Ice Cream, Ice Cream I Scream for Ice Cream

A sacrilege happened in our house this week. A crime so heinous I have not until now be able to speak about it. I returned home a few days ago to see the remains of a tub of vanilla ice cream melting in the sink. Yes, the ice cream had been thrown away!

Now, this should never happen, usually under no circumstances is ice cream treated in such a cavalier manner. I can only assume that the tub was an old one and the remaining ice cream had developed that darker yellow colour on the outside and the substance itself had grown the dreaded ice crystals that so spoil the texture. In the freezer I am pleased to say is another tub.

This country provides amazing choice in terms of ice cream. From the bulk standard supermarket vanilla to the premium brands with flavour names that entice the taste buds and loosen the trouser belt not to forget the tinkling of the ice cream van selling Mr Whippy 99's with sprinkles that must contain colours banned by the EU.

http://www.michiganelectrofreeze.com/images/icecreamcone.jpg

A few years ago one of the premium manufacturers dealt me a personal blow. I love ice cream maybe even more than cheesecake (See here). It doesn't matter how much you may have eaten in the rest of the meal your stomach always makes room for ice cream; I have long suspected that there is a little place in the alimentary canal that is in fact reserved for frozen cream dessert. I love cherry ice cream, but often it is disappointing. Then some years ago I discovered a pair of Americans that made premium ice cream. My favourite flavour involved cherry ice cream packed with cherries and chocolate pieces. I loved the stuff. Then overnight it disappeared from the supermarket shelves to be replaced by a frozen yoghurt imposter with the same name but not quite the same creamy taste. For a while a high street video shop still stocked it but soon the same fate transpired even there. (Does anyone still rent films from a shop?). You can still buy the full fat version but to do that you have to visit the cinema or an outlet shop in a few cities in the country paying premium prices - its worth it on occasion.

http://blog.benjerry.fr/cherry-garcia-lexception-culturelle-26

Ice cream reminds me of holidays, good weather and good times. Good ice cream comes from small farms producing interesting flavours from their own milk herd and selling them locally. When on holiday in this country I actively seek these places out. Driving down country roads in Cornwall, Yorkshire or Northumberland to find the farm and sample the flavours. In France and Italy you only have to walk a couple of 100 metres down a small high street to experience the most delicious flavours that this manna from heaven can muster.

In my humble opinion though, the best ice cream is the stuff you make yourself. So, with the promise of summer disappearing fast it maybe time for me to dust off the ice cream maker, buy some cream, full fat milk, cherries and chocolate and recreate my favourite flavour.

Comments

  1. Anonymous15 July 2012 at 10:14

    Mmmmm that particular brand and flavour is my favourite too along with the the same brand that has chocolate ice cream, Choc brownie pieces and fudge sauce ....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous15 July 2012 at 10:19

    Oh Ed I so agree. Our honeymoon cottage was in a a all village in
    Italy near to Padua. It had two ice cream parlours and we were able to sit outside devouring our ice cream treats at 10 in the evening in temperatures around 39o C! What bliss. The italians certainly make the best ice cream ever. Try San Gimingnano in Tuscany or the ice cream parlour we found in Rome which had marble topped tables and was packed late into the night.
    One note of caution about ice cream makers - making 12 litres of coconut ice cream in one evening can be a bit of a trial!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed Vogue15 July 2012 at 20:34

      Dear Anonymous

      I had some coconut ice cream this weekend. Delicious it was!!

      Delete

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