America's Market Ice Cream Taste Off - [past]

I just got an e-mail from America's Market, and they'll be having their first ever Ice Cream Taste Off this weekend. I'm going to try to make it, but I have a dinner party that evening, so might not get there. But I figured there are at least a few people in the group who like ice cream.

Here are the details:

We look forward to seeing you, this Saturday September 27th between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

We are located at 9 Huntington Lane in Wheeling, Illinois. We are one block east
of Buffalo Grove Road off of Dundee Road.  We are located between I am Siam and
Venture Hobby.  We will have samples of products and will also be flying in ice cream from Graeter's, Bassett's, Blue Bunny or Sherman's and the local favorite...Homer's. Come join the fun.

good information..thanks for giving this.

What flavors do they have from Graeter's? I've got an awfully full plate this weekend, but I've been known to do nutty things for a pint of Black Raspberry Chip...

I have no ideas what flavors they'll be getting, but they do take requests for most things. Here's their number: (847) 850-2563.

Dropped by America's Market yesterday with a friend, and noticed that they still had one pint left of that Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip from Graeter's that Mhays wished for -- and, of course ,had to buy it, not just because it sounded good, but because of the comment from Mhays. Wow -- good call, Mhays. Fabulous flavor -- the black raspberry was really intense -- what an amazing discovery. Thanks for requesting that they get it.

Graeters now packages their ice cream in larger 1.75 quart containers in addition to their traditional pints. The rumor in cincinnati is that this is a part of an effort to get national distribution. We will see.

-Will

I stopped by America's Market last Monday to drop off a number of items (Arthur Bryant's BBQ Sauce, and a variety of artisan foods made by a chef buddy if mine down there) that I had picked up for Todd while in Kansas City at The American Royal. At that time there were still four pints of Graeter's black raspberry chip in the freezer.

Knowing that I had been teasing my wife with tales of Graeter's goodness during my many trips to Cincinnati, and regretting that I couldn't effectively bring any back to her on those trips, I saw my opportunity to make her a happy woman. It just so happened that Monday was our wedding anniversary. At $6.99 a pint it was one of the cheapest and most appreciated anniversary gifts I have given her in our 29 years of marriage.

It's a good thing that America's Market isn't closer to me. Those $6.99 pints could very easily become a habit.

Buddy

It's way cheaper than buying the cooler with dry ice and driving it up here! Glad you all liked it.

I should point out that Graeters excels in the "chocolate chip" flavors, the others aren't necessarily anything special (the place is really a chocolatier with a sideline in ice cream) However, the combination of that rich black raspberry cream and the dark chocolate is truly incredible. It remains my favorite indulgence. I may have to stop by and pick some up...

Mhays wrote:It's way cheaper than buying the cooler with dry ice and driving it up here! Glad you all liked it.

I should point out that Graeters excels in the "chocolate chip" flavors, the others aren't necessarily anything special (the place is really a chocolatier with a sideline in ice cream) However, the combination of that rich black raspberry cream and the dark chocolate is truly incredible. It remains my favorite indulgence. I may have to stop by and pick some up...

Actually, I 'm partial to their coffee ice cream as well. Also, the whipped cream that tops their fountain creations is amazing-as much richness, depth, and butterfat as most regular ice creams.

Buddy

I don't disagree - it's a very good superpremium (though I have to admit, I've never had the coffee) but I don't know that it's worth the extra money or hassle for the other flavors when there are quite a few very good superpremium ice creams around. For instance, I found that the straight-up chocolate ice cream at Fair Oaks Farms in Winnemac, IN is better than Graeter's plain chocolate, and I was unimpressed by Graeter's cinnamon.

Before I discovered my go-to Graeter's flavor, I would always get an ice cream soda there, which they make the old-fashioned way (coating the interior of the cup with syrup before adding the soda and ice cream) I agree wholeheartedly about the whipped cream, too.

Mhays wrote: It remains my favorite indulgence. I may have to stop by and pick some up...

I'd recommend calling first. I talked to Todd, and he said it was really hard to get Graeter's up here, so that batch of black raspberry was a special order.

Sadly for my diet, Graeter's is now available at Sunset Foods. It is on sale this week for $3.99....the normal price will be $4.99. The Lake Forest location seemed to have an excellent selection of the chip flavors.

-Will

WillG wrote:Sadly for my diet, Graeter's is now available at Sunset Foods. It is on sale this week for $3.99....the normal price will be $4.99. The Lake Forest location seemed to have an excellent selection of the chip flavors.

-Will

Hi,

On Saturday, I was picking up boxes for a friend's move at Sunset Foods Libertyville. This store is being remodeled to include a Graeter's ice cream parlor. I have been assured they will have real whipped cream.

I cannot wait.

Regards,

Since the graeters ice cream has become so ubiquitous around here (even Jewel and Dominicks has it, though the cheapest regular price I have seen is Marianos) the ice cream itself is not a huge deal for me, but if they do the handmade sodas, with your real whipped cream, and have the same hot fudge sauce, then it may become a destination.

-Will

WillG wrote:Since the graeters ice cream has become so ubiquitous around here (even Jewel and Dominicks has it, though the cheapest regular price I have seen is Marianos) the ice cream itself is not a huge deal for me, but if they do the handmade sodas, with your real whipped cream, and have the same hot fudge sauce, then it may become a destination.

-Will

Balistrieri's Sendik's stores in metro Milwaukee now carry it too.

Cathy2 wrote:

WillG wrote:Sadly for my diet, Graeter's is now available at Sunset Foods. It is on sale this week for $3.99....the normal price will be $4.99. The Lake Forest location seemed to have an excellent selection of the chip flavors.

-Will

Hi,

On Saturday, I was picking up boxes for a friend's move at Sunset Foods Libertyville. This store is being remodeled to include a Graeter's ice cream parlor. I have been assured they will have real whipped cream.

I cannot wait.

Regards,

Cincinnati-based family ice cream company Graeter's is looking to expand its business to Chicago.

CEO Richard Graeter is coming to Chicago this week to check out four sites that could help establish the ice cream shop in the Chicago market. The company has 40 retail locations in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

By opening shops in Chicago, Mr. Graeter hopes to increase brand awareness and drive more sales for the nearly $40 million-a-year company.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ng-chicago