The Summer Ice Cream Guide (Philly & New York)

Summer is here, which means it's finally ice cream season.  On these scorching hot days, nothing beats the heat better than a scoop of cold, creamy goodness — whether it comes in the form of traditional ice cream, gelato, or soft serve.  Here is a list of places you can go to get some frozen, summer relief, but beware, these treats are finger-licking, cone-dripping good.

NYC:

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Creams:

This place is my new favorite ice cream shop.  Don't be fooled by its cute retro vibe, shiny black and white tiles, and twirling bar stools, because when it comes to ice cream flavors, this place is far from old-school.  I promise that you will have a hard time deciding, because everything sounds amazing- from salt, pepper & pinenut, to blueberry labne, to durian banana.  Even vanilla and chocolate aren't boring here, with there being five varieties of each.  After much struggle and deliberation, I decided to try Cardamon Lemon Jam (pictured) and Chocolate Rose Pepper Cherry.  The Cardamon Lemon Jam was light and refreshing, and the lemon jam almost tasted like candied fruit. For the other cone, the chocolate was milky and rich yet perfectly balanced by the tartness of the black cherries.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream:

For more traditional ice cream, there's always Van Leeuwen.  With an old-school vibe and botanic-themed wallpaper, this place churns up the best classic flavors- nothing too fancy, but always rich and indulgent. However, always going with the oddball options, I decided to order Earl Grey (pictured), which had a strong tea flavor that is often hard to get.  My friend got the vegan Pistachio (made from coconut milk), which was equally delicious.

Ample Hills Creamery:

If you like quirky, all-American combinations, this is the place to hit up.  The menu is essentially every little kid's dream come true, with flavors such as Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (vanilla ice cream with St. Louis butter cake) and Snap Mellow Pop (marshmallow ice cream with Rice Krispie clusters).  Ample Hills unbashfully uses kiddie snacks like Ritz crackers and m&ms, but they also swirl in family-recipe baked goods, like Nonna D's oatmeal laced cookies. Since my favorite ice cream flavor growing up has always been mint chocolate chip, I opted for the Peppermint Pattie (pictured), which is peppermint ice cream laced with homemade dark chocolate-covered peppermint patties. Though not the craziest option on the board, one cup was enough to hit the spot. 

Sundaes and Cones:

Most tourists think that Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has the best Asian-inspired flavors, but in reality, Sundaes and Cones reigns supreme.  Don't believe me?  Then try a sample of their Black Sesame ice cream and prepare to have your tastes buds blown away.  There is no other shop, or commercial brand, that can achieve such a deep taste of toasted black sesame seeds in frozen form. Other notable flavors include Wasabi, Thai Iced Tea, Corn, Lychee, and Taro.  For sorbet there's the tangy and refreshing Red Orange (pictured).

Momofuku Milk Bar:

Yes, it's the place we've all seen a billion times on Instagram and have wondered so much about. The idea of cereal milk being made into soft serve sounds preposterous, ludicrous, and even deceptive. What is this trickery?  Why should I buy your soft serve when I can just drink the leftover sugary milk from my bowl of cereal?  Yet, deep down inside, my inner child was just dying to try it.  

When I finally tasted it, I was ambivalent.  The milky sweetness of the soft serve complemented the crunch of the corn flake brittle, creating an experience that was pleasantly unlike the sensation of eating milk with cereal.  The soft serve by itself was odd; for some reason it reminded me of sour milk, but the taste was not actually unpleasant. 

Unfortunately, I've never taken photos for the next two places, but they are equally worthy of being on this list. 

L'Arte del Gelato:

If you're looking for the smoothest, highest quality gelato in the city, then you need to stop by one of L'Arte del Gelato's several locations. Their gelatos (milk-based) are unbelievably intense in flavor- far more intense than what ice cream can achieve because of gelato's lower fat content.  Due to the fast rate at which they are churned, gelatos are also denser than their American counterpart. L'Arte also creates sorbetti, which contains no milk. To get the full experience, pair a rich gelato flavor, such as the decadent Olio d'Oliva Extra Vergine, with a refreshing sorbetti, like Frutti di Bosco (mixed berries). 

Eddie's Sweet Shop:

Many ice cream places nowadays try to recreate that old-time feel, but unlike these newcomers, Eddie's Sweet Shop is the real deal.  A slightly shabby, but still wonderfully charming ice cream parlor that has existed in Forest Hills for generations, Eddie's is still serving the same menu its been serving since 1920.  Their ice cream sundaes are topped high with homemade whipped cream and drowned in thick, chocolate syrup.  

Philly:

The Franklin Fountain:

There is a reason why The Franklin Fountain is the most famous ice cream shop in Philly.  Clad with antiques and pictures of Benjamin Franklin, this shop serves up creamy goodness in fun takeout boxes.  Unlike its New York counterparts, The Franklin Fountain is always generous with its serving size, and its small is definitely enough for two.  Everything is delicious, from the Black Raspberry (pictured), to their Whirly Berley, to their irresistible sundaes.  

Bassetts Ice Cream:

Founded in 1869, Bassetts is actually America's Oldest Ice Cream Company. They specialize in Philadelphia-style ice cream, which does not utilize eggs, giving it a fluffier texture than custard-based ice cream.  Their menu at Reading Terminal Market is endless, and when I went I ordered their eggnog flavor, one of the seasonal options. It was good, but a tad too sweet for my liking. 

Weckerly's:

A recent obsession of mine has been Weckerly's ice cream sandwiches.  Most places make the cookies either too dry or too soft, but Weckerly's is able to find that fine line and produce incredibly chewy cookies that complement their equally impressive ice cream.  Using only the freshest ingredients, Weckerly's infuses the essence of every fruit and spice into their ice cream flavors. Some of my favorites include Honey Lavender on Shortbread and, going with my love of chocolate and mint, Meadow Mint of Brownie (pictured). 

Both Philly and NYC:

Big Gay Ice Cream:

Founded in New York, but recently expanded to Philly, Big Gay Ice Cream has hands down the best soft serve.  I usually don't eat soft serve — it often just feels like a fake, water-downed version of normal ice cream — but Big Gay Ice Cream completely changed my mind.  Their soft serve is far from weak and is instead delightfully sweet and creamy.  You have to try one of their specialty cones, particularly the Bea Arthur.  Vanilla ice cream that's been injected with dulce de leche and coated with crushed 'Nilla Wafers, the Bea Arthur was the best soft serve I've ever had.