Chocolate hydrox cookie ice cream.
Boston is blessed with a vibrant ice cream culture, one that I think has been woefully under-documented. Supposedly, Bostonians consume more ice cream per capita than any city in the country. I have a number of theories on this, but my favorite is that winter here is so long and dull, than when summer finally arrives we begin to consume ice cream in prodigious, celebratory quantities.
My other theory is that we just have a whole lot of good ice cream, and that the supply generated this city’s insatiable demand for frozen dairy products. My favorite shop is Toscanini’s, which serves the best ice cream in the world (it’s true, the New York Times said so). They’re always creating interesting new flavors like pancake and burnt honey. I also really appreciate the purity of flavor and often near-melted consistency.
On a recent trip, I tried a number of flavors, but settled on an old favorite, bourbon, paired with a new offering, macadamia nut blondie. Pure flavors without a bunch of added ‘stuff’ mixed in tend to be Toscanini’s specialties, and indeed, the bourbon ice cream was flawless and had a perfect, soft consistency. The macadamia nut blondie was absolutely packed with nuts and blondie chunks, but the texture was more traditional.
I plan on visiting Toscanini’s weekly over the summer, and will try to post about new flavors as often as possible. I’m hoping they rise to the challenge and provide something new and delicious every time.
I will have to come to Boston for sure, now! If the best ice cream in the world is there, and if it comes in a bourbon flavor to boot... sounds fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteFine work, Chris. Check out http://ryougonnaeatthat.blogspot.com/, which is also by a former student (now instructor at GSU and a foodie). There must be something in the Savannah and Boston waters that makes young writers think of food.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you're looking for some food writing inspiration, check out MFK Fisher, my favorite writer about food.
I've read a bit of MFK Fisher! She's really wonderful and surprisingly not as snobbish as I expected. I'm just happy you called me a 'writer,' because I certainly don't feel like one.
ReplyDelete