Chocolate Macadamia

Another week, another flavor! This morning I was on the phone with my buddy Scott when I walked into Vons. As I walked to the ice cream aisle I said, SWEET! They are 2 for $6. Scott then said…. I wouldn’t know if that’s good or not…is it good? Me: Yes, I am getting two. I now have next weeks flavor in the freezer.

Chocolate Macadamia Verdict:

I have to give Roni credit for this line because she said it perfectly…It’s a classic combination of flavors with a macadamia nut added to the mixture. Then she lost all credibility when she said the following….”I’m surprised no one has told you that you need a tan.” Thank you Veronica…I am fully aware I am pale.

Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams with Fudge Covered Macadamia Nuts

Back to what Roni said about the flavor. I agree with her, it’s a mix of a classic flavor with a subtle addition. When I had the first macadamia nut I felt that it was too big for the ice cream. Then the second time around I actually let myself savor the flavor. There was a hint of salt in the macadamia that allowed that great combination of salty and sweet. The chocolate and vanilla ice cream mixed together was a great blend. But then again, a classic is a classic and you can’t miss with a classic. Macadamia nuts are hard to begin with, and they are still hard when bathing in the ice cream. So if you don’t eat macadamia’s alone, don’t eat them in this flavor. They are as hard as you’d think. But that’s what I enjoyed about it. You still got the true flavor and texture of the nut. I could easily just eat the Chocolate and vanilla ice cream, mmmm good. The two mixed together taste just like a Frosty from Wendy’s.

It was very simple this week. Nothing too exciting to go jumping up and down over, but it was a good flavor. I will ALWAYS say this…. Simplicity is sometimes the best.

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Peanut Brittle

This week I entered the grocery store from the opposite side of the store, and I am usually a creature of habit so I don’t know why I changed it up. But as I was walking across the store I checked out how long the line was…. and BAM, this cute guy was the last one standing there. I thought to myself… Hurry up and get that ice cream so I can enjoy some eye candy. Well in my rush I accidentally walked down the wrong freezer aisle, and was like CRAP, get it together. Once in the correct aisle I didn’t think, just grabbed. And I was back in line before the cute guy left. I got to enjoy the sight of him for a about a minute. SCORE!

Peanut Brittle Verdict:

Last weeks discussion was one of wanting a “Holiday” flavor this week. Well since we already did the holiday flavor a few weeks ago I had to think. Then it clicked, in our office we ALWAYS get a box a Peanut Brittle for Christmas from a client. So this was the only flavor that made sense to have today. And guess what showed up today at work? You guessed it…THE PEANUT BRITTLE! Ironic? I think not. But the only reason I knew of this flavor right from the get go was because my cousin Kim had told me about it a few weeks ago after she had the actual Peanut Brittle for the first time.

Peanut Brittle Ice Cream with Peanut Brittle Pieces & a Caramel Swirl

I do enjoy Peanut Brittle, but the DOWN FALL of it all is that I DON’T have self control. Once you have a bite the butter makes it a craving you can’t stop. Then it gets stuck in your teeth so you feel like you need to brush your teeth after. But since I can’t stop eating it, brushing my teeth is pointless until the box is empty. Ok, back to the actual ice cream. I have to say…LOVE this flavor. When I took the first bite I could actually taste the Peanut Brittle pieces and that DAMN butter was still there. Everything about this flavor I enjoyed. The Peanut Brittle Ice cream was mmmm good and once you bit into the Peanut Brittle you just think…Damn this is good. Then I found the caramel…HOME RUN! Who would have thought by just adding caramel it would add the perfect compliment to this sweet treat. Unlike all the other flavors where they believe that chunks are the way to go, this flavor did the opposite. When they say pieces the actually man pieces, PERFECT size.

I do have to say, if you don’t like things too sweet you may not like this flavor. At times it can get a tad sweet, but I enjoy sweet so bring it on.

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Americone Dream & Fair Goodness Cake

This week brings us our FIRST ever Double Scoop Friday. It consists of two flavors in one sitting. I have to say, this may have been one of my best ideas so far. And after a week like this week, a double scoop Friday was well needed. But I will make a confession, when I was picking the Americone Dream out from the freezer section; I kind of dropped some on the floor. It was like a dominos affect. But I put them all back where they belonged. …Or just on shelves, I was in a rush.

Americone Dream Verdict:

This is the infamous flavor that started this ENTIRE journey. When in Vermont in June, we stopped at the Ben & Jerry’s plant on our way back to Boston. It was raining, cold and I was still recovering from the night before after consuming my own personal size bottle of Jack. I went with my cousins, Kim, Andrew, Michelle, Scott (whom some how didn’t get tagged in our check in at the plant) and Ashley. We toured the plant and the grounds. We even got to see the cemetery of flavors that have gone onto a better place. After we toured the plant we got a free sample, and this was the flavor they had that day. I couldn’t of asked for any better of a pit stop with some of my crazy family. Mind you, I had just met ALL these folks the day prior at a family wedding. Kim I met a few days prior when she picked me up at the airport.

Vanilla Ice Cream with a Caramel Swirl & Fudge Waffle Cone Pieces

So I am kind of cheating on this because I already knew this flavor rocked. Everything about this flavor was a grand slam. The caramel swirls were perfect…and the fudge cover waffle pieces were a great side. It’s simple, just go get this and you will enjoy it. This flavor also has a VERY sentimental place in my heart because this is where we all bonded with one another…. Okay, maybe it was the Jack the night before, but this is a great second.

The biggest argument with this flavor comes from Jimmy Fallon who has a flavor called Late Night Snack. And if you have followed me from the start, you know we have already tasted and reviewed that flavor. Jimmy’s rival created this flavor, Stephen Colbert. My note to Jimmy: You can suck a waffle cone.


Fair Goodness Cake Verdict:

I picked this flavor because it was a limited batch, and because it was one of Roni’s top 5 picks. I don’t like German Chocolate Cake, never have and don’t think I ever will. But I have no option but keep on going through the list.

Chocolate Ice Cream with German Chocolate Cake Pieces & a Coconut Caramel Swirl

Surprisingly this flavor was an enjoyable one. The positives of this flavor were; the cake pieces. I have to say they were moist and added a little substance to the ice cream. Another plus was the Coconut Carmel Swirl. I am picky when it comes to coconut because sometimes it can be over powering. The coconut was perfectly placed with the caramel, and was a perfect attribute to what is usually coated on the actually German Chocolate Cake. Maybe the coconut on the actually cake is what I don’t like. Well I guess I will have to try a slice sometime in the future to figure it out.

Overall I was VERY pleased with both selections this week. But then again, I already knew what Americone Dream tasted like. And yes, I know it is Monday and not Friday when I posted this. But give me a break. Life happens.

This weeks scoring is an accumulative of both flavors. I believe they both deserve top marks this week.

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Cheesecake Brownie

This weeks flavor choice was COMPLETELY out of my hands. My picking privileges were revoked for one week. This week’s scientifically chosen flavor comes from my friend Roni. She gave me her Top 5 list and I had to choose from there. Since here first pick wasn’t at the store this morning, I got to settle for second best.

Cheesecake Brownie Verdict:

I have to say since I DON’T like cheesecake, I don’t have memories that involve this dessert. But brownies on the other side….OMG, YUM! I can eat an entire batch of brownies all by myself. Then I will huddle in a corner and cry knowing that I just ate enough calories in one sitting for the entire week. But it’s so worth the tears.

Cheesecake Ice Cream with Cheesecake Brownie Chunks

Again I will stress how I DON’T like cheesecake…. and from that I will try and not be bias on my own review. But then again, it’s all about me so I can do what I please. My dislike: Cheesecake. My likes: I enjoyed that it was smooth flavored. But the TRUE savers for me were the brownie chunks. That was about the extent to this flavor.
Lesson of the week: When I pick flavors I pick to my preference and interest in a flavor. Roni obviously didn’t take into account ANY of my interests. I am not sure why she thought it was all about her this week.

On that note I will allow Roni to give you all her own review on the pint.

Hey Y'all, Roni here. All I have to say is I ♥ Cheesecake & I ♥ Brownies...This ice cream in my opinion is the best of both worlds. It's not a WOW flavor though, but still great enough to satisfy a craving of cheesecake & brownies.

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Crème Brulee

Well, this morning was the first morning in two months that I had to actually go pick out a new flavor. I was told that I needed to pick a good flavor from Veronica (aka my design executive, and Friend) Well let’s just put it this way…. She is going to be picking the flavor next week.

Crème Brulee Verdict:

One of the memories that resurface when I think Crème Brulee is from my Zia Nice. I just remember the first time I had it she made it. Was it the actually first time? I couldn’t tell you. But my first memory is hers. And all I can say is MMMMMM good.

Sweet Custard Ice Cream with a Caramelized Sugar Swirl

My biggest concern was…how are they going to account for the sugary top that makes Crème Brulee, Crème Brulee? And my concerns were put to the test with the first bite. I am still trying to figure out why they called it Crème Brulee and not Flan. The “caramel sugar swirl” was absent for the most part except when you got a small piece every once in a while. Do I think this was Crème Brulee? NO! Do I think it was Flan? YES! So when you do taste this don’t expect that explosion you get when you bite into a freshly torched Crème Brulee. But I wouldn’t discount the flavor as a whole. Was it sweet? Yes, but I like the sweetness.

I feel they needed to take a better approach on attacking the caramelized sugar swirl that should have been spread throughout the ice cream. Even thought I dislike the flavor for the name, I actually did enjoy this flavor for once again being FLAN. I just couldn’t think of anything else when I ate it. Another highlight was that it was SOOO smooth when I scooped it. It was like butter. And we all know how I like to have scoop friendly ice cream.

Over all I would say, give this a try. Just don’t expect Crème Brulee. This flavor wasn’t a complete bust, just not what I had expected.

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