There’s almost nothing better than tasting that first seasonal bite of your favorite summertime treat. You wait months for a fresh serving and the anticipation, although frustrating, has a way of making it taste that much better. In October/November, you head over to your favorite shop and stock up on a variety of flavors to hopefully last you throughout the winter months. It’s good, but no where near as good as it tastes during the spring. April/May rolls around and you continuously check for updates anywhere you can on when this place is going to open. There are Twitter notifications like “coming soon” and Instagram photos to remind you of what’s to come. You start talking about it to friends and family a little more often than usual. Sometimes you may go so far as to ask people if they’d like to get a snack with you once the season opens, before you even know the opening date yourself. It’s a little bit exciting and anxiety provoking all at the same time. Because you simply can’t wait any longer for the windows to open, the signs to be hung up, and to be holding this limited time treat in your hands.
“Jamie, are you going to at least tell us where you are talking about or what kind of food it is?” Of course my dearly devoted readers! This superb seasonal summertime sensation is Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices. There is currently only one Ralph’s location in Manhattan on East 24th Street, and this is the only shop location that doesn’t take multiple forms of public transportation for me to get to. It takes me about fifteen minutes to walk to Ralph’s from my apartment, and I must say, the walk is very nice, especially when I cut through Madison Square Park. (All irrelevant information).
Ralph’s is much more than simple Italian Ice. They sell water based ices, creme based ices, ice cream, smoothies, and a bunch of fancy drinks combining some yummy ingredients. Being the picky eater that I am, I have only tasted a handful (maybe half of a handful) of their products because I like to stick with what I know and what I like. I can tell you that I have seen a ton of people at Ralph’s, over the years I have been going there, get all kinds of flavor mixtures that look delicious and really pretty! I would even bet money that almost all of them are extremely delicious (minus the flavors I don’t like or am allergic to). But, I’m happy with my “usual” options and they never disappoint.
In past seasons, a typical Ralph’s visit consisted of a small cup with 1 scoop of Chocolate Mousse Chip creme ice and 1 scoop of Mocha Chip creme ice. That is my “go to” combination. Thinking I should become a bit more adventurous, I made the decision to take home several “new ” flavors to try over the winter. Before Ralph’s closed up for the 2014-2015 season back in November, I splurged on 8 pints to keep in my freezer. I had 2 Chocolate Mousse Chip, 2 Mocha Chip, 1 Java Chip, 1 Cookies’N’Cream, 1 Vanilla Chocolate Chip, and a mixture pint of Cantaloupe, Peach, and Passion Fruit. Oddly enough, the Cookie’N’Cream was my least favorite flavor I had brought home, even though it is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. Don’t get me wrong, I still ate it! Having Ralph’s in my freezer was great, but it hardly compares to actually going there, an adventure I got to go on yesterday, May 26, 2015.
I finally had the chance to walk over the Ralph’s for the first time this season! I stood at the window for an annoyingly long amount of time trying to decide what I wanted. First of all, I had to find my glasses because I can’t see anything written on the signs hanging up without them and I needed to read the specials. Second, I had a small desire to taste something new, but felt like I really should stick with the good stuff that I know and love. Once the defense and prosecution presented their cases to the court, my mental decision making jury was split 50/50. As the executive branch, I took control the situation, and decided to get 1 scoop of Chocolate Mousse Chip (an oldie, but a goodie) and 1 scoop of Java Chip (new resident, moved to the area this past winter and is enjoying it so far). I was very very happy with my decision and so were my taste buds. Actually, my sweat glands were pretty happy too because it was a scorcher out yesterday. I wonder what I will get the next time I go to Ralph’s… Not important. For now, court is adjourned.
There’s almost nothing better than tasting that first seasonal bite of your favorite summertime treat. You wait months for a fresh serving and the anticipation, although frustrating, has a way of making it taste that much better. In October/November, you head over to your favorite shop and stock up on a variety of flavors to hopefully last you throughout the winter months. It’s good, but no where near as good as it tastes during the spring. April/May rolls around and you continuously check for updates anywhere you can on when this place is going to open. There are Twitter notifications like “coming soon” and Instagram photos to remind you of what’s to come. You start talking about it to friends and family a little more often than usual. Sometimes you may go so far as to ask people if they’d like to get a snack with you once the season opens, before you even know the opening date yourself. It’s a little bit exciting and anxiety provoking all at the same time. Because you simply can’t wait any longer for the windows to open, the signs to be hung up, and to be holding this limited time treat in your hands.
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