With 17 days left in National Ice Cream Month, it's time for us to share sources for the best frozen treats.
I also want to know how your preferences compare to the public relations machine.
Example #1: Foster Farms Dairy is trying hard to sell me on its Crystal brand ice cream sold in supermarkets. They've called and sent e-mails, with the pitch that the locally made Crystal is "the very best in summertime treats."
Example #2: The California Milk Advisory Board tells me that, based on a Fresno poll, "Cold Stone Creamery is listed as the best place in town to grab a couple scoops." According to that poll, Fresnans also love Rocky Road above all other ice cream flavors.
Call me a crank, but I'll have to disagree. Rocky Road isn't my favorite ice cream. And Crystal ice cream would be hard pressed to beat some of my own homemade ice creams.
What about you? Do you agree or disagree with the public relations machine? And what ice creams are you eating this summer?
photo source: Cold Stone Creamery
This summer it's been all about Mint Chocolate Chip, in particular those at the ice cream place in the Tower District, and The Creamery in Downtown Visalia.
Last summer I bought peppermint ice cream from the Fresno State Farmer's Market, and have been eating one or two spoonfuls every few months, trying to make it last as long as possible.
I should maybe go back and see if they have more.
I agree. The Fresno State stuff is good. I have always liked their peach... and recently tried their green tea which was quite yummy.
Nothing better than Blue Bell ice cream. Unfortunately it can only be found around Texas. I do have some in the freezer though that I brought back a couple weeks back. Yumm.
Superior Dairy is still BY FAR the best ice cream ever! In my opinion...
But during the summer... it's all about Thrifty's Rainbow Sherbet (at Rite Aid). Mmmm hmmmm!
Three places worth of shout-outs, I think ...
1. Superior Dairy (as mentioned above): I've been wanting to take the train down to Hanford just to have some. I really like the old-timey ice cream parlor vibe to it, too.
2. La Reina de Michoacan: Had the Strawberries & Creme there recently and I've been having dreams about it ever since. The paletas, of course, are good too.
3. Rite Aid/Thrifty: For a matter of convenience and affordability, Rite-Aid/Thrity is pretty much the go-to. It's cheap, it's easy to find a place close to you and it's really good. Easily better than Cold Stone when you consider cost and whatnot.
I was wondering when someone was going to mention Reina. They do a good job with fruit -- and have unusual flavors you can't find anywhere else.
Braun's Ice Cream. I heard a rumor that Irene's in the Tower sells it, now that all the actual Braun's stores are close. Its Almond Joy is to die for.
I'm with you on Brauns, I so miss it. I think I will try to make my own Almond Joy this weekend.
I was inspired by La Reina de Michoacan and have been making my own popsicles at home. The possibilities are endless and scrumptious!
la reina is the best. i think.
i do like the ice cream that thrifty/rite aid has. always have.
but what about MOCHI!! the japanese ice cream with the rice...gooey stuff..around it..its freaking awesome..i know this is not a place or anything.
anyone else a mochi fan?
Oh, yeah. Mochi ice cream rocks.
Can't remember if they sell mochi ice cream at Kogetsu-Do or not. Kogetsu-Do sells the regular mochi.
There's mochi ice cream at Trader Joe's, but it's no substitute for freshly made mochi.
You can't beat Thrifty (Rite-Aid) Chocolate Malted Krunch!
Superior Dairy, no contest. Worth the drive to Hanford and back.
Scoops in Tower sells Fresno State Ice Cream, and they have this Java-Chocolate Caramel Cup stuff that'll make your eyes roll back in your head.
I love Scoops in Tower because it's local and I can get my Fresno State Mint n Chip Ice Cream fix! :)
It's either Superior Dairy (doesn't Scoops in Tower sell their ice cream) or Fresno State.
Luke, they (Scoop's) used too but I guess Superior Dairy charged $10/bucket more because he also carried a 'competitors' ice cream. He told them to stuff it and stopped carrying it. I believe he now carries Producers (could be mistaken) and definitely also carries Fresno State..
I tried the Fresno State peppermint and wasn't as impressed as I'd expected based on their PR. It was good, but not great.
For a real treat though, try peppermint with hot fudge topping. It's deeeeelicious!
Baskin-Robbins used to have this in their flavor list. Another fave from there, hard to find is Oregon Blackberry. It has a very creamy berry flavor.
An all-time favorite, also hard to find, is Double Rainbow's Hazelnut Truffle Latte. Their description is "hazelnut ice cream with a touch of coffee, chocolate hazelnut swirl, chocolate hazelnut truffles and roasted hazelnuts". If I were stranded on an island this is the one flavor I'd want.
Summertime and rainbow sherbet is the best combo! So how come after 2 years I can't convince my local Vons to stock it? Is it too exotic for them??
La Reina de Michoacan
I thought the goal was to shop/go local when and where possible..
That being said -- Scoop's in the Tower District is great. I think they have Producers (they had Superior Dairy but no more..) and Fresno State ice cream -- both are very good, I think.
He's right in the heart of the Tower District.
Superior is great too if you feel like making the drive to Hanford -- and I don't know of anyone locally carrying Superior ice cream but if you know of any..
I don't mind Coldstone and it surely beats Baskin & Robbins but Scoop's in Tower gets my vote for now.
Fresno State's ice cream is pretty good. I buy their sherbert all the time. They also have pretty good produce, wine, oil and sausages for fairly decent prices.
Superior Dairy is absolutely #1. I now live approx. 1100 miles from my home town of Hanford and have given serious thought to driving back just for the ice-cream. Chocolate chip, chocolate, banana yummy.
La Reina de Michoacan...on Belmont.....THEIR COCONUT IS AWESOME...also the Rompope with Dates(raisins?)...and the variety of ice cream bars is unmatched...
There's ice cream and then there's Superior's! The very best!
Superior Dairy in Hanford.
The BEST part of summer for me is ICE CREAM. Superior Dairy is always worth the drive, but even better is Marianne's in Santa Cruz. Every summer my family and I spend a week in Santa Cruz and stop by Marianne's once if not twice a day. Each time we try a different flavor, my daughter loves the lavender, my personal favorite is the maccapuna (baby coconut) it is ono! If you like homemade coconut ice cream another place to try is The Thai House on Shaw Ave.