The Ice Cream Informant

NEWS: Half Priced Shakes All Day Long On Thursday, June 20th at Sonic Drive-In

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:27:00 +0000

In an effort to Welcome Summertime, Sonic Drive-In is offering half priced shakes all day long on Thursday, June 20th. I'd suggest getting something other than their Peanut Butter & Bacon Shake. I know I will.

REVIEW: Good & Delish Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle (The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice Walgreens Exclusive Created by Penn Jillette)

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:47:00 +0000

While I was at Walgreens a few weeks back to acquire Ben & Jerry’s exclusive pharmacy flavor, Truffle Trifecta, I noticed two new additions to the small selection in their freezer. As part of the season finale for the television show All-Star Celebrity Apprentice, Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller and country singer, Trace Adkins had an ice cream competition. They were instructed to create a new flavor to be added to Walgreens Good & Delish brand of premium ice cream, produce a promotional video and raise money for a launch event featuring the new flavors. Even though Penn’s team ultimately lost the competition, their ice cream still sold more units. His Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle flavor sounded more appealing than Trace’s Maple Macadonia Mash-Up, so like most of America, I went that route. Up until this point, the flavors available from Good & Delish hadn’t seemed worthy of purchasing, but the thought of rich vanilla ice cream with a sea salt chocolate swirl and fudge caramel candy pieces made me reconsider. Plus, some of the proceeds were going to Opportunity Village and it's always nice to be able to eat ice cream while also supporting a charity.

With the top removed from this 280 calorie per serving ice cream, the off-white vanilla base can’t seem to hide the sea salt chocolate swirl sitting right beneath the surface. I avoid the other elements and go for a bite full of just the rich vanilla ice cream to start with. Although the flavoring is pretty straightforward, the super-premium consistency allows for full appreciation of the simplicity and provides an acceptable foundation for the other ingredients. The sea salt chocolate swirl comes into play nearly immediately after scraping off only a few spoons worth. This stiff, solidified sauce is slightly crunchy, but soon breaks down to release a gritty chocolate finishes with hints of salt. The savory aspect adds a unique spin on the standard fudge swirl and also brings out the sweet characteristics of the vanilla ice cream more effectively.

The finishing touch of Penn’s flavor comes from the fudge caramel candy pieces, which I would soon found out came shaped like little turtles. These dime-sized truffles come stuffed with buttery caramel that works perfectly with the vanilla and chocolate featured in the other components. The outer coating cracks away easily to release the super-sweet liquid hiding inside. If only the sea salt chocolate swirl had been more prominent and the vanilla a bit more complex, this All-Star Celebrity Apprentice inspired flavor could have achieved the A it was capable of.

Where I Found It: Walgreens
Grade: B

REVIEW: French Fryz Pumpkin Milkshake

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:25:00 +0000

Although I haven't had much time to truly dedicate to the blog as of late, I've kept the reviews coming by picking up some fast food options every so often. While looking for a way to cool off with a friend recently, we stumbled upon this local, burger joint called French Fryz. We were tipped off by a family member and thought it would be a perfect to time to try it out. They offer a full line of burgers, fries, hot dogs and even salads, but we came for the shakes. French Fryz claims that these 1950’s style milkshakes are made with real Breyer’s ice cream that I assume is only available commercially these days since they've made the switch to frozen dairy dessert. While my friend opted for the chocolate, I couldn’t resist the temptation of trying their pumpkin. It had been a few seasons since I’d seen anything featuring any type of Fall flavoring, so I was anxious to see if French Fryz could satiate my off-season craving.

When the cashier handed me my cup, I was excited to see that not only was there a heaping scoop of actual ice cream sitting on top of the handspun shake, but they had also added a dash of pumpkin pie to the top layer. They had blended the ice cream just enough that it could be sucked through the straw with minimal effort while still retaining a dense feel. Despite the fact that my first sip was free of the concentrated spices on top, there was still plenty of flavoring to let you know exactly what you were dealing with. The familiar taste of pumpkin was immediately embraced by my taste buds and easily surpassed the performance of most other milkshakes available on the go. The flavoring was so delightful that I couldn’t wait until I finished before trying the actual ice cream on top. With the high concentration of spices coating the entire scoop, this was even more incredible than the actual milkshake. With some pie crust pieces or whipped cream topping blended in, this could have easily gotten an A.

Where I Found It: French Fryz (Skyland, NC)
Grade: B

Holey Cream Outrageous Ice Cream & Bake Shop

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:56:00 +0000

(Image found on FlickR, courtesy of CarbZombie)

A few nights ago while watching one of the food-oriented cable channels, a small New York business called Holey Cream Outrageous Donuts & Ice Cream was explored. Not only are they known for their hand-dipped donuts like the Fruit Loop and Gummie Bear Delight, but they also scoop homemade ice cream flavors such as Peanut Butter Caramel Cookie Dough and Red Velvet Cupcake. I’m sure the Big Apple has plenty of places to get a donut or some ice cream, but Holey Cream’s Famous Original Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches are what sets them apart from the rest. For $7.25 you can customize your own crazy creation by following the directions below:

(Image found on Google, courtesy of duchessinbrooklyn.blogspot.com)

Customers pick their donut, decide which icing to add, choose the toppings to sprinkle over the fresh icing and then select three heaping scoops of homemade ice cream to stuff in between. These extra large ice cream sandwiches are served in a big plastic to-go bowl that barely contains their super-sized offerings. According to their website, “Holey Cream is well known in Midtown for offering unique and outstanding sweet treats. Holey Cream is open late so that no matter what time you’re craving a delicious treat, they can always satisfy your hunger. The Specialty Sundaes, Ice Cream Donut Sandwiches, and Milk Shakes are all prepared quickly and delivered to you right away. Holey Cream uses only the freshest ingredients around, ensuring that every dish is of the highest possible quality. Be sure to try the best selling Fat Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Ice Cream and see why customers are always coming back for more. Order online or stop by Holey Cream today!"

(Image found on FlickR, courtesy of CarbZombie)

With the seemingly endless possibilities available, I'm sure I'd have a hard time deciding on what exactly to go with, but after browsing their menu for a few minutes I think I'd go with this combination: Nutella dipped donut with graham cracker crumbs, a scoop of their Homemade Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, a scoop of their Homemade Pretzel and a scoop of their Midnight Cookies & Cream. If anyone has ever been to this magical sounding place, or indulged in one of their incredible donut ice cream sandwiches, please share your experience!

(Image found on FlickR, courtesy of andrewkok)

READER REVIEW: Winston's Review of Ben & Jerry's Volun-Tiramisu (Target Exclusive)

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:50:00 +0000

Ben and Jerry’s Coffee ice cream base, in my opinion, is the one of best of their bases. Not only does their coffee ice cream share the basics of all their other pints: heavy cream, sugar, and milk; it also is infused with one of the most complex-flavored foods on earth--coffee. After stumbling across Volun-Tiramisu, a Target exclusive Mascarpone Coffee based ice cream, around a year ago, and loving the experience, I couldn’t resist a re-scoop and review earlier this week.

The description of this pint reads “Coffee Mascarpone Ice Cream with Cocoa Dusted Coffee Rum Lady Finger Pieces”. In other words, the base is a cheese-modified version of their coffee base designed to replicate the experience of Tiramisu. On first bite, the coffee flavor immediately dominated my palate. Incredible. Within seconds, though, the mascarpone and lady fingers’ dominated my senses and delivered a cake-like, solid texture. On second bite, the experience proved nearly identical to the first but, but the mascarpone and lady fingers texture repeated itself in a relatively undesirable fashion: the solids created a gritty, sandy and dry texture over the base. Not exactly enjoyable. This continued over and over again.

I’m not sure where the gritty texture came from. At first, I thought perhaps the pint experienced some freezer burn, and the ice created a gritty texture. No, these solids didn’t melt. Unfortunately the sandy texture didn’t emanate any specific flavoring over the incredible coffee base, so determining its source proved nearly impossible. That said, the cake itself demonstrated a relatively dry foundation, so it’s possible that cake crumbs found their way all throughout the base, the cocoa “dust” found its way throughout the base, or that the mascarpone is somehow dry and powdery when incorporated into the pint. Regardless, the grit was everywhere, it was dry, and it was far from enjoyable.

There isn’t much more to add about this pint except that it is Ben and Jerry’s incredible coffee base with some questionable mix-ins. I’m going to assume this pint is not representative of their norm, as my past experience did not disappoint. That said, this pint does closely replicate the Tiramisu dessert, a relatively powdery, gritty experience, though certainly not as extreme as this variant. Still, at a 50% failure rate in my 2 pint sample size, I’m going to suggest buyers proceed with caution, and only pursue this flavor if they are significant fans of Tiramisu and Coffee desserts.

Where Winston Found It: Target
Winston's Grade: C

REVIEW: Sonic Drive-In Peanut Butter & Bacon Shake

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Last week sometime, I had a reader leave a comment on one of Blizzard reviews suggesting that I check out some of the shakes from Sonic Drive-In. Ironically enough, a new one had just opened up a few miles away so I headed to check it out just a few days later. As I scanned over the 25 different real ice cream milkshakes they offer as part of their Summer of Shakes promotion, one really jumped off the page. I’d heard of bacon-infused sweets on television a few times and online, but hadn’t encountered the combination firsthand. Although there were a lot of worthy opponents in their lineup, I couldn’t let the opportunity to try real ice cream mixed with rich peanut butter and real bacon into a thick and creamy shake, finished with whipped topping a cherry pass me by.

Since I was a bit scared of getting stuck with a huge cup of something I wasn’t too fond of, I went with the small size. After looking at the outrageous nutrition facts when I got back home though, I’m glad I did. My small only set me back 760 calories, but the large portion ballooned all the way up to 1720 calories and a whopping 118 grams of fat (including 275% of your daily recommended value of saturated fat). After pulling up to one of the drive-in stalls, placing my order and waiting for a few minutes, the server roller-skated out to my car and exchanged my $2.09 for my cup. Like many other fast food shakes I’ve gotten, this one came topped with a plastic lid filled with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. As I removed the lid and scraped off the mound of whipped cream, I could see big smears of creamy peanut butter still sticking to the side of the Styrofoam cup from the blending process; as well as little bits of actual bacon.

My first few sips of the thick, real ice cream milkshake were interesting to say the least. The sweet peanut butter comes first and provides a dense, heavy flavoring to act as the foundation. Peanut butter is featured in a ton of flavors that combine sugar and salt, but none can compare to the way the grease from the bacon affected the taste. These little strips came together with the nuttiness of the ice cream to create an experience you won’t find just anywhere. Perhaps it was just the novelty of the idea, but I found myself really enjoying it for a bit. Before I was even halfway through though, I reached the law of diminishing return. The bacon and peanut butter played well together for a few minutes, but soon felt too heavy to palate any longer. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this shake came from the concentration of bacon sitting on the bottom of the cup. It looks like Sonic should suggest more blending for this particular flavor. From here on out, I’ll probably save the bacon for breakfast or burgers and not in my ice cream.

A normal bite on top. My last bite on the bottom.

Where I Found It: Sonic Drive-In
Grade: D

READER REVIEW: Bob's Review of Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter World

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Finally my small, local Target decided to get the exclusive Ben & Jerry’s flavors, so I had to hurry over and pick them up. Not only had they stocked up, but they also had a two pints for $5 promotion going on. This made the decision to purchase Peanut Butter World and Brownie Chew Gooder an easy one. Although both have received amazing reviews, I had to try Peanut Butter World first since I’m a peanut butter diehard.

Peanut Butter World is a milk chocolate ice cream with peanut buttery swirls & chocolate cookie swirls. The name of this flavor would have you believe that this would revolve around peanut butter, but that’s not the case. After opening the pint, I notice the dark, rich looking milk chocolate base. Ben & Jerry’s chocolate base isn’t exactly my favorite, but the combination of swirls with this milk chocolate variation makes for a great tasting pint. The milk chocolate base doesn’t seem as weak as their generic chocolate base and comes off a bit richer, so I have to say this is a slight improvement.

The peanut butter and chocolate cookie swirls are up next. As you start to really get into the pint, you find big chunks of peanut butter filling reminiscent of the inside of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. The great thing is the swirls really compliment the base. As you get deeper, you continue to run into more and more of the swirls, which are some of the best available from Ben & Jerry’s. The chocolate cookie swirl is the same one found in Milk & Cookies and is equally effective in this one. I would have rather seen a peanut butter base considering the name of the pint, but it was still able to nearly top my list of peanut butter ice creams.

Where Bob Found It: Target
Grade: A

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Banana Cream Pie Blizzard

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:03:00 +0000

After trying the S’mores Blizzard of the Month Treat from Dairy Queen earlier this June, I found myself craving some of that signature soft serve only a few weeks later. Since I’d already reviewed the featured item, I decided to explore some of their other options. Dairy Queen breaks down their standard Blizzard offerings into four distinct categories: Cookie Lovers, Candy Cravers, Fruit Fans and Chocoholics. Fruity frozen treats rarely interest me, but as the drive-thru attendant’s voice echoed through the speaker I quickly decided to go with Banana Cream Pie. They describe this flavor as, “Our version of Banana Cream Pie a’ la mode…but much better. Real bananas, creamy banana cream pie filling and crunchy pie crust pieces blended with creamy vanilla serve. We top it with whipped cream to give you that decadent pie experience.”

As usual, I went with the medium sized serving, paid my $3.69 and pulled around to pick up my order. Unlike any of the others I’ve gotten, the Banana Cream Pie Blizzard comes topped with a mountain of whipped cream (which melted quickly and consequently made a huge mess in my cup holder). This fruit based flavor set me back 690 calories for a medium, but varies from 380 calories for a mini all the way up to 980 calories for a large. I avoid the mounds of whipped cream when I pull the long spoon out of the cup so I can taste the banana-infused soft serve first. If they make this in the same fashion they make their others, they’ve probably squirted a bunch of banana flavoring into their creamy vanilla soft serve in order to make this super-sweet base. The result is a strong banana taste that comes off as slightly artificial in taste.

Dairy Queen throws in bits of sliced bananas to help offset the fake flavoring and, because they haven’t been in a deep freezer, manage to retain their soft and mushy consistency. Blizzard Treats have really helped me to appreciate fruit in ice cream because of the warmer temperature at which they’re served and how they are able to avoid the frozen-solid texture of many store-bought pints. To finish off the Banana Cream Pie concept, they've also added in pie crust pieces. These crunchy squares of crust add a gritty texture, a sweet pastry taste and complete the authentic feel of this dessert. Having only had Blizzards which featured chocolate, this was a nice change of pace; especially if you enjoy bananas like me.

Where I Found It: Dairy Queen
Grade: B

NEWS: Ben & Jerry's Heads to the 2013 Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tennessee

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Ben & Jerry's has a longstanding tradition of handing out ice cream at the famous music festival known as Bonnaroo and they're back at it again in 2013. They even went as far as dedicating a flavor to the event in the form of Bonnaroo Buzz, but recently changed the name to Coffee Caramel Buzz despite keeping the same ingredients. The combination of coffee and malt ice creams with whiskey caramel swirls & english toffee pieces is given out to people attending the festival to help them beat the heat (and whatever other ailments they may be recovering from).

The four day festival kicks off today and doesn't end until Sunday (June 13th-16th). Good luck to all in attendance and hopefully you can score a pint of Bonnaroo's Coffee Caramel Buzz in the process!

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry's Banana Split

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Since this blog's beginning, I’ve tried and reviewed over 50 different pints of ice cream from our friends at Ben & Jerry’s. With the exception of four flavors in their standard rotation, I’ve sampled every available option as well as a few exclusive, limited and scoop shop only batches that have come and gone. Out of the four remaining, only a few are actually available in my area. One of these is the combination of banana and strawberry ice creams with walnuts, fudge chunks & a fudge swirl known as Banana Split. Ben & Jerry’s take on the classic American sundae leaves out the Neapolitan trio of ice cream and counts on two fruit based ice creams to carry the load instead. Their banana base in flavors like Banana Cream Pie and the classic Chunky Monkey won me over a long time ago, however the strawberry base featured in Banana Split is something of a mystery. Outside of their Strawberry Shortcake Greek Frozen Yogurt, not one of their current creations features a strawberry ice cream.

The unimpressive description of this particular pint had caused me to hold off for far too long and after seeing the fudge swirl sitting on the first layer, was something I thought I’d immediately regret. The 260 calories per serving contained inside is middle of the road for a flavor featuring a fruit foundation. Despite the vivid colors of the actual fruit, the pink and pale yellow ice creams are barely distinguishable by just looking. The banana base is just as sweet and smooth as I remember and, even though it’s nothing to brag about, their strawberry ice cream isn’t bad either. They’ve even left in small slivers of bananas and strawberries to more accurately portray the fruit toppings included on the actual dessert. Following only a few bites though, I find it too hard to avoid the thick fudge swirl any longer.

This hot fudge imitator was easily my favorite part of this pint. The liquid consistency and rich chocolate flavor complimented both of the base ice creams, as well as the other two remaining mix-ins. Ben & Jerry’s use the same standard fudge flakes frequently found in other flavors, but luckily these are small enough that they melt down quickly and avoid the typical frozen-solid consistency of full-size bars they sometimes use. The finishing touch of Banana Split comes in the form of a few broken bits of walnut. These are soft, easily chewed and bring about an authentic feel to this sundae spin-off. The end result off all the ingredients is something pretty mediocre when compared to some of their more intricate creations. Although I overlooked this for some time, it doesn’t really seem I was missing out on that much.

Where I Found It: Ingles Market
Grade: C

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop Exclusive, Candy Bar Pie

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:10:00 +0000

While I was in Vermont back in early April, Ben & Jerry’s informed us all that following the May through August run of their limited edition Pina Colada, Candy Bar Pie would be the next flavor to make its way into pints. Slated for a September through December release, this combination of peanut butter ice cream with fudge flakes, chocolate nougat & sweet & salty pretzel swirls sounded like something I wouldn’t be able to wait on. Luckily for us, this flavor is currently available in scoop shops around the country. After visiting one of their retail locations this past weekend for a hand packed pint of the recently resurrected White Russian, I decided to splurge for a pint of Candy Bar Pie as well. Based on the reviews I’ve received from others regarding this particular flavor, I was in for a real treat.

Image Courtesy of Care's Kitchen (Found on FlickR)

This complicated creation gets its inspiration from a pie that typically features a chocolate or pretzel based crust, is filled with layers of creamy filling, and topped with broken bits of various chocolate-coated candy bars. As the guy packing my pint pulled this stuff out of the large carton he had hiding in the freezer, it looked highly involved. Each heaping scoop he forced into the pint was chock full of mix-ins and the design closely resembled the actual dessert. I’d imagine that the factory made pints that we’ll be seeing in September will be a bit more uniform than mine, but regardless, it’s obvious that Ben & Jerry’s intends for you to get a nice dose of each ingredient in every bite.

This dense mixture of candy bar ingredients comes in at 280 calories per serving, which isn’t too bad considering a peanut butter ice cream is used. Since it would be nearly impossible to taste the base by itself, I go full throttle from the get-go. Some may have a problem with the fact that so much is going on inside Candy Bar Pie, but that doesn’t hinder the the overall taste in the slightest. Besides the visible flakes of fudge scattered about, all the other components have seemingly meshed into one. The result is a flavor that has a gritty feel thanks to the two pretzel swirls, and when combined with the rich peanut butter ice cream and dark splotches of chocolate nougat, hits nearly every texture imaginable in ice cream.

Although Ben & Jerry’s always chooses top-notch mix-ins to throw in with their peanut butter ice cream (i.e. What a Cluster and Peanut Butter Cup), they’ve really found some complimentary components with these. The fudge flakes remain small enough to melt down quickly and provide a rich chocolate finish. The chocolate nougat doesn’t add all that much, but the mild flavoring definitely doesn’t hurt anything either. For me, the contrasting pretzel swirls were the highlight of Candy Bar Pie. I couldn’t really pinpoint which one I was getting at a given moment by just looking, but the burst of sugar or salt flavor mixed with the gritty texture ended up being my favorite aspect. Ben & Jerry’s was intentionally targeting those who enjoy sweet and savory in this ice cream, and considering how partial I am to this combination, I can’t wait for Candy Bar Pie to make its way into stores this September so I can rescoop.

Where I Found It: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop
Grade: A

REVIEW: Skinny Cow Snickerdoodle Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Only recently have I started expanding outwards to the large selection of novelty ice cream sandwiches and bars that rotate in and out of the freezer aisle. Many of these products tend to target health conscious consumers looking to buy themselves a reward for their hard work. Skinny Cow has built their entire company around this concept and according to them, “Since 1994, the Skinny Cow™ brand has made great-tasting ice cream snacks for dessert lovers who know that looking good and staying healthy doesn't mean a life without indulgence.” I usually avoid low-fat ice creams simply because they can’t come close to competing with their super premium competition in terms of taste and texture. That was until I skimmed across the words Snickerdoodle in the description. These limited edition ice cream sandwiches are made with low fat cinnamon ice cream layered between two oatmeal cookie wafers.

These small four-ounce sandwiches come in a box of 6 and tip the scales at a measly 140 calories a piece. Each comes individually wrapped in clear plastic so you can see the thick layer of low-fat cinnamon ice cream sitting between the cookies. These low-calorie treats smell like cinnamon, one of my favorite traits in a flavor, and the flecks from the spices are easily visible inside the ice cream. Since these haven’t sat out of the freezer that long, my first bite of the low-calorie ice cream felt dense, but started to melt down soon after. Although the filling for this sandwich isn’t as full-bodied as a premium ice cream, it’s still full of cinnamon sugar flavor and manages to avoid feeling overly artificial.

The soft, oatmeal wafer cookies on the top and bottom incorporate another element of cinnamon sugar and, because of the design of an ice cream sandwich, is involved in every single bite. The combination of flavors found in the two separate components come together to create a pretty accurate representation of the classic Snickerdoodle cookie. Considering the calories, this is about as satisfying as I could have hoped for. Even though this is rated a C in comparison to some other super-premium ice creams, if you’re looking for a low fat fill this may be one of your better options.

Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: C

READER REVIEW: Colby's Review of Private Selection Chai Tea with Chocolate Ginger Cookie

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:32:00 +0000

Recently while browsing the ice cream assortment at my local grocery store, I stopped to inspect the selection of Kroger’s Private Selection Ice Cream. Although the pint flavors offered are typically limited, one caught my eye that intrigued me: Chai Tea With Chocolate Ginger Cookies. This could have potential. My hopes were that the spiced chai tea ice cream blended with a creamy caramel ribbon and miniature ginger cookies marbled with chocolate would excite my taste buds in ways Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Buns or Oatmeal Cookie Chunk consistently do.

So I decided to pick it up and give it a try (at $1.79 a pint what did I really have to lose?) and headed home to try out this unique flavor. Having been disappointed with other Private Selection offerings in the past, I really wasn’t sure how this ice cream would pan out. At first glimpse, the less than ultra-premium (200 cal, 10g Fat/Serving) ice cream had quickly begun to melt. The smell of ginger instantly filled my nostrils and I began to scrap the surface to see what lied beneath.

I was a little shocked to see such a dense caramel swirl hiding inside this pint. However, the caramel lacked the flavor punch needed to accelerate this flavor to the heights of other brands. The amount of ginger cookie pieces was slightly below average and the cookies were very soft. Personally I am a huge fan of texture and the cookie pieces could have added much more “chew” to this pint if they were crunchier. The flavor of the cookies pared well with the chai tea base which really just tasted like ginger. The base was really disappointing. Yes it was creamy, but it just didn’t hold up to other brands of similar quality (Edy’s, Blue Bell, Turkey Hill, etc.). I think if chocolate chunks were included it would greatly enhance the quality of this ice cream. Maybe I would have enjoyed this “Seasonal Offering” more in a different season, but overall it was unique and different. If you find yourself in an experimental mood and a strong ginger flavor excites you, give this a go. If not, pass by and indulge in something different.

Where Colby Found It: Kroger
Colby's Grade: C

NEWS: Three Twins Announce the Release of Sergio Romo's Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:32:00 +0000

Earlier today, Three Twins announced another new flavor they're adding to their current lineup. According to their Facebook post, "We have officially signed a contract with Mr. Sergio Romo to bring Sergio Romo's Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream (it only tastes illegal) to the world!!!! Look for this flavor to start appearing in stores sometime around September!"

NEWS: The Story of My Grandmother Stealing My Phin & Phebes Ice Cream Makes Da' Blog

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:32:00 +0000

After sharing the story of how my grandmother stumbled upon my last pint of Phin & Phebes, they thought it was worthy of being shared with the world. I agree. It seems my love for ice cream comes honest.

Check out Da' Blog by clicking here if you're interested.

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop Exclusive, White Russian

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Over the past few months, the folks at Ben & Jerry’s have released a few new flavors exclusively for their scoop shops scattered across the country. New creations like Peaches & Cream and Salted Caramel are only available by visiting one of their brick and mortar locations, but unfortunately for me, there aren’t any in my city. This meant if I wanted to try Candy Bar Pie, which is slated for release in pint form starting in September, or the recently resurrected White Russian; I’d have to work out the logistics.

As I traveled through the Charlotte, NC area this weekend, I finally made the arrangements to try and transport some scoop shop exclusive flavors back to my home a few hours away. This location wasn’t quite as memorable as my last visit to the flagship shop I last visited in Burlington, Vermont where I reviewed Coconut Seven Layer Bar, but they still had plenty of ice cream to offer. After walking through the front door, I immediately made my way to the freezer holding their pre-packaged pints. I had been hoping to find Oatmeal Cookie Chunk hiding inside, which has been eluding me forever. After that didn't pan out, I moved on to the counter. I scanned the available options and finally settled for a to-go pint of White Russian and Candy Bar Pie. Judging from the reaction I received from the guy working the counter, the majority of their customers select smaller portion sizes and rarely opt for hand-packed pints. Following a 15 minute struggle of forcing frozen ice cream into two separate containers, I was ready to go. I cashed in one free Ben & Jerry’s pint coupon I had been saving and walked out only $6.22 lighter. I placed the paper bag holding my cartons of ice cream in my Styrofoam cooler and topped the whole thing with plenty of ice.

By the time I reached home nearly two hours later, my ice cream was still frozen solid. I placed the pints in my freezer to let them harden back up completely before sampling either. It isn’t everyday that Ben & Jerry’s decides to give a second chance to something that had once been condemned to the gates of the Flavor Graveyard, so I opted for White Russian first. The gravestone for this once deceased creation reads, “Sweet cream flavored with Kahlua® and Camaya liqueurs and coffee extract. A caffeinated communion, the iron curtain has dropped upon this so-velvet union. It is nyet more.” This latest reincarnation has a more straightforward description: coffee ice cream with coffee liqueur. While in Vermont, one of the flavor gurus had stressed how hard it is now to include alcohol in any their flavors. Not only does it require a ton of licensing, but laws also demand that the manufacturer destroy any booze left over after production. That could be the reason for the lack of Kahlua in the White Russian recipe.

Prior to trying this, I’d tasted Ben & Jerry’s coffee base in flavors like Coffee Heath Bar Crunch and Coffee, Coffee, BuzzBuzzBuzz! Both of those featured some type of chocolate candy mix-in, so I was hoping the simple addition of coffee liqueur could help out White Russian. At only 200 calories per serving, this uncomplicated, beige base isn’t quite as overwhelming as some of their other options. The thick feel is the same you’d expect from a super-premium ice cream, but the taste can’t quite keep up with the consistency. The small addition of coffee liqueur manages to mellow out the boldness of their standard coffee ice cream without overly spiking the whole thing with alcohol. The result is a near identical taste to that of a well-made, heavily creamed White Russian cocktail. Unfortunately that wasn’t enough to hold my attention for very long. Ben & Jerry’s recently resurrected flavor is great for fans of the drink, but there may be better options when making a special trip to a scoop shop.

Where I Found It: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop
Grade: C

READER REVIEW: Winston's Review of Dairy Queen's S'mores Blizzard (June 2013 Blizzard of the Month)

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:24:00 +0000

I’m not a big fan of Dairy Queen; I usually avoid its’ relatively lower quality base and often dry, crushed mix-ins. However, The Ice Cream Informant's review of the June 2013 Blizzard of the Month, S'mores, Convinced me it was worth giving this alleged “A” dessert a try.

When the young woman at the Dairy Queen handed me the medium S'mores Blizzard, my first glance at the brown, relatively barren apex of my dessert instilled disappointment. My biggest fear, that the dessert would lack mix-ins and flavor, seemed to have come true. Fortunately, I was mistaken. My first bite proved nothing short of incredible: the base exploded with intense graham cracker and marshmallow flavor, and a large chocolate candy piece provided a sweet, chocolate finish. Somehow, marshmallow syrup and graham cracker dust incorporated itself directly into the foundation of the base and promoted the basic dairy queen vanilla base into the premium class of ice cream bases. In other words, the base could only fairly be labeled as "Graham Cracker Marshmallow Ice Cream".

The mix-ins in this dessert were equally fantastic. Between 15 and 20 full-sized chocolate pieces of average quality milk chocolate graced this dessert. While Dairy Queen claims a marshmallow filling in the chocolate pieces, my random inspection of 2-3 of them yielded no such filling. That said, I really didn’t care; everything tasted incredible. While the marshmallow graham cracker base proved blissful alone, large chunks of graham cracker also occupied this dessert and created an experience nothing short of dessert perfection.

If you have access to Dairy Queen, load the family and/or friends in the car, and buy this dessert before the months’ end. We might not see something like this from Dairy Queen for quite some time.

Where Winston Found It: Dairy Queen
Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Colby's Review of Ben & Jerry's Banana Split

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Having been an avid follower of Chad’s reviews for some time now, I felt it was necessary to contribute my own review to the site. As I searched through the incredible list of ice creams, I was determined to find one that Chad, or another reader, had not analyzed yet. I finally discovered that Ben & Jerry’s Banana Split had somehow fallen through the cracks. This flavor seems to be one seldom talked about but I have been anxiously anticipating this treat for some time now. Ben & Jerry’s describes this All-American Classic as Banana & Strawberry Ice Cream with Walnuts, Fudge Chunks & a Fudge Swirl.

As I opened the container, I was pleasantly greeted with a graciously swirl of fudge and several small strawberry pieces peeking through the surface. The first bite sent me back to childhood memories of warm summer days refreshed by cool ice cream sundaes. I immediately pick up on the strawberry base, but as I continue through the pint I have a hard time picking up much of the banana, which is disappointing. The fudge swirl is very consistent throughout and mixes nicely with the strawberry pieces, which maintain a nice texture. And then BAM! The walnut pieces! Where have these been all my life?? The slight crunch of the walnuts, which seem to be lightly covered in a sweet sugary syrup, add the perfect chew to this flavorful ice cream.

As I think back, this is my 1st encounter with walnut pieces from any of the 22 Ben & Jerry’s flavors I have tasted. Maybe I have missed this superior mix-in by some chance, but I am now on an endeavor to seek out other flavors incorporating such a fine specimen. Overall I really enjoyed the nostalgia of Ben & Jerry’s Banana Split, but the lack of banana in the base narrowly kept it from receiving an A.

Where Colby Found It: Kroger
Grade: B

REVIEW: Burger King Oreo Shake

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Following my recent exploration of the some of the frozen fast food offerings currently available, as well as my recent expansion in the form of The Fast Food Informant, I’ve started reviewing some limited edition milkshakes available on the go. New offerings from restaurants like Zaxby’s and Chick-fil-A had me looking towards Burger King’s Oreo Shake for my next fix. They boast about their milkshake by saying, “Cool down with our creamy hand spun OREO® Shake. Velvety Vanilla Soft Serve, OREO® cookie pieces and vanilla sauce are blended to perfection and finished with a sweet whipped topping just for you.” Since I was headed out of town this weekend, this would be the perfect opportunity to try out this portable option.

Burger King offers their new shake in a small, medium or large portion, but I decided to stick with the small. At a cost of 570 calories and $1.99, this was pretty reasonable in both departments. The hand spun milkshake is put in a transparent cup with a plastic dome that's been filled with whipped topping and Oreo crumbs. My first few sips of this were pretty to hard to suck through the red straw due to the thick consistency. The classic cookies and cream taste came through, however the flavors didn’t really pop like some other store-bought ice creams (or even other cookies and cream milkshakes for that matter). Unfortunately for me, this only got worse as it started to melt down.

The whipped topping that fills up the last few inches of this shake seems to do more harm than good. The taste is simply too sweet, artificial tasting and even lacks the whipped cream texture you’d get with the real stuff. The Oreo crumbs that coat the entire top can’t seem to save this one either. As the toppings begin to mix with the shake sitting underneath, this results in a taste that was worse than the shake all by itself. I had been hoping for a few huge hunks of Oreo cookie hiding at the bottom that may help make Burger King’s newest dessert worth the journey, but they never showed. I probably won’t be choosing this particular fast food chain next time I need to cool down with some sweets.

Where I Found It: Burger King
Grade: D

NEWS: Ben & Jerry's Announce Another Scoop Shop Exclusive, Salted Caramel

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:12:00 +0000

Even though they’re a little late to the party, it’s nice to see Ben & Jerry’s is finally contributing to the salty caramel craze sweeping through the ice cream world. Yesterday on their Facebook page, they announced the release of their latest scoop shop exclusive. The latest special batch flavor is made up of a salted caramel ice cream with a salted caramel swirl. Now this is one I hope to soon see in pint form across the country. Although I don’t live near any scoop shops, this may be worth the drive.

REVIEW: Blue Bunny Chocolate Caramel Cashew

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:06:00 +0000

Although most of Blue Bunny's products fall slightly underneath what I consider to be premium ice cream, some of their selections still seem to pretty solid. A few weeks ago at my local Wal-Mart, I stumbled across their limited edition, White Chocolate Caramel Cluster. The thought of a white chocolate base with chocolate, caramel and peanut candies had enticed me into picking up a carton. Unfortunately, the overall result was a bit of a letdown. When I wandered back into Wal-Mart earlier this week to grab a few things, I noticed that their Chocolate Caramel Cashew was now sitting in the slot where White Chocolate Caramel Cluster once had. This latest limited edition is made up of silky chocolate ice cream loaded with chocolate flakes, honey coated cashews and a caramel sauce. As soon as I arrived home, I popped off the patented lid-lock tab and peeled back the top to investigate further.

Despite the fact that I usually prefer high quality to high quantity, the lower calorie count contained in many of Blue Bunny's products is a welcomed sight when you're watching your weight. The 160 calories inside Chocolate Caramel Cashew are much easier to fit in someone's diet than some of the 250 plus calories found in most super-premium pints. My first reaction came from the silky chocolate base, which was one of the lightest shades I've seen from any ice cream featuring cocoa. The coloring approached a grey and was only broken up by a few of the cashews and chocolate flakes sticking up through the top. My first bite of the light and fluffy base scooped out easily and the taste was less intense than other similar low-calorie, chocolate offerings. The flavors found in your run of the mill chocolate ice cream are usually artificial and overly rich, but this lived up to its silky description by remaining smooth.

All of the other ingredients are small in stature, but provide complimentary flavors and texture to the overall theme. The fudge flakes are thin, slightly crunchy and build on the richness of the chocolate contained in the ice cream. The cashews are soft, easy to chew, release all their honey-roasted flavors when chewed, and were my personal favorite. Chocolate Caramel Cashew finishes with small stripes of caramel sauce, which always seems to compliments a chocolate base. Blue Bunny’s most recent release isn’t going to win any awards for creativity or performance, but wasn’t a disappointment either.

Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: C

NEWS: Ben & Jerry's Starts Their "City Churned" Campaign To Create New Flavors in Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Portland and Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:51:00 +0000

Earlier today, Ben & Jerry’s announced their most recent attempt to capture the next euphoric flavor combination. Their new “City Churned” campaign will soon be rolling into Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Portland and Seattle. According to the press release Ben & Jerry’s will be combining, “tweets, traffic, landmarks and input from local residents to crowdsource a local flavor.” Their famous Scoop Truck will make its way into each city and visit the places that make each individual city unique. Over several weeks, they will gather information in order to further familiarize themselves with what the citizens of each city are looking for. Dave Stever, Ben & Jerry’s Director of Marketing, says, “Name a city and you feel a pulse that is individual to that hub. There's a personality to each location that is distinctive unto itself. We're going to give our fans something we’ve never given them before: a chance to mix up an ice cream as unique as that city's own flavor.” Check out www.Citychurned.com for more information and read the rest of the press release below:

For example, in D.C. Ben & Jerry’s filmed and tracked city joggers to help decide between the ingredients peppermint and marshmallow. Northbound jogging traffic along the Potomac became votes for marshmallow, while southbound joggers counted as votes for peppermint. In New York, on-time subway trains will count as votes for either waffle cone pieces or Spoonable Caramel, depending on the subway line. In Seattle, support for Fairtrade Chocolate or Fairtrade Vanilla will, in part, be determined by the number of plaid vs. plain shirts filmed on city streets.

Fans who aren’t present at the filming locations can also weigh in on each ingredient match-up by voting online on the “City Churned” microsite. They can also put their creativity to the test by submitting their original ideas for the flavor name. In each market, the campaign will conclude with a community event where for one day only the flavor will be tasted and celebrated by the local fans that helped develop it.

To ensure that these “City Churned” flavors are a tribute to the cities themselves, Ben & Jerry’s is partnering with local business to source local ingredients. Companies include Divine Chocolate, Route 11 Chips, Sixpoint Brewery, Spoonable Caramel, Liddabit Sweets, TCHO Chocolate, Kika’s Treats, Rogue Ales, Portland Roasting Coffee, Theo Chocolates and Caffé Vita.

The campaign will officially kick off in each market when the beloved Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Truck rolls into each city as part of its East and West Coast "Scoop Truck" sampling tour. Consumers can also cast their “City Churned” ballots at select Scoop Truck scooping locations simply by tossing their spoons into recycling bins listed for Caramel or Fudge. Touring the west and east coast for the third summer, the Scoop Truck is still delivering frozen treats for tweets. This year, it is dishing out Ben & Jerry’s Greek Frozen Yogurt and in “City Churned” markets it will help facilitate local voting. Follow the Scoop Truck's winding path on Twitter @BenJerrysTruck (on the East Coast) and @BenJerrysWest (on the West Coast).

REVIEW: Chick-fil-A Limited Edition Peach Hand-Spun Milkshake

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:42:00 +0000

After I started reviewing items from Dairy Queen and Zaxby’s recently, I’ve kept my eyes open for any other interesting items available from fast food restaurants in my area. While hitting the drive-thru of Chick-fil-A earlier today, I noticed advertisements for their limited edition Peach Hand-Spun Milkshake plastered all over the place. Since I’ve covered a few summer-inspired ice creams lately, I thought I’d add this one to the mix as well. Although I don’t usually enjoy fruity milkshakes, the memories of their seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Chip and Banana Pudding ones provided enough persuasion to make an impulse purchase. They offered a large serving, but I opted for the small.

After giving the cashier my $2.65, I was given a bigger cup than I had been expecting. They start with a white Styrofoam cup especially made for this particular flavor, fill it to the brim with peach-infused Icedream, cap it with a plastic dome, top it with plenty of whipped cream and finish the whole thing off with a bright red maraschino cherry. My small size shake would have set me back 660 calories if I had finished the entire thing, but I tapped out a little early. Although it comes equipped with a clear top, I quickly lost that so I could shed some of the whipped cream piled up on top. It’s a few inches thick, which is fine if you’re using the straw, but can take some time to work through if you’re using the spoon approach.

The whipped topping is airy in consistency, sweet in taste and can become a bit overwhelming if not mixed in with the milkshake. After scooping some away, the pale orange, Peach Icedream displays plenty of the brightly colored peach pieces that have been shredded up inside. I usually can’t stand to see fruit in my ice cream, but the fresh preparation means these aren’t frozen and are able to stay soft and juicy from the get-go. The density of the shake isn’t quite heavy enough to restrict sucking the mixture through a straw, but eventually becomes pretty runny by the bottom. It wasn't until I mixed the ingredients all together that its full potential was finally reached. Although I probably won’t be purchasing this again anytime soon, this was a decent way to usher in summer.

Where I Found It: Chick-Fil-A
Grade: C

READER REVIEW: Mike's Review of Jeni's Splendid Brown Butter Almond Brittle

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 03:48:00 +0000

After sampling Jeni's for the first time this weekend, I knew an encore was in order. I could hardly contain myself as I awaited my chance to try the brand's renowned Brown Butter Almond Brittle flavor. Given its immense popularity, I considered this pint the crown jewel of my shipment, and after scooping it, I can certainly say it lived up to its promise.

The flavor is described as rich browned butter ice cream with salty, crunchy almonds. While the description was rather mundane, the final product was anything but. The base of this ice cream is one of the most unique that I've ever tried. True to the Ice Cream Informant's own description, the taste is virtually indiscernible from browned butter. Some readers may be put off somewhat by that description. In all honesty, I would have found it unsettling as well, but the old adage, "don't knock it 'till you try it" certainly is applicable in this case. As the unbelievably creamy base melted in my mouth, I had thoughts of movie theater popcorn and buttered sweet corn. I could have never imagined enjoying an experience like this prior to scooping, but seeing was believing.

While the base ice cream could receive high marks on its own, the almond brittle pieces are the real winner here. The sugary, caramelized coating of the brittle is immensely sweet, and provide a burst of intense flavor that contrasts well with the subtle, unadorned base. My major complaint with Ben and Jerry's Peanut Brittle is that the mix-ins are simply too small to enjoy. The small bits of gravelly brittle that you find in the offering don't hold a candle to the larger chunks found in its Jeni's counterpart. The almond brittle pieces vary from modest clusters (pictured above) to veritable boulders (pictured below).

Overall, Jeni's has hit another homerun with me, providing an experience that will be hard to forget. This pint is an absolute must-but for all ice cream fanatics, if not just to try something out of the ordinary. In addition to receiving the top possible grade, Jeni's Brown Butter Almond Brittle has cracked my personal top 10 ice cream flavors, joining the pantheon of the greatest offerings across brands.

Where Mike Found It: Jeni's Online Store

Mike's Grade: A

REVIEW: Dairy Queen S'mores Blizzard (June 2013 Blizzard of the Month)

noreply@blogger.com (The Ice Cream Informant) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:25:00 +0000

As part of Dairy Queen’s promotion campaign for summer, they recently announced S’mores would be their Blizzard of the Month for June. According to their executive vice president of marketing, “We are bracing for a frenzy at our restaurants this summer, particularly as our fans experience the new S’mores Blizzard Treat. The S’mores Blizzard Treat tested off the charts. Our Research & Development Department spent years perfecting this flavor, including getting the chocolate bars just right.” Along with their signature vanilla soft serve, they whip in crunchy Honey Maid graham crackers and rich chocolate chunks filled with gooey marshmallows. As usual, I opt for the medium so I can get a sizable portion to spoon through.

The S’mores Blizzard ranges from 420 calories for the mini all the way up to 1420 calories for the large and my medium still comes in at a hefty 1060 calories for the whole cup. My local Dairy Queen has been pretty good up to this point, but after I paid my $3.69 plus tax and pulled around, I was a little disappointed with what I saw compared to the previous two I’d purchased. Both my Choco Covered Pretzel with Peanut Butter and Choco Peanut Butter Brownie Blizzards had both been filled to the brim with big mix-ins, but I could hardly even see anything poking out of the top of the S’mores one. My worries were immediately alleviated after pulling my bright red spoon out of the center and seeing the chocolate and crackers that came with it. The peanut butter and vanilla base used in the others I’ve had were much lighter in color than the darker soft serve featured here (even though there aren’t any hints of having used anything other than their signature vanilla). Much like the small fudge flakes had done in others, the crumbs of the graham cracker give the ice cream an incredible texture. Although it’s nothing like the feel of a freezer-bought pint, the soft consistency and warmer serving temperature allows the flavors to immediately come to fruition instead waiting for an ice cream to break down first.

The flavors of the graham cracker have not only added a beneficial texture, but they've also given the base a strong finish of sweet honey. If you can’t get your fill of graham crackers from the ice cream itself, they’ve made sure to also include larger hunks to finish off the job. They provide a gritty, crunchy consistency and the familiar taste of the famous Honey Maid brand. The last component comes in the form of those chocolate bars their executive vice president of marketing had been bragging about earlier. These fudge chunks are stamped with the DQ logo and are included in a large amount. I usually cringe at the sight of big blocks of chocolate, but unlike store-bought ice cream, these aren’t frozen solid and break down easily as soon as you start chewing. The milk chocolate on the outside masks an interior that has been filled with a small sampling of marshmallow flavored filling. When combined with some of the graham cracker infused ice cream, there’s no denying the authentic S’mores taste. Dairy Queen’s Blizzard of the Month for June is an excellent addition to some of the other summer-inspired flavors we’ve been seeing as of late.

Where I Found It: Dairy Queen
Grade: A