: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Since: 1983
Number of locations: 10 (6 in Prince Edward Island, the rest in Halifax, Whistler, Niagara on the Lake and Banff)
Popular flavors: Gooey Mooey, Cowrispy Crunch, Wowie Cowie
Where: San Francisco, California
Since: 1953
Number of locations: 1
Unusual flavors: Halo Halo, Ube, Avocado
Honors: Over 50 gold, silver and bronze ribbons at California State Fairs
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
Since: 2004
Total number of flavors since inception: 378
Most unusual flavors: Sweet Corn with Cracked Pepper and Raspberry Coulis, Smoked Gouda, Scotch Bonnet Citrus, Cucumber Dill, Candied Bacon and Cinnamon
Throwback feature: Soda fountain classics
Where: Brooklyn, New York (DUMBO ‘hood)
Number of flavors: 8 and only 8 (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla chocolate chunks, chocolate chocolate chunks, butter pecan, peaches and cream, coffee)
Location: 1920’s-era fireboat house
Best (or worst) feature: The shop runs out of ice cream from time to time on busy summer days
Initial first day of business: September 12, 2001
Actual first day of business: October 13, 2001
Where: Chicago, Illinois (Bucktown)
Since: 1921
Infamous customer: Al Capone
Famous customers: The Beatles
Throwback feature: marble soda fountain
Popular menu items: Sundaes, banana splits, root beer floats
Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Since: 1984
Number of locations: 3 (2009)
Most popular flavors: Tire d’Erable (Maple Taffy), Bric-a-Brac, Cocktail King Kong, Coconut Sorbet
Where: Cambridge, Massachusetts (Central Square)
Since: 1982
Number of locations: 3
Number of flavors: 60
Popular flavors: Rather Dark Chocolate, Burnt Caramel!
Book: Ice Cream Man: 25 Years at Toscanini’s, by owner Gus Rancatore, with author Helen Epstein
Honors: “The best ice cream in the world” – The New York Times
Where: Route 66, St. Louis, Missouri
Since: 1930
Claim to fame: only ice cream parlor open 24/7 in America (summer)
Number of flavors: 1 (vanilla)
Specialty: A “concrete”
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Since: 2002
Number of locations: 6 in Philadelphia, others in New Jersey and New York City, online orders available
Number of flavors since inception: 368
Unusual flavors: Cucumber, Tahini, Lemongrass
Motto: “27 flavors made fresh each morning!”
Honorable mentions: Wilton Candy Kitchen (Wilton, Iowa), McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams (Santa Barbara, California), Tèo (Austin, Texas), Penn State Creamery (State College, Pennsylvania), Tara’s Organic Ice Cream Shop (Berkeley, California), Sibby’s Organic Zone Ice Cream Parlor (Viroqua, Wisconsin), Glacier Ice Cream (Boulder, Colorado)
Before you get your ice cream fix, check out great deals on hotels all over America.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Go to Swal Dairy in Allentown, New Jersey on 333 Main Street for the nicest ice cream parlor on the NYC, Princeton, Philadelphia axis. It is run by Marie Swal, a true ice cream genius who runs a wonderful family type ice cream parlor. They have an American Idol-type competition each summer where customers suggest flavors and they are created and voted on! Marie does flavors you won’t see elsewhere…like apple pie, baklava, and chocolate orange chip…Yum. She does catering as well as ice cream cakes and pies. The parlor is clean and bright. Check it out, ice cream fans!