AICC-3: Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Black Licorice for Black Friday

Hope everyone got a few good black friday deals today, because I have a "special" treat to finish off the day for you. The other day a stroke of brilliance hit me: Save the Black Licorice flavored Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream for Black Friday. Aren't I tricky? Hey, you take whatever excuse you can to eat ice cream and then run with it.

As you might suspect, I was a little afraid. I have never seen licorice flavored ice cream in these parts. I ate my fair share of twizzlers as a kid, and I still love a fresh box of Good & Plenty, but licorice ice cream? Those two things don't go together in my world. Even if I had seen licorice flavor, I doubt I would have bought it. I want to leave the ice cream stand happy, and licorice would have been too big of a gamble for me.

Well, the Ice Cream of the Month Club is standing by to broaden our horizons. Besides the first two tame selections this month, I found black licorice in my shipment. I didn't even know what color it would be. I've never seen black ice cream, but what other color could it be? Let's find out!

Well, it ain't black, but it is a disturbing gray color. I've never seen gray ice cream before and quite frankly, I hope I never do again. It makes me thing of something in particular actually.....

AICC-2: Cedar Crest French Vanilla Ice Cream

Nothing like a rainy day to make you crave the simple things in life ...like Vanilla. It feels like forever since I've had plain vanilla. no mixins, no nothing. Just vanilla. Wait, is "French" vanilla still considered plain?yeah sure, why not?

And here's what I tried today: Cedar Crest French Vanilla Ice Cream " fresh from Wisconsin ". It's pretty good. It's quite smooth and vaguely reminds me of a nice vanilla pudding. I don't need to bite into it like I did with the Schoep's the other day.

Ok, I'll write more later.....

On Second Scoop: It's vanilla, I don't know what else to say. It's fairly well made, it's a respectable vanilla flavor, but, well, it's vanilla. I don't know how many different ways to describe it.

AICC-1: Schoep's Chocolate Ice Cream

I was very happy to receive my ice cream of the month club shipment the other day. It came on Saturday so I was able to save it from the outdoors, check the contents and then throw it in the deep freezer as soon as it arrived. As always, there are four choices every month (usually pint sized choices). From my brief experience, they tend to be from Midwestern companies which is cool since it's all stuff I would never get to try normally.

Schoep's Chocolate Ice Cream

AICC-4: Door County Lim-e-licious

Disclaimer: This review didn't get lost, the ice cream did (in the back of the freezer). I apologize to Door County Ice Cream Factory and the Ice Cream of the Month club in advance.

The freezer got a little disheveled and unfortunately my little homemade ice cream friend here got stuck way in the back. Sure, I could have reached back there and saved him on multiple occasions, but I just kept saying "I'll try it tomorrow".
Well, in an effort to catch back up with my blogging, I grabbed this little guy, scraped off the freezer burned top and tried to dig in. Ugg, still freezer burned. I dug in further. Still freezer burned. I dug even further, but to no avail.

Had this been a nasty flavor, I wouldn't really care ...but from the few bites I did take, I regret not cracking this open when it first arrived several weeks ago. I expected some bright green limey thing, instead I got something that looks like vanilla with just a faint whiff of lime. It's actually quite mellow. In fact, it reminds me of the lime jell-o mold my mom use to make. I've never been a big fan of lime, but I always had a few slices of that cold treat on my holiday dinner plate. Mmmmm, lim-e-licious takes me right back there.

AICC-3 : Gelati-da's Amaretto Chocolate Gelato

I love coincidence: The Ice Cream of the Month Club has inadvertently given me the most appropriate treat for National Ice Cream Day: Gelati-da, "the only true re-creation of THE WORLD'S ORIGINAL ICE CREAM®".
gotta go, i'll right more later. Don't forget to eat ice cream today!

--Ok, I'm back finally (it's Tuesday). Well, two subjects to cover: taste and texture ...wait, yeah, that was a pointless way to start this, but anyway. As I was having my second scoop, I had a thought. This tastes like a funky chocolate ice cream mixed with Dr. Pepper Topping. At this point, I realized I need to educate myself about what amaretto means in terms of flavor. I think it's an adult beverage ...yup, an almond-flavored liqueur, possibly with a mild bitter taste ...and apparently, it can be mixed with cola for a Dr. Pepper like taste. Wow, I guess my taste buds weren't messing with me after all. I can't say I love the flavor, but if Dr. Pepper is your thing, you're probably going to like this.

Now, let's talk texture, well, actually, let's talk ingredients. I was quite confused by my Caio Bella experience, both by taste and by the fact that the fat content was so high. I thought gelato was suppose to be different, yet the milk and cream in Caio Bella's formula puts it up their with Ben & Jerry's and Haagen-Daz. Thankfully, I've learned the truth. "True" gelato is typically 8% milk fat, taken from, well, milk. the CB gelato is not the norm with it's high fat content (from cream). So, right here, you have an excuse to try true gelato: Gelati-da only has 7 flavors, and amaretto chocolate is the "fattest" of the bunch, but still only clocking in at 40 fat calories (2g from saturated fat). We can't eat super premium ice cream every night ...I mean, we can try, but we really shouldn't, not every night.

Final thoughts: I can't say I would by this particular flavor again, I just don't love that Dr. Pepper tang that much, but overall I would say Gelati da has made me much more willing to try other gelati, both as a taste test and a healthier alternative.

AICC-2 LaLoo's Rumplemint Goat's Milk Ice Cream

The staff over at the Ice Cream of the Month Club have really outdone themselves this month. It's not that the other shipments haven't been quality ice cream, it's just that this month just goes above and beyong with not only unique flavors but unique products. Today's example is goat milk's ice cream. That's right, I can now say I've had goat's milk ice cream and lived to tell the tale.
What you see before you is the Rumplemint flavor from Laloos, which is only one of 6 flavors they offer (not including yogurt or seasonal flavors). The description is "luxurious" tiles of dark chocolate and fresh garden mint - all natural and lactose friendly. It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but it is very very green!

If I had to describe the flavor, I'd call it an Andes mint flavor, but I mean that in a nice way. A long time ago I had the Walgreens version and I just didnt like it, it was too warm and fuzzy with it's creme de menthe funk to it. Not here though, the mint ice cream and dark chocolate combine for something much nicer. It's pleasant and reminds me of a tasty after dinner mint. I was only going to eat a few bites for my first taste test, but I liked it enough to have a whole serving.

Enough with the flavor stuff, you want to know if I started Baaa'ing after I ate goat's milk don't you? Wait, goats don't Baaaa ...or do they? sorry, I don't hang with goats much. Anyway, had I been blindfolded ...I would have never know this was goat's milk. There's no funny taste, nor is there any funny after taste, it's just good old fashion ice cream. The bonus is that apparently goat's milk is good for you, including people with ulcers, and they say it's lactose friendly, so how could you lose? Well, technically you would lose on shipping, but hey, Laloo's wants to be in your local freezer section, so keep an eye open and give it a try ...it won't kill you! or make you go Baaaaaaaaaaa!

On Second Scoop: I wasn't sure what to eat after mowing, so I decided to try a few more bites of Rumplemint ...yeah, those 3 bites turned into about 30 bites. I'm not a huge mint fan but boy was this hitting the spot. I love how they keep that menthol-i-ness to a minimum, it makes the ice cream way more enjoyable, especially after it melts just a smidge and you just can't stop going for more.

UPDATE: Shaws now carries Laloo's! There is only one "little" problem ...$6.99 a container!!!!!!!

Nutrition: 180 / 80-5 / 0 / 5

Babcock Hall Blue Moon Ice Cream Review

"call it fate, call it luck, call it karma...I believe that everything happens for a reason"

That's right, the day after posting about the curious Superman ice cream, what do I get in my ice cream of the month club shipment? None other than a taste of Babcock Hall Blue Moon ice cream, one of the key ingredients in Superman ice cream. I was so excited, it was tough to make myself wait 'til Thursday so my ice cream would have a chance to come back down to freezer temp.

I spent all day trying to think of a good smurf joke.

So, after having sampled it, do I like it? Well, it doesn't have the crushing flavor of a 35 foot twinkie, but it's undeniable, it tastes like Fruit Loops. Granted, it's been a long time since I've had fruit loops, but it's a childhood flavor you never really forget. There is something odd though. When I had the Babcock Hall orange custard chocolate chip, there was a weird underlying flavor that I blamed on the orange. Well, it's back. The only way I can describe it? It's unsmooth. I know, not really a word, but that's how it feels to me. It just doesn't want to go down easy, something in the back of my mind prevents me from truly enjoying this youthful treat.

AICC-4: Whole Fruit Raspberry Sorbet

Hey! guess what? I still don't like sorbet! I'm just an old fashioned milk and sugar kinda guy. I just don't get sorbet. I just don't find it pleasant. It's not as sweet and creamy as ice cream, yet somehow less enjoyable than a frozen ice type treat. I assume this is quality sorbet, though who knows since I'm not sure I've ever seen generic sorbet. At least the container was sealed to keep it nice and fresh.
I'm half tempted to try and turn this into a smoothie or shake type project (maybe mix it with milk and some Turkey Hill Cold Churned Raspberry). Couldn't hurt, especially since I know I won't eat it otherwise. Oh well.

Update: I tried the "milkshake" idea ...it didn't work. Oh well.

Nutrition: 120 / 0 / (1) / 0

Babcock Hall Orange Custard Chocolate Chip Review

Ahhhhhh, now this is the kind of product I expect from an Ice Cream Club. I can freely admit I was afraid of orange custard, i mean, seriously, an orange flavored ice cream type product? that just seems wrong. I've seen Edy's Swiss Orange before, but I couldn't imagine it tasted very good. Like so many other fruit based flavors, I was sure it just wasn't meant to be.

Babcock Hall Orange Custard Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Well, consider my opinion swayed. I don't love it, but I do like it, and I really appreciate what it is: a well made ice cream with a pretty unique flavor. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: most fruit flavors need to be mellow. Please don't bombard me with something equivalent to eating a real orange, and PLEASE don't let it be an artificial taste. I want just a bit of smooth orange flavor, something mild (and we've got just a hint of an orange aftertaste here, nothing crazy).

The chocolate chips go nicely as well. They could probably back off the chips a little bit, maybe 15%, and let the orange speak out a bit more than it does. This isn't a deal breaker though, because overall, they go together nicely.

So, I like it. I wouldn't put it on my shopping list week after week, but it's always nice to try new things, and this one definitely qualifies.

Nutrition: 72g: 170 / 80-5 / 0 / 3 - (56mg cholesterol)

AICC-2: Gilles Butter Pecan Frozen Custard Review

Would you believe that I've never tried Butter Pecan ice cream? seriously, I don't think I have, or if i have, it was once and a very long time ago. It's just one of those flavors that can get my attention. Well, leave it to the Ice Cream Club to finally get me to try it by including Gilles Butter Pecan Frozen Custard.

Opening up the container, you are greeted by the aroma of fresh pecans. I can't say custard looks terribly different than "regular" ice cream.

AICC-1: Cedar Crest Neopolitan Ice Cream

It really is fun pulling into the driveway and seeing the Ice Cream Club box sitting in the driveway. Four tasty secrets just waiting to be discovered! Oh boy!

I let my daughter pick what we were going to try. Though this container looks huge, it's only 1 pint ...and she thought by picking it I would let her have the whole thing.Well, we each had one serving (1/2 cup, or a 1/4 of the container).

As a Neapolitan, this isn't anything groundbreaking, but it is a quality ice cream. We quickly ate our servings and contemplated finishing off this cute little box. It's nice, I like it, but I would like to try some of their more unique offerings.

Stay tuned for the other, more unique choices that we have to try this weekend.

Schoep's Sherbet Review

The final member of the ice cream club shipment is a swirl sherbet from Wisconsin's Schoep's Ice Cream. This little guy is made up of lime-ish, orange-ish, and raspberry-ish flavored sherbets. Now isn't that a strange way to put it? Well, there's a reason.

Schoep's Rainbow Sherbet

Cedar Crest Rootbeer Twister Review

Ok, I'll admit it, I was a little afraid of the third contestant in the ice cream of the month club after my experience with Breyer's Root Beer Float. What you see before you is Root Beer Twister from Wisconsin's Cedar Crest Ice Cream. It's half root beer sherbet and half vanilla ice cream.

The good news is that this is much more enjoyable than the Breyers, well, to me any way. My first couple of bites were from the Root beer sherbet. It's definitely root beer, but it's more mellow than the Breyers. What I mean is that a straight shot of this sherbet is more enjoyable than the RB sherbet/vanilla mix in the Breyers. I also appreciate the fact that it's "twisted" and not layered like the Breyers. If you needed a break in the Breyers, you just couldn't do it, you always scooped both flavors. Not so here. If I want to cleanse my palate, I can take a couple of scoops of just vanilla, and it's a nice vanilla too. Next, I can take a bite of 2 parts vanilla to 1 part root beer, or 3:1, 4:1, 1:1, it's up to me and I really appreciate having that choice. 

Sure the Breyers is cool looking, and great if you love root beer floats, but for those of us who don't want our taste buds smacked down with soda buzz, this is a much more pleasant alternative.

Actually, now that I think about it, I just don't like swirled sherbet, I much prefer my flavors separated. I'm a big boy now, I don't need help eating my ice cream... just kidding, swirling has it's limited place. Hmmm, swirling might be the next poll question. Anyway, so this is definitely better than Breyers, but I'm guessing I'll polish off the vanilla portion long before the root beer is gone.

Nutrition: 76g: 130 / 40-3 / 0 / 2

AICC-2: Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream - Eggnog

I'm like a kid in a candy store with these Ice Cream of the Month Club ice creams sitting in my freezer. I feel a little silly, but I actually cracked open the Eggnog flavor last night and took a big whiff. There is no part of my brain that is tuned into the eggnog frequency, but man does this stuff smell good. I had it on the brain all day and I couldn't help but do a taste test when we got home today.


I happily opened the container, scooped out a serving and dug in...and that's when I remembered I don't like egg nog. Sorry, I just don't. It reminds me of gingerbread men or other seasonal treats that I've just never been that in to. Chocolate shoppe says they are the best ice cream in Wisconsin, and I'll agree it's a quality product, but I can only say so much when I'm just not into the flavor. I got about half way through before I started dipping some pretzels in to the bowl to break up that gingery/nutmeg/whatever it is vibe.


I feel bad that I can't say more, but I'm just not that excited like I was yesterday. It's a shame too, because looking at the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream flavor list, you'll see there are a ton of fantastic looking flavors , a hundred of which I would have preferred over eggnog. I'm sure they are good...if not a bit unhealthy in regards to fat content....

....sorry, still staring at this gigantic flavor list. Man they have some awesome looking stuff!

Nutrition: 240 / 120-8 / 0 / 3
Made in Wisconsin

AICC-1: Oberweis Super Premium Cookie Dough Ice Cream

One of the many great things about this blog (besides the excuse to pack my freezer with ice cream), is making a home for the friends of ice cream. Whether you have ice cream everyday, or just enjoy a scoop of vanilla now and then, all are welcome. Well, I got an email from a fan...who just so happens to run an Ice Cream of the month club. The funny thing is, it never even dawned on me that their might be an ice cream of the month club. I was intrigued, how could I not be...and then he asked if I would like to start reviewing their selections. Can you guess how long it took me to say yes? I believe it was about 37 milliseconds.

Today, a week before the blog's 1 year anniversary, I received my first shipment. Mmmmm, a box full of 4 premium ice cream samples. Oh I'm excited. I mean, really, what does $50 worth of ice cream look like? It's gotta be good...not just good...REAL good to justify the cost. Oh...I'm setting myself up for disappointment aren't I?

Ok, 4 choices: I'm going with the Oberweis Ice Cream Parlor Super Premium Ice Cream. Whoa, that's quite the self title they got going there. According to their website: "Oberweis Ice Cream is made with a minimum of 18% Butterfat making it a much richer product than many of the so-called super premium national brands. Oberweis Dairy mixes fresh milk and cream along with sugar and other dry ingredients prior to pasteurizing the mix. We then chill and agitate the mix for 24 hours to insure the creamy texture for which Oberweis Ice Cream is famous." Ok, we need a taste test to figure out what this really means.

Lid is off and we're going in: First bite and it pretty much tastes like ice cream. Hmmmm, time to enjoy a bowl in front of the TV. Hmmm, ok, now the butterfat thing is hitting me...you know, the one that gives it a buttery flavor. Actually, it reminds me of blue bunny cookie dough, but I'm still not sure I'm describing it right. I tried a couple of cookie dough chunks and they're good. They remind of those days gone by where we'd dig into a fresh roll of Pillsbury cookie dough.

Still going...still trying to place the texture. You know what? This ice cream is awesome. There really is a smooth and "famously" creamy texture here. The more I eat, the more I realize I'm really enjoying this. It's different, very different, nothing like I've had before. It's like eating cookie dough flavored whip cream. I was a little worried at first since I set the bar so high in my mind, but this unique ice cream has totally won me over.

Disclaimer: Amazing clubs has not paid for a positive review.
I get free ice cream, and they get my free honest opinion (and a link)

Nutrition: 230 / 120-7 / 0 / 3
Made in Illinios (so available in Chicagoland, St. Louis, Indiana, and Michigan)