Article Title: Summertime, and the Lickin' is Easy

Edition: May 2001
Category: Dining Out
Author: Edie Zfass
Article:

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Clearly reminiscent of the sounds of summer and of screen doors slapping closed, as kids scampered to gleefully follow the clanging gong of the ice cream truck. The "pied piper" truck swarmed with kids tightly hugging money in their hot little clenched fists, joyfully anticipating vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. Once in a while, really sophisticated pistachio was on the truck and a parent or two would sometimes relish a pistachio cone. But kids stuck to the basics. That was the full selection and back then it was more than good enough.

And then came Ben and Jerry's. As though standing at a Ben and Jerry's counter is not sufficient reason to summon Herculean strength from the depths, here come new flavors with wildly imaginative names to tempt the mettle of even the most determined and powerfully resistant dieters.

Apple Crumble, Island Paradise, Peanut Turtles, Full VerMonty and for frozen yogurt devotees, Phish Food and Raspberry Gone Coconuts. And how about Concession Obsession, Kaberry Kaboom and Aloha Macadamia?

Wouldn't you love to know who dreams up these names?

Concession Obsession is made with vanilla bean ice cream and non-pareils.

Chocolate covered rice candy, chocolate covered peanuts and a caramel swirl complete this big taste of heaven.

Kaberry Kaboom is strawberry and blueberry ice cream, with white fudge-covered cracklin candy and a blueberry swirl. Oh my!

Aloha Macademia is milk chocolate, cashew and brazil nut butter ice cream, with white and dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts and a milk chocolate swirl. Really to die for.

So while a screen door might not actually slam upon exiting from Ben and Jerry's, ice cream is forever associated with summer. In fact, it is the aura of summer. It's hard not to let down and feel more at ease, relaxed and carefree while eating ice cream. This is not something indulged in during frenzied rushing around. Ice cream is calming; it slows your pace. While enjoying ice cream, the textures and patterns of summer become woven into a tranquil tapestry of memories of earlier summers that merge with the present, and enjoyment of any one of dozens of ice cream flavors either new or familiar greatly enhances the pleasure of the experience.

So, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Kids are wise. They know. Ice cream and summer are inseparable.

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