Maybe it’s the lack of snow and ice-covered streets (finally) or maybe it’s just a trend towards old-fashioned fun, but whatever it is, I’ve been thinking ice cream.
As a AAA/CAA inspector working in Canada I evaluate hundreds of restaurants each year at all rating levels. Lately I have found myself looking at a lot of pictures of amazing-looking ice cream sundaes, milkshakes and soda floats. How can you resist the temptation to indulge when it is surrounding you everywhere?
I must admit my first job as a teenager was in at the Baskin-Robbins store in the local mall. Dressed in my little hot-pink uniform, I mastered the art of banana splits, mammoth sundaes with all the toppings and killer milkshakes. My friends used to come by to tease me about my uniform and to sample some of my stuff. At night my Mom would shake her head as I came
home covered in ice cream and chocolate but all in good fun. As you can well imagine, after a summer of that I had had enough of ice cream.
Life went on, and I almost forgot completely about my humble beginning in the food-service industry until this week when I found my mouth watering looking at yummy ice cream treats. Chocolate sundaes topped with whipped cream, M&M’s and, of course, a cherry. Fresh banana splits with three scoops of multi flavored ice creams, chopped nuts and strawberry, caramel and chocolate topping, huge creamy chocolate or strawberry milkshakes in a soda fountain glass. Oh, the choices.
I always find it hard to totally enjoy one of these after a big meal so I like to have them on their own as a really special treat. For us Northerners, the joy of an ice cream cone enjoyed overlooking the lake on a bench is a spring and summertime event. I am sure we all have happy memories of sharing a cone somewhere special with family and friends.
So whatever the reason, the old-fashioned soda fountain treat seem to be making a comeback here in the Great White North, here are a few suggestions:
Melanie Pringles , a nostalgic 50s-style diner at 80 Thickson Road, Whitby, Ontario.
The Lakeview, 24-hour comfort food of all kinds at 1132 Dundas Street, Toronto, Ontario.
Tuckers Marketplace in
Toronto and
Burlington, Ontario for make-your-own sundaes and ice cream treats from the buffet.
I always love the sundaes at all the Hard Rock Cafes which are a AAA
Show Your Card and Save partner - they are big and really good.
For ice cream stands my favorite local towns are
Bayfield, Ontario and
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. They are filled with ice cream stands and always have lines on a summer day.
Check out these AAATravelViews blogs for more cool treat recommendations:
Glorious Gelato In Philadelphia
Summer in Marblehead
What’s the best ice cream in your area?
