Spring Fever
Here I sit early on a Monday morning waiting for the temperature to surge into the 70’s this afternoon. After a rather dull and snow-less winter season, I am ready for spring. And spring means Ice Cream!
I helped my friend move into Whittier over the weekend. On Saturday, I forgot to grab cash, because Whittier means Meadows Frozen Custard! So Sunday, after the final item was moved and unpacked, I went into Meadows to grab a cone and a quart of Chocolate peanut butter cup to take home. Yum! And now I am just sad I didn’t go there on Saturday because I didn’t have any cash in pocket because they accept credit cards now!
Meadows has Chocolate and Vanilla custard made fresh every day, in the store, even as you watch. That’s the beauty of frozen custard to me. And it tastes good, too! They also carry two or three other flavors daily (see the calendar if you haven’t looked already). They also have frozen yogurt and started making gelado/Italian ice. I asked for a sample of the Mango it it was yummy!
I have given away the opinion that Meadows is my favorite Ice Cream place in town. There are a number of new places that have popped up recently that I have not tried. The new place in the plaza with Belles and the Plus Mart (next to the Dawg Wash) on E Patrick and the new Friscos walk up window on Wedgewood are two I’ll have to try.
How about you? What is your favorite? Rita’s, Brusters, Maggie Moo’s, Stone Cold or even the Dairy Queen in the Mall (another one of my weaknesses I must admit). If I am I forgetting to mention your favorite Ice Cream place, let me know.
~LizFrog~
Do they take credit cards yet at meadows? That was a turn off the first time I visited as I had no cash on me. So I basically had to turn around and go home with no ice cream and an upset kid.
Yes! They take Credit cards now. That way you can take home a couple of Quarts, too.
Because they’re closest to our home, we like A Cool Dip over on Fingerboard Road (Rt. 80) in the Green Valley Shopping Center and the Baskin Robbins/Dunkin’ Donuts in New Market.
Hi, thank you for posting updates what new in frederick. I do pick up rss on my blackberry viigo program. I thought to share with you maybe you can recall Ben and Jerry is my favorite ice cream place only if they get white russian ice cream. I spoked with the owner and he mentioned it was his favorite too. Ben and Jerry is possible making a comeback with white russian sometime this summer. My second favorite is rita ice cream but I do have question why only certain gorcery store will carry Rita’s ice cream. Hope to read more ab out frederick what’s news espically why is carmack plaza isn’t filling up the stores? Thanks again for your blog. Tom
Thanks, Liz! It’s great to see the Meadows Frozen Custard getting some well-deserved kudos here. As this place is less than a mile from my front door, it is my first choice for frozen dairy treats in Frederick — in this case, frozen custard which uses eggs in addition to milk, cream, and sugar to create an extra rich and creamy product. The Meadows is a regional chain based in Central PA that uses local dairy suppliers and makes their product on site to ensure freshness. Keep in mind that they also offer frozen yogurt as well, for those counting calories.
My second choice would be Bruster’s Real Ice Cream on Crestwood Avenue (near Luke’s and Bottom Dollar). Like the Meadows, they are a regional chain (based in Western PA) make their product on site using primarily local ingredients. Can you tell that I’m a freshness freak?!
With regards to credit cards, keep in mind that small merchants often pay fees of 1-3% on each credit/debit card transaction. When you consider the small margins that food retailers make on their products, I would encourage consumers to support their local business owners (and not your national banking chain) by using cash for purchases less than $10. Of course, if you don’t have cash, then credit will do!
This weather is just a tease to torture us tha
This weather is just a tease to torture us that May is still far away. I cannot wait!!!!!
I love Frederick Fudge and Ice Cream downtown at the corner of Church and East. Also worth a visit is South Mountain Creamery between Middletown and Boonsboro.
The meadows is on my must try list. I think a special trip is in order. we have been hitting cold stone (a little to) frequently mostly b/c of convenience. cant wait for the freez king to open back up to.
Way Cool @ AKA Friscos is GREAT! They have a soft serve vanilla/fruit swirl concoction (can’t remember what it’s called at the moment… this obviously means that a trip there is needed!) that is FANTASTIC! The smooth, creamy vanilla paired with what tastes like real blended up fruit is a perfect after soccer practice treat. I even snuck one into the movies once!
@iclover, wow! That sounds amazing!
Didnt know The Meadows was a PA based company. Probably why I seen a sign saying that a Meadows was coming soon when driving through Waynesboro the other day.
How did I forget Freeze King? A Frederick landmark for sure.
Freeze King is on North East Street across from the Monocacy Village Shopping Center.
Definitely check the calendar before heading to The Meadows (see link in Lizfrog’s original post), because they have some really interesting flavors on a rotating basis. I like the black cherry, the dreamsicle and the peanut butter (not together, tho).
Well if you feel like venturing out a little, Jimmy Cone in Mt. Airy or Damascus is my favorite. Every other Saturday when it is warm, you can stroll to look at all the old cars and hot rods.
Beef n Buns nParadise out on East Patrick St is well worth the trip. Their Shakes are some of the best in the area. They have real soft serve ice cream. It’s not custard or ice milk just good old soft serve something like the Mr. Softie Trucks used to sell only better. They also have flavor burst as well as a weekly special flavor. (Black RaspberryMmmm)Good Stuff. Good burgers too! It’s our favorite place for ice cream and food.
DJ,
Jimmie Cone!! Another one I forgot to mention initially!
I have to start making my summer plans now. So much ice cream, so little time….
Jimmie Cone is a real throwback, with good ice cream at good prices. While there’s more room to park in Mt. Airy, Damascus is more fun to visit if you can grab one of the outside tables and would enjoy a bit of 1950’s style ambiance.
For similar reasons I also enjoy a visit to South Mountain Creamery in Boonsboro.
South Mountain Creamery has a nice retro feel, but like most ice cream stores today, it sells corporate ice cream. In this case, from Hershey’s.
Not sure if that’s good, bad or irrelevant to most folks.
FYI….Meadows Frozen Custard also serves a FAT FREE, NO SUGAR ADDED VANILLA. My wife is on Weight Watches and it’s only 2 points, whatever that means. Also, they have a FAT FREE, SUGAR FREE HOT FUDGE. All of the custard is made fresh everyday………
Yeah, Dude, I realize South Mountain Creamery’s ice cream is from Hershey’s. But Hershey’s has always seemed pretty good to my admittedly non-gourmand taste buds.
Like you, I wonder how much “corporate” ice cream matters to most folks. Actually, if South Mountain Creamery started serving ice cream costing significantly more (a more expensive “name” brand–or a premium ice cream made on the premises), I suspect it could matter a good deal in terms of losing some long-time Boonsboro clientele.
South Mountain Creamery in Middletown makes and sells their own ice cream.
They also sell milk made by their own local cows.
Yes JJP is correct.
Are you guys getting confused with Potomac Street Creamery in Boonsboro?
Yes, Liz, I did get them confused.
South Mountain does indeed make its own ice cream.
The Potomac Street Creamery in Boonsboro sells Hershey brand ice cream, although the parlor has a great, old timey feel.
I think Main’s Ice Cream, formerly of Middletown, sold Hershey’s too.
Over the years, I think the old timey places have generally opted for budget-friendly “corporate” ice cream, while the newer, upscale establishments sell hand-made ice cream at a premium.
I’m willing to take a blind taste test, providing you buy.
Thx, Liz, for straightening us out–I certainly was confusing South Mountain with Potomac Street Creamery. I’ll plan on trying South Mountain Creamery on one of my next trips up that way.
Phew, I thought I’d lost my mind. I really thought South Mountain had its own product. A warning…it’s pretty stinky there much of the time. And I’m even from farm girl stock. But once you’re there, you may as well get some fresh mozzerella (which is yummy, but not as good as what is sold at Juliette’s Deli on Church street. Oh LORD that’s good) and butter.
I cannot BELIEVE I didn’t know about Meadows. Every Friday is Ice Cream Day for us and I hope to dethrone Rita’s with this new entry! I’m unreasonably excited.
Ahhh, the Meadows. I grew up in Western PA, and when the second Meadows ever showed up in my town in the 90s, it became a favorite of the area and my childhood.
At some point after I had moved to Maryland (but not Frederick yet), I looked up the Meadows online, to see if they were even on the web. At that point, I discovered they were moving into Maryland. I later looked them up again when I was going to move to Frederick, and discovered they had made it into Frederick.
I tend to visit every time they have Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup (not to be confused with Chocolate Peanut Butter). That flavor is amazing.
(Oh, and don’t forget – good or no, Ritas is giving away free stuff Thursday, March 20th. Free ice cream is always good.
Checking in on this thread, I see that there are a few references to Hershey’s Ice Cream as being a “corporate” ice cream. When we lived in Harrisburg, Hershey’s ice cream was everywhere and we assumed it was made by the Hershey Company (makers of chocolate and other candy confections). However, we soon discovered that Hershey’s Ice Cream is made by the Hershey Creamery Company, which has absolutely no relation to the chocolate behemoth. Hershey Creamery has been in business since 1894 and is still family owned and operated. All of the ice cream is manufactured at their historic plant in downtown Harrisburg. So with all due respect, Hershey’s Ice Cream is a regional product that should not be confused with larger corporate ice cream manufacturers. And Frederick Fan is right in saying it is pretty darn good ice cream. Cheers!
In response to B Minich’s rave about Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup custard at the Meadows, just a quick heads up that it will be one of the featured flavors on Friday, April 4 and again on Friday, April 25 this month. And he is absolutely right that it is one of their very best custards (and my teenage daughter’s #1 favorite).
Ah, Gumby, thx. for the clarification re Hershey’s ice cream. I took folks’ at their word that it was a product of the chocolate megacompany, despite indications to the contrary.
When I was growing up in the country (Eastern Shore, MD), Hershey’s was sold mainly at a few small rural stores, where you could get hand-dipped ice cream cones. We’d drive a few extra miles just to swing by one of the little stores with the Hershey’s Ice Cream sign out front! Later, my adult taste buds told me that–when I was lucky enough to find packaged half-gallons being sold locally–Hershey’s sure as heck tasted a lot better than the Giant, Breyers, and many other supermarket brands I’d gotten accustomed to!
Is there anywhere around here that serves Gelato? We used to get it whenever we went to Columbia Mall, but that place closed. I would love to find some in Frederick. (or not too far a drive)