Favorite. Picture. Ever.
Sunday is National Ice Cream Day. How sweet is that?
One of my most favoritist days was when A + I stopped at the Ben & Jerry’s factory while on a road trip through New York, Vermont and Canada. It’s a magical happy place with ice cream themed games and activities, a tour of the facility, tasting of new flavors, and the legendary flavor graveyard:
RIP Peanut Butter & Jelly
It even looks just like the idyllic rolling green hills, blue skies and white puffy clouds depicted on the pints. If you are ever in that neck of the woods, you must, must, stop by!
I did a little research and found out the very important history of this holiday for you readers:
The official decree from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) states, “In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation’s population ((only 90%, really?)). In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
The International Ice Cream Association (IICA) ((YES! How do I apply for membership to this Association?!)) encourages retailers and consumers to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month. In 2009, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 19.
Did you even know they had an International Ice Cream Association?! Me either. The website is full of very important, interesting and often serious information regarding ice cream, including “What’s Hot in Ice Cream?” (pun intended?! Not sure if these guys have a sense of humor, but one would hope considering they represent such a fun fabulous treat):
Flavors: Vanilla continues to be America’s flavor of choice in ice cream and novelties, in both supermarket and foodservice sales. This flavor is the most versatile, mixing well with toppings, drinks and bakery desserts. America’s top five favorite individual flavors are vanilla, chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry and chocolate chip mint. You can read more at http://www.idfa.org/facts/icecream.cfm
Facinating stuff, really.
Good news! A + I just decided we will observe this holiday with three square meals of cold, creamy, ice cream. Help! Where can you go in the LA area for a real ice cream parlor experience? In Oakland, our favorite is Fenton’s. Please leave a comment below to let us know.
Steph at her favorite place, Ben & Jerry's
And inquiring minds would like to know, what is your favorite flavor? I have a 3 way tie – 1) Gold Medal Ribbon from Baskin-Robbins (in the scoop shop category) 2) Coffee Heath Bar Crunch from Ben & Jerry’s (deluxe category) and 3) Chocolate Malted Crunch from Thrifty (in the budget category). C’s favorite is the classic Chipwich, a great confection, indeed.
And I leave you with this sweet little classic. Who doesn’t love 3 cylindrical scoops for 99 cents?
Thank you Thrifty!
Tags: baskin robbins, ben & Jerry's, ice cream, national ice cream day, thrify
I think I am with you on the B&J coffee heathbar crunch and growing up my favorite was rocky road from baskin robbins because I love chocolate and marshmellow although I have to say a good coldstone cakebatter with brownie mixed in is pretty spectacular.
At the risk of sharing TMI, our fave is Blue Moon. Seriously. Perhaps more criminally is the fact our second favorite is the “Slow Churned 1/2 the Fat” from Edy’s or whomever. In vanilla. All the better to put stuff on!
Then it is the coconut my Mom has made for her at a local shop, with that one we just plunge the spoon right into the carton, no need to waste a clean bowl!
Love this post, that picture is darling and the headstone is hysterical.
Have a great weekend,
tp
Aaah, I remember Thrifty’s ice cream – a summertime staple!
I loved Thrifty as a kid, when my grandmother would give my brother & I each a dollar to get 3 scoops as a treat during those long hot summer days.
For a good old fashioned ice cream experience by the beach check out the Manhattan Beach Creamery
http://www.mbcreamery.com
It is one block from the beach – and one block from the AVP Volleyball tournament this weekend in MB.
My favorite flavors are bubble gum and mint chip – but not together!
I used to go to Thrifty as a kid all the time with my dad and my favorite flavor was rainbow sherbert. So sad that CVS bout the Thrifty by me and took out the ice cream!!!
Thanks Erin! I didn’t think to look in the South Bay (sometimes my brain forgets anything South of LAX, its very silly). And a great weekend for ice cream at the beach and AVP Volleyball!