Starbucks, which some people call “Fourbucks” because of the prices, will remove it’s name from one of its Seattle stores in an effort to appeal to the budget-minded coffee drinker. The well-established store will be labeled 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea and will soon offer beer and wine along with coffee and tea. I assume the prices will be the same, but maybe, just maybe, they will drop a bit.
In other vital news, July is National Ice Cream Month and this Sunday is National Ice Cream Day. So tell me, do you like floats, shakes, or malts? What are your preferences? I love shakes more than the others, though an icy Coke float with vanilla can be a nice, different treat. I don’t like malt enough to enjoy malts or malt balls, but I can make them. I have special training.
I’m a big chocolate malt fan–I consider myself something of a connoisseur. Dairy Queen can be good, but they’re variable. Some stores even make the things with chocolate ice cream, which is the Unforgivable Sin. A malt *must* be made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.
We used to have a burger and ice cream chain called Bridgeman’s around here which made good malts, but I don’t think they actually operate any restaurants anymore (their grills were never all that good). We have a number of specialty malt shops in our metro area though, which produce a superior product. Unfortunately, none of them is near me.
I don’t actually buy malts much anymore, except when I’m on the road. I’ve taken to buying Dairy Queen Dilly Bars, which are hard to get wrong, and lower in calories.
After years of malts, I’ve been tending toward the small single scoop lately. DQ has gotten rather high priced so I have been exploring the independent small town Former DQ/Tastee Freeze/Dairyland type places in the small towns around the heartland. The quality and service can vary wildly, but it’s a fun expedition. Whenever I get near a big city I try to stop at Culver’s for the Frozen Custard. Also, their Norwegian Cod is Wonderful, Tasty, Flaky, Sweet, Delicious, if not Pretty Good. In other words, not bad.
Stay away from the soft serve machines at chinese buffets – Watery, Crystaline Paste.
I’m crazy about Culver’s cod dinner, but I don’t care for frozen custard. I’m highly sensitive to bitter taste, and frozen custard tastes like cheese to me. And (as I’ve said before) I don’t like cheese.
Culver’s? Bridgeman’s? I haven’t heard of them. I agree though, Lars, on the chocolate ice cream vs. vanilla with chocolate syrup. I don’t remember off-hand the difference in taste, but I remember with shakes and floats the difference is strong.
On Monday, we went to DQ Chill N Grill, because the children voted for it over the other choices. They own Orange Julius now, and the Three Berry shakes I’ve had are terrific.