- September 12, 2024
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Living in Florida during the summer months is like living in New England in winter. But instead of having snow days, we're stuck inside soaking up as much air conditioning as our dry skin allows. Our vitamin D levels drop as we opt out of melting in the heat and humidity.
It's weeks like these when I crave a Connecticut summer like the ones I had in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I played softball under the night lights by the beach. My dad, an assistant coach, fought with the umps about calls they made on the pitcher (me). Meanwhile, my mom sat in the stands with the other softball parents and cheered for me while ignoring the scenes made by said assistant coach.
Whether we won or lost, we would pack up the team cars and head to Mr. Frosty's after the game for a double scoop of whatever flavor we fancied.
I can so clearly see my dad standing at the window, ordering his coffee ice cream, making some silly dad joke to the kids home from college working at the booth, smiling as he dug into his cup.
There was always a reason to get ice cream. Aced a test? Scoop for you. Didn't get into the college you wanted? A double scoop is in order. The family dog's birthday? Scoops all around, including one for the pup. My dad was always the first to suggest hopping into the car and indulging your sweet tooth.
With his birthday on Aug. 20 — the first without him — I wanted to raise a cone (a cup, sundae and a milkshake, too) to the man who knew how to chill out, scoop up complete happiness and find the best sweet treats in town.
Here, I serve up three tasty treats in honor of my dad (in addition to Kilwins, his favorite).
4122 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton; 941-345-4755; wickedawesomeicecream.com
Cherry On Top: There are few places in our community that offer that sweet sensation of New England-style ice cream and by golly, Ms. Jolly (Burke) found it. Its delicious density is a taste of nostalgia for me. If you're feeling rebellious, might I suggest the Boston Tea Party? With its unique vanilla-based flavors swirled together, this is wicked good, as they say up in Beantown. When it comes to unmatchable flavor, you won't find it anywhere else. Earl Grey tea packs some serious flavor. Then the lemon and golden Oreos drive it home for a delicious scoop of cream.
Cone-Tastic: Choose from 36 ice cream flavors (or edible cookie dough and other baked goods), including Connecticut mocha chip, Rocky Rhode Island, Vermont maple walnut, New Hampshire coffee crunch. See, I wasn't kidding about New England style. Or stick to flavors like buttah fingah, cookie monstah or Maine moose tracks to feel the way I did during those carefree New England summers of my younger days.
1359 Main Street, Sarasota; 941-361-2046; themainstreetcreamery.com
Cherry On Top: With over 30 flavors (and five dairy-free flavors) available on location, this is where dairy and dairy-free dreams are made. This downtown creamery serves up Yoder’s Southern Creamery, locally made in Sarasota, that you can churn (soft serve), shake (milkshake) or toast with a topper of marshmallow meringue. But the scoops that get me going are actually the dairy-free, with strawberry at the top of my list and the North American Ice Cream Association award-winning DF peanut butter and cookies a close second.
Cone-Tastic: If it's evening, I'm getting waffles (in a cone or a bowl). Whatever time it is, this spot has something for every single ice-screamer. If Dad were here, I'd give him a dish of Sarasota: one scoop of Siesta Sea Turtle ( vanilla ice cream filled with brownies, pecans, chocolate flakes and an abundance of caramel swirls) plus another scoop of Key Lime pie, please (pint, $7.75).
103B Gulf Drive North, Bradenton Beach; 941-592-3866; islandscoops.shop
Cherry On Top: A beachside bounty of ice cream is the perfect way to cure the summertime blues, if you experience them like me. Driving down the Gulf-side oasis of Bradenton Beach already warms the soul, but knowing the final destination involves ice cream is a sweet treat in itself. Then you enter this quaint shop and your choices are endless. Ever heard of ice cream nachos ($7.95)? Choose three flavors with three sauces, top with whip cream and scoop it all up with homemade waffle chips. Can't choose? Scoop up a flavor flight ($9.99) with your choice of six flavors.
Cone-Tastic: I'm a milkshake girl, through and through. Feeling meh? Order a milkshake. Missing my dad? Milkshake time. Wrapped another Eating with Emma column? You guessed it! Milkshake is my reward. When you order an Island Scoops milkshake ($6.95), you can choose from any house or rotating flavor. I'll take one pistachio for lunch, a toasted coconut for dinner and a classic mint chip for dessert.
