The Ban Lasted Decades. Cookies and Cream Broke It.
On National Ice Cream Month, a confession about the difference between moderation and a switch.
My long July 4 long holiday weekend included lots of what the month is all about — ice cream. The first night was fresh cantaloupe with a dollop of chocolate sauce. The next was apple pie and vanilla ice cream. But the show stopper was finally getting to visit Four Seas on Cape Cod.
It’s a local staple dating back to 1934. A destination with a constant line that moves faster than you’d expect. It’s infamous for flavors like black raspberry. Not that I ordered it. When I’ve got something I love – like good queso, hello melted cheese – it’s what I always order on my first visit somewhere.
With ice cream it’s cookies and cream. Always. This time I even got a double scoop and the souvenir ringer t-shirt.
I took longer than the others to eat, by a long shot. I was savoring it and didn’t feel guilty at all.
Checking out the best local ice cream spots is one of my favorite things to do while traveling. I always seem to pick the spots with the longest lines on earth, which drives my partner nuts.
As a kid it was chocolate chip stirred up so it got melty. I added pretzels, but only in the original shape. Sticks and rods just weren’t the same. On occasion, I’d veer to mint chocolate chip.
Then, at some point I just stopped eating ice cream. Totally. Without exception. I can’t say why. It’s my tell. I don’t deviate. I can’t explain it or share the reasoning.
The ban lasted decades. Until I again flipped the same all-or-nothing extremist switch that got me there in the first place. And I started eating ice cream again. But only cookies and cream.
President Ronald Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month in 1984. Nothing beats the government legislating permission. And I’m hellbent on celebrating.
The industry isn’t banking on us eating more –– rather eating better. We’re not going for the fake crap. We only want the good stuff with the premium price tag. Made with real cream so it’s thick and creamy. In a way you can taste the difference.
I’m doing my part. After the visit to Four Seas we went to Boston, and J.P. Licks was on the menu. And like an idiot, I broke my cardinal rule. I ordered peanut butter cookies and cream. I didn’t even sample it, first, thinking I was taking my favorite and punching it up a notch. Not. I didn’t like it. At all. And that was only a bite or two in. It was too rich and too chocolatey.
I pouted and berated myself. I know better. I can’t mess with what works.
I actually contemplated going up to the counter and telling them I made a mistake. To ask if I could change flavors. But I would have had to wait in line again.
Luckily my partner, Gary, ordered Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookie Batter without a taste test. He loved it and it pisses me off when he orders better than me. Luckily, he shared. It was nice. Way better than mine. But definitely not cookies and cream.
What can I say? The wiring doesn’t change, just the output.
Tell me what you stopped and started again. Doesn't matter what — just the thing you were sure you'd never do again, until you did. Comment with yours.
When life stops making sense, we shop. More soon.
Mint chocolate chip loyalist over here!!!!
I love this; there are certain cuisines where I must order the same dish every time as a reference point. Thai restaurants? Of course we order pad thai. That's the dish upon which to judge each restaurant and their differences.
I used to be a vanilla ice loyalist in my younger days, but I'm a sucker for anything peanut butter based now.