Mud Pie ice cream from Ben and Jerrys
Recently Ben & Jerry's had their free cone day and every year it brings back memories about just how cheap I used to be. When I was in college, there were a couple more stores in the village and I could hit up multiple free cones. It wasn't unusual to have four or more cones that day. Now that I'm aging and stressing myself out too much, it doesn't seem as worth it to line up for free ice cream. Hell, if I really want Ben & Jerry's ice cream, I'll just buy it and eat it at home. It's cheaper and now that I'm no longer in college, my freezer actually works properly and can store my ice cream.
When you get a pint of Ben & Jerry's, it's not like getting a pint of Haagen-Dazs because apparently if you want all 16oz in your pint, you have to go with Ben & Jerry's. I read this from the Fat City blog and man, that sounds crazy. I actually saw a bar that did that too though, with a sign that said something like "We serve 14oz pint glasses" or something like that.
I got the Mud Slide because chocolate ice cream sounds good. The Ben & Jerry's website describe this ice cream as, "Chocolate & Coffee Liqueur Ice Creams Swirled Together with a Chocolate Cookie Swirl" and that's pretty much what it is. The coffee liqueur isn't very strong. Best part about the ice cream has to be the chocolate cookie swirl. It's like when you're eating cookies and cream ice cream (it doesn't matter which brand) and you get into cookie digging mode. You know what that's all about. You discover a new nubbin of cookie in the ice cream and it's like, "Oh, let me get my inner archeologist on and dig out this sucker. It wants to be free and then die in my mouth. So be weary, the potential for the ice cream to turn you into a fatass is there.
Although I kinda dissed Haagen-Dazs earlier, I have to give them credit for more intense flavors. Ben & Jerry's is way more fun, but just pure, deep, intense flavor is not its strong suit. It's more of a wacky flavor and cool mix-in type of ice cream. Both have their place in my mouth and stomach. One does not discriminate against deliciousness, since that's not a real word. Anyway I'm going to try and add a new functionality to the site on Friday. It's not a redesign, and it's not super huge. It's just something new that I'm trying to do. I'm learning that it's better to say that you're going to do it and tell people. That creates a powerful commitment device. So, Friday, something new. Stay tuned.
Sorry - I actually don't bother with cider with all the great beer options available out here, so I couldn't get back to you on that! I don't think I've even had a glass of hard cider for a few years now.
James
April 5, 2010 6:37 pm
Yes! The cookie swirl! That is definitely the best part! I'm so excited to see this post, because I just had this ice cream last weekend and thought it really deserves a post. Nice job!
I do miss Starbuck's Mudpie though, I had it once a year or two ago and never saw it again. Do you know if they still make it?
Mai
April 2, 2010 3:50 am
Would it be totally OTT to drizzle some bailey's over a scoop of this?! Hmmm think I'm going to have to try this new flavour.
Veronica
April 3, 2010 6:42 am
Has this flavor replaced Dublin Mudslide? That was basically the exact same thing, but branded with Bailey's as an ingredient. Long ago, one pint of that and several bottles of hard cider helped get me through a particularly shitty night in London. Outstanding stuff!
You've got the distinction between HD and B&J down, too - a pint of HD just might make you sick if you eat it all in one go! Strange that a weak sense of taste/smell would lead B&J founders to make less intensely flavored ice cream.
James
March 30, 2010 9:41 pm
@Memoria,
The photos on your blog are pretty fantastic too! You know, I haven't really seen Blue Bell in the grocery stores... are they pretty widely available?
@James,
Actually on their website they still have Dublin Mudslide. I didn't really look for it in the freezer at the store though. What's your favorite hard cider here in NY?
Danny
March 31, 2010 12:46 am
I do Free Cone Day every year, but that's because I live about 4 blocks from the East Village location. Which means I usually return 2-3 times throughout the day. It didn't help [my health] that this year it was on the same day as Starbucks Free Pastry Day [but my stomach sure was happy].
Memoria, Danny, I am probably the biggest, most homesick Blue Bell addict in New York and have done unnecessary amounts of research as such. It's the country's top 3 best selling ice cream brand, but it's only sold in less than 1/2 the states, all in the South. There's ONE place in New York that serves it, and that's Hill Country. Unlike Ben & Jerry's or Haagen Dazs, the crazy add-ins just distract from the distinct taste of the pure Original Vanilla.
The Spatula Queen
April 2, 2010 12:19 am
Your photos are fantastic, and the ice cream looks good. I love Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs (and Blue Bell). I agree with you about how they differ but had never thought of it. You're so right. I didn't know about the 14 ounces jip, though!!
Memoria
March 30, 2010 1:29 am