I swear I was going to write the A La Mode ice cream bar review today. I even have the pictures taken (but not cropped). But I have failed once again, so I'll ask a question. What do you want me to cover until the 2018 season kicks in? I know I usually get a couple of calls for some head to head matches or some specific flavor rankings, but please keep in mind that I have both a monetary and caloric budget to factor in. I also can't review anything with erythritol so I know that knocks out most of the so called "healthy" stuff. What else is out there?
Note (if you really want to know where the day went): I got to hollow out a pumpkin that my wife and son carved while my daughter painted the other pumpkin. I actually tried roasting pumpkin seeds and making pumpkin butter (both went ok). Super Mario Odyssey is pretty awesome. My son is really digging the co-op mode. We watched Spider-man: Homecoming. We had a full day.
Have a good week everyone.
What about revisiting some old flavors and seeing if they still hold up? I'm thinking about Talenti in particular. I feel like they've gone downhill since Unilever bought them and I'd be curious to see if you agreed.
ReplyDeleteI'm requesting reviews of anything that you haven't reviewed yet from Ben & Jerry's.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the "healthy" (aka Halo Top) stuff anyway- coming from a Dietitian, it's not even that healthy. That being said, more "mid-line" ice cream reviews (Dreyer's, etc) would be great, as would Baskin (shop) and ice cream bar reviews (Blue Bunny Bars, Magnum, Klondike, Haagen Dazs, etc.) As always, love the blog! I'd suggest Umpqua and Tillamook reviews as well, but I don't believe you're on the West Coast.
ReplyDeleteWhat about doing a ranking of flavors from different brands? Such as top 5 mint chip, straight-up chocolate, or caramel, etc?
ReplyDeleteStop suffering through Edy's and Breyers for us, it's not worth it. I do like the idea of more novelty reviews, like that entire line Walmart came out with last year. If you want to do comparisons, with pumpkin spice season now ending and minter starting, maybe a comparison of the peppermint flavors.
ReplyDelete@Morgan Medeiros, as a personal trainer currently studying performance nutrition I'm going to slightly disagree with you. Yes, they are empty calories, but there's a lot fewer of them in the "healthy" ice creams than regular, so unless you're actually only going to eat a half cup, they still take up less room in the makeup of a healthy diet.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I would like to see those reviews. Now that they're becoming mainstream enough that my Podunk little Winn Dixie carries them, people are going to be interested.
How about more store brand ice creams? Like hannaford and market 32 or Walmart?
ReplyDelete@Morgan & Jessica: I may not say it enough, but I'm a big fan of moderation and balance over gimmicks and fads.
ReplyDelete@Morgan: Part 2: nope, this blog is limited to east coast unfortunately. My supply of blue bunny is minimal most new stuff that you mention should have been covered. I will double check though!
@Jessica: Part 2: I should start a label for those kinds of products so they are easier to browse through. Not sure what I will call it though, "hi_pro_low_sugar" might be to cryptic.
@Allessa: I actually do go back to old flavors, but I update the original review rather than posting a new review. Is that the best way to do it? Iunno.
@Liz: Covered it all except the non-dairy stuff :)
@Sophia: not big in to ranking. I did it in the early days but it's so subjective that I'm not sure it's worth it. I don't know if it would start more arguments than it would resolve.
@Sascha: HAHAHAHAHA, that's very kind of you! The reason I don't cover walmart is because they throw a cross contamination warning on everything they make.
Blue Bunny has a new cookie butter flavor. I would be interested in any of their flavors.
ReplyDeleteI would also be interested in any of the Ben and Jerry or Haagan Dazs flavors you haven't reviewed - including the most basic.
Store brand ice creams. Even some local scoop shop flavors.
Fat Boy has new cinnamon bear ice cream bars. I think Blue Bunny has a peppermint ice cream treat.
The new three twins lines.
Maybe watch for some of the super premium stuff to come on sale. I've been able to pick up pints of Jeni's at Whole Foods for $5. Or McConnell's for $5-6. It's worth checking.
@Anna: maybe. I do try to keep an eye out for when stores put out stuff that's both new and at least somewhat unique.
ReplyDelete@Anon: yup, tracking all those things but just not in my area, especially McConnell's. Hard being an east coaster sometimes.
If you would like any reviews of West Coast ice creams, I would be happy to help with that!
ReplyDeleteHow about Sundae Roulette? You randomly pick three ingredients you already have in the house (one ice cream, one cookie, one topping, etc) and you make a sundae and you have to eat it and give honest feedback. Unless it's cinnamon anything, which is gross and I will give you a pass.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the cookie review and would enjoy reading more like that. Even grocery store bakery items would be entertaining. With gingerbread season coming up, you would have a lot of options.
ReplyDeleteI mean if you're ever looking for someone to do a review of the "healthy" stuff, let me know. I'd be more than happy to rant and rave about them
ReplyDeleteDo you have Purity or Mayfield ice cream in your area? I know they're regional flavors, but I would love to see you review some of their ice creams.
ReplyDeleteToo bad you’re nowhere near a HyVee...their new Til the Cows Come Home line is fantastic! I think their cherry flavor is better than Cherry Garcia, and their s’mores flavor is one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had!
ReplyDeleteProbably just a West Coast thing but Double Rainbow ice cream has appeared in stores over the last year, curious to see your opinion on it as it half custard and half fruit ice.
ReplyDeleteOk, time to catch up!
ReplyDelete@Michi: I know I should, but I've been saying that for years!
@Sophia: sounds like you need to follow my instagram account :)
@Anon504: I do love the bakery aisle!
@Chris: big fan of ranting
@Anon750: I had hoped to try Mayfield while in Virginia but didn't get to. Is Purity the one out of New York (but also distributed by Byrne Dairy)?
@Anon839: I should send in Jeeg!
@Ryan: Nick actually met them at the 2015 fancy food show but I have not had it myself, have you?
Or how about review ice cream add-ons....like cones, sundae toppings, toppings, etc. I swear I stood at Wal-Mart the other day trying to decide on which hot fudge to buy for my sundae. There was Ghirardelli, Cold Stone Creamery, Hershey's, Hershey's double chocolate, Hershey's organic, Magic shell.....I did not even know which chocolate topping would taste the best. Wal-mart introduced a whole line of sundae topping bags that contain different combinations of toppings. Expand out to whipped topping and you have three kinds of Redi-whip, many types of cool whip. It's mind boggling when you want a good sundae.
ReplyDeleteYou also don't review sherbet much. My kids like sherbet and there are a whole bunch of flavors there made by different companies.
@Anne: I do have a toppings tag http://www.onsecondscoop.com/search/label/toppings but it never got a lot of attention from me. Basically I only roll with Cabot's natural whipped cream and I prefer Hershey's Sundae Syrups for flavor and ease of use. That said, I should probably try more toppings, especially during the slow season. I'll put it on the shopping list!
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't but it would be really cool to be able to. Their product has a really unique texture and it would be cool to ask them how they came up with the idea.
ReplyDeleteHas Ben and Jerry's announced the flavor of their new Fallon ice cream or still just that it's a secret? I didn't see anything online but my local scoop shop has pictures up on their window with the details and it's a little disappointing. Just curious if they're jumping the gun or not. I won't spoil it unless you'd like to know but I'm guessing you probably know it already anyway, huh?
ReplyDelete@Ryan: it's a good idea but not 100% unique, others have tried variations on the idea of an ice cream like component and a ice style component. Turkey Hill had a lineup like that, a couple companies have tried a root beer flavor like that, etc.
ReplyDelete@Joe: you feel free to send details to second scoop at gmail dot com.
Where'd you watch Spiderman? Is it available on any download services? I missed it in the theaters.
ReplyDelete@RG: It was a Netflix DVD (but my daughter and I also saw it in the theatre over the summer)
ReplyDeleteI vote for the new limited edition Edy's! Like hot cocoa, pumpkin coffee, peppermint....I think I'm Edy's biggest fan :)
ReplyDelete@Erin: I'll probably try the frozen hot chocolate, skip the coffee, and peppermint isn't new, it's just gone through 12 different package designs :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.onsecondscoop.com/2010/12/edys-holiday-flavor-extravaganza.html
Since I JUST got word of it this morning, could I entice you to try Baskin Robbins' new Flavor of the Month Tiramisu? I'll surely try it anyway because it sounds wonderful--and doesn't include any Oreos or other branded mix-ins for once!
ReplyDelete@May: you know I don't like coffee ice cream right? WOOT!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I may try it anyway, maybe I'll luck out like I did with One Sweet World.
Well, just an update that I got to try the BR Tiramisu today! If you were worried about it being too strong on coffee, I'd say don't. It's definitely different from their jamocha and has a sort of cheesy/tangy side (hence the tiramisu). The mocha fudge swirl is more a bittersweet fudge. Overall, I thought it was pleasant with good mix-ins, but for my cup, the texture of the base seemed a little off--kind of a soft, "slow-churned" feel. Not sure if it was just a temperature-control issue at my shop today though, cause usually their ice cream is more hard and solid (which I prefer).
ReplyDelete