Thursday, May 8, 2008

About


Email us at secondscoop at gmail.com

If you are interested in showcasing your product to the world, please visit the product review page for more info. We've reviewed over 2100 products and we're here to provide you with honest, experienced feedback. We're not in this for the free samples or the glory, we're here to make a difference, one flavor at a time.


About this ice cream blog
My very first blog post was on May 8th, 2008. I had been trying to think of what to blog about when I realized that the world of ice cream was not fairly represented in our digital life. We had the short lived adventures of adailyscoop followed by the mostly text based 2dips reviews, but that was it for any meaningful kind of blog dedicated to reviewing widely available ice creams.

I started a blog creatively titled "the ice cream blog". After blogging for a few months, and after some consultation, I bought the domain name onsecondscoop.com. The first scoop is about what you might expect if you just randomly bought a product. On second scoop (as in on second thought), is about what happens when you've had time to think about what you bought and you go in for that second tasting. This can involve lowering expectations, being less critical (aka being in a better mood), or sometimes just getting a better sample since not every scoop is the same.

I try to be as fair as possible, but seeing as how I buy most of the ice cream with my own money, I tend not to buy multiple samples to verify if I got a bad batch or not. In my defense though, the average consumer isn't going to verify bad results with a second container either.

To be more specific, I do not work for a food company. My job has nothing to do with food and I'm in an industry that has nothing to do with food. This blog is all about my love of ice cream and getting you to try something new so we can bump vanilla from the top spot on the nation's flavor list. Ok, that probably won't happen, but I do hope that this blog encourages you to try new products, new brands, and new flavors.

One other thing: I know there are places out there were anybody can review pretty much any food product, but it's hard to trust a stranger's opinions if I don't know how their tastes resemble mine. The checkout guy can tell me he loved the new Star Trek film, but I don't know anything about him. I'd rather hear it from a well known critic since his tastes are well established. So I may be hard on a flavor of Turkey Hill, but if you click for other Turkey Hill flavors, everything comes in to context and hopefully becomes a more useful review to you.

FCC requires truth in blogging, check out my thoughts here.

About Dubba
So what qualifies me to be an ice cream blogger? Does eating ice cream almost every day of my life count? When I was real little, ice cream was a rare treat. I want to say we got a half gallon once a month. After we moved and the food budget loosened up, ice cream was always in the freezer. Whether I was making myself a milkshake or maybe a sundae topped with freshly crushed cookies, I was always enjoying a frozen treat. I blame my parents really, even my grandparents. Everyone was in to enjoying a quality meal as a family. I don't mean we were eating steak at every meal, I just mean that we always ate as a family, and no one went to bed hungry.

I met my wife many moons ago and she too is an ice cream addict. Our food budget was tight in college, but there was always 2 containers of ice cream in the freezer (we each got to pick one). More than a few times we had ice cream for dinner on a hot summer day. We do love to stop for ice cream, but most of the time we try to stretch our dollars by digging something out of our very full freezers. I often interject her opinion or that of my daughter's to add a little balance to reviews that fall out of my comfort zone.

About Nick (Retired)
Nick officially joined the blog on May 12, 2012 after an extensive check of his ice cream analysis credentials. Nick is an ice cream addict like myself and often replaces meals with ice cream sundaes. This devotion translates into realizing that not all ice cream is created equal, not every flavor is a winner, and not every pint is worthy of your money. Nick is more opened minded then myself when it comes to fringe flavors, plus he brings in the perspective of the next generation. Well there's that, and the fact that he'll review coffee flavors when the need arises.

Follow on...
 


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37 comments:

  1. Have you ever tried Graeters ice cream? Love you blog!

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  2. Hey, great website, i live in the U.K. and we have a fair amount of various ice creams over here! Do you know any that they do sell over here but are not avaliable in the USA?
    Thanks

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    1. A little late, but I just stumbled upon this blog now. The best thing about ice cream in the UK is Chin Chin Labs - the liquid nitrogen ice cream parlor in London (Camden Town). Geeky, yummy, amazing.

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  3. there must be right? if you find any, let me know!

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  4. I just returned from Italy and tried gelato in several cities. It did nothing for me. My latest craze is Pierre's Hola Fruta sherbet - the peach is out of this world. Not available everywhere though - any one else try it? Did you try any of the more exotic flavors?

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  5. I love Hola Fruta!

    http://www.onsecondscoop.com/search?q=hola+fruta

    though I didn't see any at the store the other day.

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  6. Hi and thank you for this great site. For anyone looking for DREAMERY Brand Ice Cream, I just spoke to someone from the office [in Ontario, Canada], and he said they are WORKING on RE-LAUNCHING the brand BY THE END OF THE YEAR. I can't wait to get try the NY Cheescake flavor.

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  7. Such an awesome site. I love everything about it. Keep it up and I'll definitely be following! :)

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  8. Interesting site. I have worked in the ice cream industry for many years, with many of the brands and companies you have reviewed. My question for you is what type of formal training have you had for evaluating ice cream? You do realize that the people working for the companies you have reviewed spend thousands of dollars training their employees as to what products are industry termed "good" annually? When evaluating ice cream it is not important to determine what YOU like - it is important to determine if the ice cream delivers what it claims to. Just a thought.

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  9. Actually, the about me section somewhat clearly states I have no training, nor any experience in the food industry (besides flipping burgers). This site comes purely from my love of all treats frozen.

    As far as what "I" think, well, it's my blog, not theirs. Would you tell a movie reviewer he can't review movies because he didn't go to film school? I don't think so.

    I never claimed to be an expert, I'm just passionate about ice cream. So if I think your ice cream sucks, well that's what I'm going to say. I'd be more than happy to say every flavor is excellent, but that wouldn't be the truth, now would it?

    Please feel free to email me directly at onsecondscoop at gmail dot com if you would like to talk more specifics, I'm curious as to where you work exactly.

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  10. I second that about Graeters Ice Cream. You can buy it online (for an arm and a leg) but you must do it once! My wife buys it for me every year on my birthday.
    OUTTATHISWORLD. If you get around to it, the black raspberry chip is a must.

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  11. Oh, and I disagree with what "anonymous" wrote on Jan 10. This blog is a total breath of fresh air. While it IS based on subjective opinion, you do a fabulous job of making objective descriptions about the judgments you make. Don't change.

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  12. I just discovered this site, (via Serious Eats) and will be back. A question for Dubba and the other ice cream mavens out there: Does anyone make really good vanilla fudge ice cream any more - or at all? It used to be one of my favorite flavors - but only with really good fudge. One of the best was Haagen Dazs, and another goodie was Bassetts (which I can't even find in NYC anymore). I've been on the lookout for vanilla fudge in all the small and large markets I visit, but I haven't seen anything. All suggestions appreciated (I'm in NYC). Thanks

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  13. oh man i had a long ass post written out about an ice cream ive been looking for the name of for a long time but lost the post as i chose to sign up.... Grr... Anyways as a youngester in the 80s I can remdember going to the corner store and gas stations in my little town and buying an ice cream bar. It was kind of like an Eskimo i think it may or may have not had chocolate ice cream in the center. I'm certain it was made by Hershey's Ice Cream. I used to buy it out of the ice cream singles cooler. I believe it was named after something to do with baseball and may have also been endorsed by Boston Redsox during baseball season. I'm probably being kind of vague.

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  14. Hey there! I know you may not have had the best reviews for Kemps in the past....But try their cookies and cream AND their Black Raspberry swirl frozen yogurt. Both are amazing. C'mon..its a challenge!

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  15. I recently found your blog and now I'm a huge fan. I've spent the last week catching up on old blog entries and have really been enjoying your comments. They were so motivating that I even went out to purchase one of the reviewed ice creams (Breyers Triple Chocolate).

    As a former 2dips blog reader, it was so nice to find an ice cream blog that updates on a somewhat regular basis. I love ice cream and enjoy trying out new flavors. Keep up the great writing!

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  16. I love, love, love your blog. My treat of choice has always been ice cream, and trying new flavors. If you ever get the chance (you mention New England as your home), try the chocolate chip from Ben and Bill's chocolate emporium. I know for sure there is a location in Northampton, MA and on Martha's Vineyard. I'm a huge mix-in person but I promise you, it's far from boring. Keep up the great blog!

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  17. As a New Englander, I'd encourage you to check out Crescent Ridge Dairy in Sharon and Holbrook MA. Three words... Grapenut Ice Cream!

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  18. i live in CT, and would highly recommend trying the ice cream that is made in the UConn creamery. MY favorite flavor is cupcake. Definitely check it out. Oh and just dont buy the Uconn ice cream that you can buy in supermarkets, the ones from the actual school are so much better.

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  19. We live in clearwater, Fl. which store carries Kemp Frozen Yogurt?
    Thanks.

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  20. Hi...great blog...have you tried this?
    The Creole Cream Cheese flavor is great...

    www.neworleansicecream.com

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  21. 3 things

    1.I love your blog

    2.see if you can find ben and jerrys blueberry cheesecake its awesome or oatmeal cookie chunk(1st)

    3. i know this is personal but i always wonder how you eat this much ice cream are you still healthy lol haha not trying to be mean just curious

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  22. I like your blog as well. I rarely comment though. Are you like these other food bloggers? Or are you an actual normal size to chubby person and not an athlete?

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  23. HAHAHAHA, I don't think I've ever been called chubby, but at the same time, I'm not exactly scrawny. I'm just your average joe who carries around a few extra pounds. I eat constantly, but in small quantities, plus I have kids, so that keeps my weight in check. The most I exercise is mowing and the occasional walk at lunch.

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  24. Great blog! My friend and I are from Canada, and even though we can get almost literally NONE of the flavours you review where we live, it's still really fun to read. In fact, this blog inspired us to make our own ice cream blog where we review flavours and vendors from our neck of the woods (brands you have probably never even heard of in some cases!). We've only just started it, but would love any feedback you could give us. :)

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  25. Hi!

    I'm a huge ice cream fan so I really enjoy your blog. As I'm from the UK it's really interesting to see what's available in the US...it makes me so envious!
    I've recently started my own review blog for foods, and I was wondering if it would be okay for me to put you on my blogroll?

    Thanks :)

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  26. I'm always honored when someone links to my blog! good luck with the new sites!

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  27. Hi! I really like this blog because your reviews are so fun to read but informative at the same time. I really love ice cream, and your blog has actually inspired me to create my own blog! I review sweet treats and I am actually going to post a recipe up soon!
    If you ever want to check out my blog, here is my website:
    http://sweetpages.wordpress.com/
    Thanks for all your hard work on this blog, and keep it up!

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  28. I love your blog! The only thing is I wish you could include where you can find all these awesome treats. I know you do with some of them but the harder to find stuff I wanna know where i can get it!!!

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  29. This is such a fun website! I really like your "Ebert"ian approach to ice cream (informed but not snobby). Keep having fun doing what you do. I love the website :)

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  30. sweet! he was definitely a role model for my reviewing!

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  31. Do you have access to McConnell's ice cream? It's one of the best lines. blackessie at gmail

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  32. I know it was a long time ago, but that guy who said food companies spend a lot of money to taste things like consumers...well I'd also like to know where he works. I work for a big food company, and you can't train anyone in R&D to think or taste like a consumer. They are way to close to the product to ever be a normal consumer again. That's why we do consumer testing!

    Anyway, just wanted to say I enjoy the blog and the Nosh Show as well. Keep it coming :-)

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  33. I am eating Vanilla Toffee Bar Crunch as I type this and came across this blog as I searched for why they replaced the Heath Bar chunks with these atrocities. Thank you, my ice cream soulmates.

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  34. Thanks, really enjoy the gelato reviews.

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  35. We found your blog searching for a place to find Breyers Peach again. So happy to find fellow ice cream devotees, and the entire blog is great!
    WE LOVE YOU.

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