Sara-Ann of Gradyville writes: What are some of your favorite ice cream parlors in this area? We are big fans of O’Malley’s Ice Cream Pub in Media.
Thanks, Sara-Ann.
Here are some creamy and dreamy favorites.
Petrucci’s two locations (King of Prussia and Phoenixville) are regular Alan Family stops. On a recent visit, my son went apoplectic over his dish of Cinnamon Sticky Bun ice cream, while the rest of us followed happily in our Moose Tracks. When I mentioned to our smiling server how nice she was to customers, she said, “How can I not be nice? I get to work with ice cream all day!” 670 N. Henderson Ave., King of Prussia, (610) 354-0205; 472 Nutt Road, Phoenixville, (610) 933-9390; petruccisicecream.com.
Forget 31 flavors. At Handel’s, there are scores of yummy ice creams. Just follow the customer line that wraps around this popular spot in Berwyn. The vast selection ranges from the usual suspects (chocolate and butter pecan) to the extreme (graham cracker, banana cream pie and “Twixter”).
Wayne certainly has a sweet tooth, what with all its tempting bakeries and ice cream stores. One notable parlor is Gumdrops & Sprinkles, offering scrumptious homemade ice creams. The décor is a mélange of razzle-dazzling colors, right on down to the requisite background freezer hum. G&S also has friendly servers and is a fun place for kiddie parties. 155 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 254-8409, gumdropsandsprinkles.com.
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MaggieMoo’s ice cream is rich in butterfat—which is partly why the staff goes through the ritual of shmooshing each scoop on a cold block, creaming the frozen pile into bliss-inducing goodness. OK, so MaggieMoo staffers end up with Popeye arms by summer’s end—it’s a small price to pay for the privilege of sampling all that heavenly stuff. Various locations, maggiemoos.com.
Going far beyond the ordinary, Kennett Square’s La Michoacana is a pleasant little storefront with homemade flavors of unique splash and substance, thanks to the added benefits of fresh fruit and zippy toppings. The spectrum starts out simple (pineapple), veers toward unusual (tamarind), and then goes completely exotic (avocado). Ditto the toppings, which include sprinkled cinnamon and hot chili powder. This is not your daddy’s ice cream shop.
What’s so great about living in bucolic Chester Springs? How about eating ice cream while watching fireflies trail lazily across nighttime summer skies? Milky Way Farm’s Chester Springs Creamery is just that sort of place—a working farm where you can pet goats, watch cows being milked, and then (after washing those hands) enjoy rich, delicious homemade ice cream. 521 E. Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs; (610) 363-8500, milkywayfarm.com.
If I am to offer my personal favorite scoopery, it has to be Browns Cow. I enjoy the old-style atmosphere inside this homey parlor, complete with original brick walls and historic black-and-white photos of Phoenixville. The clincher for me, however, is that Browns serves my favorite brand, Bassetts Ice Cream. The flavors are varied and plentiful, from green tea to Gadzooks! 30 S. Main St., Phoenixville; (610) 933-0695, brownscow.com.
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