I think Greater's is a regional thing (maybe only in Ohio) but I love their ice cream, especially Cookies and Cream! My old office use to be right across the street from one and they would do a summer promotion where you get your card punched and after the 12th one you would get a T-shirt. I swear I ended up with at least 2 if not 3 for 3 straight summers.
it's not funny, ice cream is a serious matter . and you're right about artisanal ice creams being superior. however, i love all ice cream and would at least try everything mentioned in this thread, even in winter. the best ice cream in the world is in italy but the best store bought stuff stateside is ciao bella, http://www.ciaobellagelato.com/index.php try it!
Does gelato count amoung ice-creams? But ciao bella does look pretty good, do you know where they carry it in Houston?
Bo Friberg's Professional Pastry says of gelato, "Italian gelatos differ from the so called French ice-creams in that they have more powerful flavors and denser textures, thanks to the inclusion of more solids and less air. Although felatos are usually made with milk instead of cream, their higher percentage of eggs gives them and equally rich, if not richer, taste than the French variation (Technically speaking gelato is any kind of frozen concotion served in an Italian ice cream shop or gelateria)" Of course, if we get too technical, most of the ice creams suggested here wouldn't meet the definition. I haven't been by the Meditaranian Gourmet yet, can't wait to check it out!
My wife is from Cincinnati and I've had the pleasure of eating Greater's ice cream. The best ice cream I've ever had. The Black Rasberry Chip is incredible. The chocolate chips are like fudge chunks, and the ice cream is extremely creamy, its incredible stuff. President Clinton used to order it while in office, he had it delivered to D.C., that's how much he liked it.
I am a HUGE fan of Dreyer's/Edy's I like a thick heavy cream Icecream... Bluebell is too icy and thin tastes like it was made with skim milk
Anybody eaten at Cold Stone Creamery? 10X better then Marble Slab I think. Carvel is pretty good as well. As for flavor, I get sweet cream with kit kat all the time.
