A Week later, I gave a challenge of the Battle of Bunker Hill sundae at the Putnam Pantry. Now, I got this, so you can have an idea of what this is. It's basically a 17-scoop sundae, and with the toppings that I can add from the smorgasboard, this is comparable to the Vermonster.
Oh, yea. Let's say this again. Yo! Behold! The Ziggy Pig..Ahem...The Battle of Bunker Hill. The Greatest Ice Cream Specticle known to man kind. "Eat the pig. Eat the pig. Ziggy Ziggy Ziggy Pig." (High Five!)
And Yo and Behold, This Sundae is gimornous! I can't really tell the flavers, but what you see here is practically the ENTIRE flavers that the Putnam Pantry on the list. Not to mention that this Sundae will cost you 19 dollars.
Needless to say, I couldn't finish this sundae. Not even half the sundae. Now if I compare to the size of the Kimball Special, I say, this is Kimball Special times 3!
Cupcakes shot with Ice Cream. Well, Maybe some people will get the new stuff here, but if you are a true ice cream fan, then you may know that you can order a small ice cream with the cupcake, mix it up, and get something better.
Please note that this image is directly from Shot-Cakes.com website, as there's no cameras allowed in the mall, and I used my iPod Touch to take a pic of my shotcake, which was a chocolate fudge cupcake filled with vanilla ice cream.
You go up to the counter, order a cupcake, and then shoot yourself a choice of chocolate or vanilla ice cream into the cupcake, and there's your dessert. Seems great, but did I had cake and ice cream before? Certainly. The Phantom Gormet may make it look good, but in reality, it ends up as something that I had before, where I know that I can have something better like going to Crumbs and ordering a cupcake, then going to an ice cream place, order a small ice cream, mix it up, and get something many times better then this.
But while we've seen this "somewhat before", it does demonstrate that bakeries and ice cream parlors can go together well. Maybe I can go to Kimball Farms, order a cupcake from the country store, then go to the ice cream stand and order myself a kiddie or a small ice cream, and have something just as good.
My final thoughts of shot-cakes: Is it good? Yea, it's not a bad place. But is it overrated? Yes. For ice cream lovers who go across New England, a true ice cream experience may be instead Richardson's ice cream, Kimballs, or Putnam Pantry. Now if only they added a bakery section, then you can make your own cupcake sundae.
Well, the holidays are about an escape from the harsh lifestyles. Missing out on the treats and goodies and going to work.
New Years Day is Tuesday, Jan 1st. Wednesday is the real Labor Day. Back to work, back on a diet, and doing taxes.
The new years resolution: Yup, of course to go back to where I was during the summer. Well, that's what I usually do. Lose in the spring, gain in the fall. But also is to support local business. Am I crazy about big chain parlors? No. There are planty of ice cream places that are open year round. Bedford farms and Jay Gee's is one of the few that are open during the year. Not that I'm going to go there every day, as I am going to eat a low carb diet with nuts, veggies, and fish.
But that's here it goes. Work and diet in the spring (well, don't forget valentines day), go to Kimballs just for a kimball special late march, depending on when they are open (Can't believe that Kimball's dont even sell ice coffee during the winter, which is kind of bazarre), maybe enjoy an ocassional lobster roll on a few weekends during april or may, then the summer flys through, before you know it, Kimball's and Rota Springs sells apple crisp starting late August through october (November 3rd in Rota), and before you know it, fall and winter vacation...again.
This year is Kimball's 75th season by the way. But I will still enjoy an occasional ice cream at Jay Gee's or Richardsons. The key is: diet during the weekdays, and every other weekend, enjoy a nice sundae.
But yup. January is the worst month of the year.
Well, just think about these Kimball specials before Kimballs opens up perhaps March 30th.
Located at the route 1, 62 intersection in the cloverleaf, this place may be known for the candies (I did purchase a few for the holiday break, I also went in for the ice cream, which was visited by the Phantom Gormet.
As soon as I entered the house, I can hear the floor creek as soon as I walked in. It's been here since the 1700s, making this an oldest chocolate place in New England, as far as I know. It's got some Christmas related chocolates, as well as other stuff like chocolate covered Coconut clusters, peanut butter cups, and fudges.
But the ice cream is a first. 24 flavers of ice cream (Well, I didn't ask where the ice cream came from). The question is, did I order the battle of bunker hill? No. Maybe I will challenge it one day. Instead, I ordered a banana split consisting of cookies and cream, moose tracks, and Dino crunch. They just put the ice cream and bananas on the plate (Yup, that's right, they give you a dish for your ice cream to put on). That's where the fun begins.
Right after you pay, you go to the toppings bar, which is called the Smorgasboard there. Well, not as much as Hebert Candy Mansion, this thing has a few liquid toppings including marshmelows, butterscotch, and chocolate, and several other dry toppings.
Now, another unique experience is, you leave your trash on the table. Wow. I wander if someone is paid extra for being maid for these customers, but that's some unique service. Meanwhile, after my ice cream, I did purchase a few chocolate items before I left, including a few peanut butter santas, fudge, and a few other chocolate pieces.
Again, sorry if the photo was bad, but anyways, it's what consumer's capabilities of creating a banana bliss out of a banana split. The problem? It's located right at the cloverleaf, so I had to miander my way around to finally get in the place.
Well, it's more of a chocolate shop then an ice cream parlor, but this place does sell ice cream, along with chocolates, ranging from truffles to chocolate santas to seasonal stuff. Because it's near Christmas, they had chocolate sculptures. Of course I didn't buy them, but I did bought a couple of chocolate peanut butter cups from that place.
With Christmas lights around, it's sure is a nice place to go during December. Anyways, as far as Ice Cream is concerned, they have about 15 to 20 flavers from Bliss Bros. Dairy in Attlborough, right near Rhode Island. You can't miss it up, if you are going on Route 20 west going off route 9 westbound.
The Toppings bar consists of several dry toppings like M&Ms, oreo, and other stuff, along with several different types of chocolate toppings, peanut butter, marshmellow, and caramel. The toppings bar could very well set the bar on other ice cream places around to try out. It's the old saying: "If you set up for consumers to make, consumers sure have creativity powers when it comes to ice cream.
However, wanna banana split? Sorry. They only have one, two, or three scoops of ice cream in a cup. Maybe they have cones, but I just ordered a cup of three scoops of ice cream, and then slap on some peanut butter and chocolate based toppings for my sundae.
Yup, It makes me a new idea of my own ice cream shop. Perhaps maybe I could find a self serve ice cream parlor and I could create myself a Sundae bliss.
HEBERT CANDY MANSION- Shrewsbury MA
Open year round.
Monday through Thursday: 10am-7pm
Friday, Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Well, Jay Gee's moved from 3rd place to 2nd place, swapping with Bedford Farms as the winter hours.
Previously, Jay Gee's ice cream has announced that they would be open till December 24th, but due to adequate demand, an announcement has been made saying that the Salem NH location is now open year round. After my post, Jay Gee's said in this statement: "we will be open january and february!" after someone asked when they close for the season. This puts 3 out of 5 places opening all winter long, along with Richardson's and Bedford Farms.
Sadly, Kimball Farms may unlikely follow suit, saying that demand is still an issue, while in fact, I do think that Kimball Farms has sufficient demand, but they are just too reluctant to try again. If Kimball Farms keeps on refusing to sell ice cream during the winter months at this point, it's a sad thing I have to say, but they may be finding themselves behind. They sure do have some 'splaing to do if Jay Gee's ice cream and Bedford Farm's ice cream sells well during January and February.
[UPDATE] Jay Gee's Salem has announced that they will be open year round. Because the hours are longer, this puts Jay Gee's at Second Place, knocking Bedford Farms down to 3rd place.
It's past and it's flying so fast, that 2012 came and went. This summer I started and it's already Thanksgiving. But let's rundown on the big five ice cream stands and tally them as far as the Season Lengh.
Season Lengh:
FIRST PLACE: Richardsons. Open year round, doesn't close till 9:30pm, even in the winter! So, even in January, you can still go there for a late night ice cream! Even the minigolf is open, so long as there's no snow on the ground.
SECOND PLACE: Jay Gee's. Open year round (Salem NH), Late February through October (Methuen, MA)
Ice Cream: Open 12am-9pm (10pm Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Activities: Open March through October Fridays 3-8, Saturdays 12-9, Sundays 12-8. Summer hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day) Daily 12-10p
THIRD PLACE: Bedford Farms. They are open year round. Winter hours are 12pm to 6pm at Concord, 12pm to 7pm at Bedford. Spring Hours (March through Memorial Day) are 12pm-9pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day 12pm-10pm, Labor Day through October 12pm-9pm, November 12pm-6pm Mon-Thurs, 12pm-9pm Fridays, Saturdays
FOURTH PLACE: Rota Springs Farm
Open Early March through End of October/Beginning of November
March-August: 11:30am to 9:30pm
September 11:30am-9pm
October 11:30am-8pm
Some various activities are available including hay rides and a produce store.
FIFTH and LAST PLACE: Kimball Farms.
Open Late March through basically Columbus Day.
Ice Cream stops production Columbus Day and then open till they sell out in Westford. Activites at Westford remains open till a weekend after Columbus Day. Pitch and Putt and Driving Range, however, remains open till the condition goes bad. Country Store is, however, year round at Westford, and don't close till Christmas Eve in Lancaster. ICE CREAM open Late March through Memorial Day 10am-9pm, Memorial-Labor Day 10am-10pm, Labor Day to Columbus 10am-9pm, sometimes after Columbus Day till they run out.
Well, not surprising, Kimball Farms, after my most rift of the company is in last place. This especially burns me about is, since they have a country store cafe and another ice cream stand 20 minutes from here that's open year round, and every time I try to speak to Kimball, they refuse to even budge to even bring in a few flavers to have a cup of ice cream in the country store during the winter. Now I "sort of" understand Rota Springs, since they are far out alone, and I believe that, even a Sterling Farms Ice Cream, closes early. But for a place like them, Rota Springs does still close late comparing to other ice cream stands in the area, even Kimballs Lancaster, which closes weeks earlier then Rota. But my big praise to Jay Gee's and Bedford Farms for extending the season, with Jay Gee's offering to give a year-round a try to Salem NH if enough customers come in. Also, not to mention, Kimball Farms is a high-profile place with lots of customers, so it questions me why they are still seasonal while other low-profile ice cream stands like Mad Willie's, Trombetta's Farms and Tasty Treat open year round and make money. Kimball Farms claims "demand" is the reason, which is bulls__t, since small ice cream places like Trombetta Farms manages to do fine through the winter selling ice cream.
For Next year, here's the scedualed seasons (persumably)
Richardsons, Bedford Farms, and Jay Gee's (Salem) will be open year round.
Jay Gee's Methuen: February 23rd through October 27th.
Rota Springs: March 2nd through November 3rd
Kimball Farms: March 26th through October 14th, later in Westford
On Route 135 in Ashland, this place is actually an ice cream-local type sandwich luncheon shop that features mini golf. It's actually a place that I grew up during my childhood. I only remember this place maybe as an ice cream stand, becuase we just go here to play some golf and ice cream later on.
But the one thing I have to say is that it does look like Dairy Queen with an extended blue roof. As a matter of fact, growing up, I kept thinking that this may be a sister of Dairy Queen because of how I reconize dairy queen with a barn-shaped roof top while I go here at Tasty Treat. Even they sell some blizzard-like treats here, but they are actually rockets. But growing up, I normally ordered a twist, as reconized by the picture on top of the word: "tasty treat".
But now it's about 20 years later, and knowing more about this place, this place is a luncheon place that also has ice cream. It's got 20 flavers of ice cream, two sherbets, three seasonal flavers in which pumpkin is sold in the fall, eggnog near christmas, and peach in the summer, two soft serve flavers (chocolate, vanilla, swirl), two seasonals which is coffee and orange serbet, and six frozen yogurt flavors. The other thing was that the ice cream here came from Richardsons. For a place that's low-profile, they do manage to cram a menu of grill and seafood and ice cream in one small shack here. Furthermore, this place is open year round, unlike Dairy Queen (Not pesturing Dairy Queen anyways since I am just not crazy about big chain ice cream places, though I do admit that Cold Stone Creamery is a good ice cream place.)
Now on to the golf course. It's only 4 bucks, which is dirt cheap, but yea. It's run down and certainly not worth the trip from far away if you planning to do mini golf. The paint is pretty much faded, and you could actually see some stuff rot behind the paint job. Also, the green is a bit dirty and the thing that was supposed to be water appears to be black dirt in it. A true sign that the place was just poorly maintained. One thing's for sure is that there's no one playing here. In fact, I could remember going here on a summer day, and still see that mini golf place empty, sometimes one or two people playing in it. But surely, the mini golf place is more of an eyesore than an attraction.
But anyways, my ice cream was green monster, pumpkin, and german chocolate cake. Can't say much, because the ice cream's from Richardsons. But anyways, it was a typical banana split, but served in a container similer to what they serve meatball subs in at Rota Springs. But they put in a fair amount of fruit inside my sundae.
Anyway for a place like this small and low-profile, one has to wander why a high profile ice cream stand like Kimball Farms decides to remain a seasonal ice cream place despite having a cafe in the country serving soups and sandwiches. But it's kind of more like my local sandwich shop place. But still, Kimball Farms could do about 5 flavers of ice cream sold in cups, so while lots of people far away isn't going to go to Kimballs, locals and regular customers there can still have some form of ice cream. It's nice to say that there's a message on the Window instead of mocking me on other places with the message: "Closed for the Season", it says: "Please come inside!" But my last words are, this place is more for the locals then the people who take trips here.
Well, right when my vacation has ended, Rota Spring had it's final days. Flavors were short in number, the store is close to empty, and the sun angle is low. A sure sign that winter is right around the corner.
Flavors is short and yup. No indian pudding. Muaa, muaa. At least I did stock up on a couple of courts of it. Well, I did had my meatball sub as usual. I did however have a three-scoop cone with graham centeral, wild bery crunch, and pumpkin.
Well, this place will reopen March 2nd. Well, November and December will fly by with the holidays. There's January that is the worst month of the year, and then we have February which we have Valentines day. And shortly after words, ice cream stands will count down the days before they reopen.
That's the logo that greatly describes this place. A garden center, an ice cream shop, and a mini golf course that's held indoors. Also, the street is named Farm Road, which makes this place rather a bit more easier to find, although, the airport next to it could question the people who are looking for this place to try out this ice cream and even try the course here.
What's even more nice about this place, is that although from November to April that they are only open on weekends from 10am to 6pm (Not that I don't mind, since people are working on weekdays anyways) as opposed to Kimball Farms which they shut tight for the winter and mock me with a country store cafe that refuses to sell cups of ice cream despite them selling them half gallons, this place is actually open year round. So, if you find this ice cream place to be great, there's no need to stock up, and you can just buy quarts if you are planning to have some ice cream that week or buying some for the holidays.
But aside from the lovely logo, this place feels like being in a garden while you are enjoying the ice cream or just playing around some mini golf. The decision to make this a greenhouse really does make it feel kind of like outdoors when you are going in the greenhouse, while at the same time, you won't get rained on (or snowed on during the winter) when you are playing mini golf. I do remember the Volcano hole where you can try a few times to hit the ball into the hole (but the last time, I can't find the hole when I played it). Also, this place makes their own ice cream, instead of relying on another place for it.
But I have to say, the amount of flavers aren't as much as the ones you see at Kimballs or Richardson's, as this place only has about 20 to 30 flavers, as opposed to Kimball's 41 flavers and Richardson's 53, but they do sell seasonal flavers during the year. They also sell children's novalties in case if the child decides that he or she want's that if he or she doesn't want the flavers up top. Hopefully, they would sell egg nog ice cream during Thanksgiving or Christmas. Speaking of ice cream, I did order mocha chip-Apple Crisp-Ginger banana split.
Now, they sure did put a LOT of fruit inside this. Lots of strawberries in it. But the apple crisp ice cream is just as good as the one in Richardsons. Tastes just like apple crisp, instead of the awful cinnamon overload ice cream from Jay Gee's. I do believe that the mocha chip tastes quite a bit like chocolate chocolate chip, and the ginger ice cream is a bit light in color. It would be nice if they had indian pudding though.
TROMBETTA FARM - Marlboro Mass
Open Year Round
Spring Hours (April-May): 10am-8pm
Summer Hours: (June-August) 10am-9pm
Fall Hours: (September-October) 10am-8pm
Winter Hours (November-March) 10am-6pm Weekends Only
After the historic storm hits (Well, didn't lose power per-se, but they turned it off for a time during a repair (though, not long enough to cause my ice cream to spoil), I went to see how things were doing at Rota Springs. Well, their season is ending this Sunday, though, I did stock up for the season on egg nog, apple pie, monster mash, and indian pudding.
Well, it didn't effect this place that much, other then losing part of a tree in the cow's pasture, and the fact that they didn't have lemonade, so I had to do without a drink. However, they still had my meatball sub. I had a brownie sundae with indian pudding and monster mash.
I think they should have called this "Brownie Boat". Anyways, what makes this better then Kimballs is the fact you can have two flavers.
I did checked Kimball Farms, they are fine. They just don't serve ice cream right now with the exception of half gallons (as of right now, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee, Black Raspberry, Banana, and Butterscotch). Grrrgh, if only they would open the boxes and serve them cups of ice cream in the country store.
Because Sandy is striking hard along the east coast, here are tips to protect your stock during a power outage.
Set your freezer to the coldest level and stock it up with ice if you still have power. This way, the ice cream will stay frozen longer during longer periods of power outage. If your freezer is set at the coldest level prior to the power outage for a period time, your ice cream could last for 3 to 5 days without power. The ice will also extend your life of your ice cream.
Also, remember to keep your freezer door shut after you use it.
On this days before Hurricane Sandy strikes, but maybe not as harsh as Irene but still a strong storm for New England (The Power crews are getting better prepared for this but I am still vigilant and prepared to buy some eatra ice to protect my ice cream stock from spoiling), I have another monster in my hands. The Monster mash is a pink ice cream with chips and other chocolate stuff that's mixed in.
For you all fans out there of Rota Springs, well, october is nearing it's end and next weekend will be the last weekend they will be open. Still, it's more apropriate time, since the closure is after Halloween, and ice cream really winds down during the month of November. Bedford Farms and Richardsons are open year round. That, on top of that I have a large stock of ice cream should be enough to get me through until Rota and Kimball opens again next March (Around March 9/10 for Rota Springs, Third Week of March for Kimballs).
Anyways, after my usual Meatball Sub (Yea, who hates these at Rota Springs, especially when they come from grass-fed beef), I had a specialty flaver, which is Monster Mash.
It sure does looks like Strawberry with Chips in it. But one thing's for sure, I problably remember that this thing tasted from a cross between cotten candy and strawberry as far as the base flaver. But the mix ins are problably cake or brownie bits or oreo cookies mixed in.
It's an ice cream stand that makes their own ice cream, have their own dairy cows that make the cream, and has a long list of flavers. On this friday, the days before Sandy strikes, and the day when Kimball Farm closes their ice cream shops for the season, I came out to this place, simply because many people talked about this place, including a 90-year-old man who's been here since he was 7 years old.
Furthermore, The Phantom Gormet was here at this location praising Richardson's Ice Cream, and putting this on the top 8 spot of ice cream places across New England. When they say, 70 flavors, they weren't kidding. That's however, the total flavers including all the ice cream, sherbet, sorbets, yogurts, and much more. Now, counting the flavors of ice cream alone, there is 53 of them. That's NOT including the featured flavors, which I had today, which was Pumpkin and Apple Crisp. The other one, was Death By Chocolate, but more on that later on.
Richardson's ice cream also features a driving range, 36 holes of mini golf, and a batting cage, similer to what Kimball Farms has. But here's one thing that's striking about it, which Peter Kimball needs to listen up about this. These outdoor activities are actually run year round! As long as there's no snow, the mini golf and driving range is open. So, if it's January, and there's no snow, well, there is a chance that the mini golf course is open, unlike Kimball's mini golf, which is closed after a week after Columbas Day, regardless of the weather. However, in Richardsons, it's actually run by a third party company. However, I do admit that the Mini Golf place here isn't as intense as the one in Kimball's, but it's cheaper here (12 dollars for both courses as opposed to 18 dollars for both at Kimball's.
Now, I'm also surprised that WeAllScreamForIceCream hasn't reviewed this place yet, but I could say that they may like this place, due to it's enviornment in the back and that there's tables that are right next to the pasture where they hold calfs.
Also, the ice cream (yes, Kimball Farm, are you listening?) is open year round! They keep the windows open during a nice day, and they still serve your sundae indoors when it's snowing outside. The only time that they are closed during the winter is Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Speaking of my ice cream, I went back to Banana Splits, and ordered Pumpkin, Apple Crisp, and Death By Chocolate. Now, here's one thing Rhichardson's done right. The Apple Crisp, unlike the one at Jay Gee's doesn't have all that acess cinnamon taste, and tastes more like an Apple Crisp with the tastes of apples and crisps in it, like it's supposed to taste like. Mind as well on Jay Gee's to just buy the Apple Crisp from Richardsons here then making a horrible Apple Crisp ice cream. The Death By Chocolate is that, Chocolate with various chocolate stuff in it. Kind of like their brand of Bedford Farm's Chunky Chocolate Pudding, Kimball Farm's Chocolate Chocolate Truffle, and Jay Gee's Chocolate Overlord.
Now, as you may also notice, they prepare the ice cream in much the same way as Kimball's does. There's some difference though. On a small, you can actually have two flavers, which one flaver fills the cup, and a second flaver as the scoop on top. The banana split, shown above, is actually the same way, which there's one scoop of ice cream on top of two more scoops. The difference, is that they actually put the whip cream on the sides and three cherries on top, and that they put it on a plastic bowl instead of a #200 savaday tray.
Now, to end this off here, many ice cream places actually get their ice cream from this very place. The list includes but not limited to:
Sprinkles - Boston MA
Dairy Delight - Malden MA
Mad Willie's - Framingham, MA
Ice Cream Lady - Douglass, MA
Flint Farm - Mansfield, MA
Berlin Farms - Berlin MA
Jimmies - Roslindale MA
Robbie's Place at Crystal Caves - Auburn MA
Tasty Treat - Ashland MA
Mack's Ice Cream - MA
Castle Creek Adventure Land - Salem MA
Well, if there's any more ice cream places here that aren't listed, I can put that on the list.
Now, the only thing bad about this place is that there's no country store, bumper boats, or arcade, but I think that the arcade is just dated to me, and the sub and pizza shop next door makes up for the lack of a country store.
FORCAST: Kimball Farms, Jim's Ice Cream Barn, Rota Springs, Reasons to be Cheerful, and lots of other places could be in trouble as aggressive tactics by Ben and Jerry's, Baskin Robins, and Cold Stone Creamery, and even Walmart could overtake them within the next 5 to 10 years.
For now, Rota Springs and Kimball Farms are safe for now, but the inevitable thing is that commercializtion could lead to the dark shadows over these places. What's happened to these farm stands that were wiped out by supermarkets and hypermarkets could soon be true to the ice cream department. It could just take one baskin robins or one cold stone creamery, plop it down right next to an independant ice cream chain, and then the new people driving to that location will reconize that chain more then the independant ice cream chain, and ultimately, newer generations won't be comming to that parlor, and as a result, that independant parlor or stand having a last ice cream season before closing for good.
Kimball Farms may HAVE to go year round sometime in the future. Put Baskin Robins or Cold Stone Creamery right near by, and the future could yield that people may reconize these big chain stores more, leading to fallen sales and (ultimately), a permanent closure of this place (at least at the ice cream stand anyways. But one thing's for sure, if Kimball Farms expands to winter activities (like celebrating the holidays and opening up a permanent structure housing a restaurant, celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas and making winter attractins while still selling ice cream in the winter, then this place may have a chance to survive in the future.
Now, the good news that the days of "seasonal" opening and closing may be soon become the thing of the past, as baskin robins and cold stone creamery are all "year round" places unlike Dairy Queen and the independant ice cream stands and parlors. The bad news is that we could lose more and more small chain ice cream stands. But the rule of the life is: adapt to the new reality or die. That's why Fairway Bowling at Route 9 had gone out of business, because they refused to adapt to the new modern world, unlike surviving bowling allies today that is supplimented with another thing. A Boston ice cream parlor has a bowling ally in it, while the Lanes and Games has a casual restaurant and an arcade that is acting as life supports for these places.
Well, I know. Rota Springs is closing November 4th. Kimball Farms has closed for the season, though, you can still get some stuff at the country store (but no Ice Cream :( "Grrrrh, Why don't they do just a few flavers in the country store cafe during off season?...ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE HALF GALLONS AND I CAN'T ORDER A CUP DURING THAT TIME") But, here's a tally of flavers I stocked up for the season:
KIMBALL FARM: Pumpkin Gingersnap
Molassis Indian
Pudding Banana Chocolate Mint
Oreo German Chocolate Fudge Peanut
Butter Butterfinger White
Russian
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Peppermint Stick
Frozen
Pudding
Kahlua Crunch
Cookies and Cream
Mocha Almond
Assault
Pistachio Nut
Cherry Vanilla Chip
Chocolate Raspberry
Swirl
Sugar Free Maple Walnut
Chocolate Truffle
Peanut Butter
Chip
Malted Moo Crunch
ROTA SPRING FARM:
Indian Pudding
Egg Nog
Apple Pie
Monster Mash
Note, the blue colored flavers on Kimball Farm is season, while the bold ones are featured flavers. The brown one was available only in half gallons. I may get a quart of Rota Springs Indian Pudding, since I may be there one or two more times till they shudder for the season. It's quite ironic, since November 4th also marks my end of my fall vacation.
[UPDATE: Pitch and Putt and Driving Range has closed. Half Gallons in basic and Banana and Butterscotch is available in the country store]
Well, it's over. Muaa, muaa, muaa. Well, it was another year. Well, I really do wish that Peter and Mike Kimball would at least serve ice cream in the country store in cups rather then be restriced to half gallons of ice cream. Well, a couple of bright spots. The country store (and the cafe) is open through the winter, and I can still order a nice breakfast sandwich and pastery there, or even order a luncheon sandwich to take to a park. I am still not thrilled at the idea that they just quit selling ice cream and they claim it's because of "demand", while I was there and the lines at the ice cream stand was still long. It irks me, since they have a cafe store running, and they sell half gallons while they just don't even bother to open the boxes and use them to serve the customers a cup of ice cream while there eating a sandwich. Also, there's a bakery shop called "Crumbs" opening up in the Natick Mall, so I can try out combinations of pasteries and ice cream and make some creations so that I can get you Kimball Fans through the winter and wish that they can concider keeping this place open for a bit longer. Better yet, I wish the activities like bumper boats and the driving range would still be run until the first weekend of November, about when Rota Springs Eternal closes.
And at least, I did stock on plenty of ice cream to prepare for the closure. The list includes:
Pumpkin Gingersnap Molassis Indian Pudding Banana Chocolate Mint Oreo German Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Butterfinger White Russian
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Peppermint Stick
Frozen Pudding
Kahlua Crunch
Cookies and Cream
Mocha Almond Assault
Pistachio Nut
Cherry Vanilla Chip
Chocolate Raspberry Swirl
Sugar Free Maple Walnut
Chocolate Truffle
Peanut Butter Chip
Malted Moo Crunch
(Blue flavors = season, Bold = featured flavers. Brown = Featured flavor only available in half gallons)
Now, let's go at next year's preview:
SCHEDUAL
WESTFORD
ICE CREAM: Opening March 26th, End of production on October 14th
BATTING CAGES, ARCADES, MINI GOLF, BUMPER BOATS: Opening March 29th/30th, Closing October 20th
DRIVING RANGE, PITCH AND PUTT: Opening March 29th/30th, Closing November
GRILL AND SEAFOOD SHACK: Opening March 29th, Closing October 14th
LANCASTER: Opening March 30th, Closing October 14th (Country Store closes in December 24th) CARLISLE: Opening March 30th, Closing October 14th JAFFERY: Opening March 30th, Closing October 14th
PRICES:
Kiddie: $3.90, Small: $4.10, Large: $4.65
Sundae: $5.65. Doubledae: $6.50, Special: $6.75, Banana Split: $7.00
Half Pints: $4.65. Pints: $6.00, Quarts: $9.00, Half Gallons: $9.00
(Please note: This is my price speculation, so this may be different by next year)
There is about a 30 to 50 percent chance that the give-me-five will go up to $35. However, it will be slashed by 10 dollars on the final weekend of activities.
[UPDATE] I did talk to the person from Animal Adventures after the show, and he said that rumors were in fact flying around for a few years. There IS more expansions planned in the near future, though HOPEFULLY, service of limited ice cream off season, which is more important now then a new go kart track. As far as the go kart rumor, it hasn't been truely conformed as of yet.
There's been a spot on Facebook about the "road" that's being build next to Kimball Farm, and that the "mysterious road" may be another parking lot in the forming, and that it could also lead to another attraction being in place.
Jamie Patton said something about go karts. I will speak to them about this.
This last day before they closed (What a shame, especially since across the street, Jay Gee's ice cream is staying open till December), I decided to squeeze some time in for a swirl at this so-called "barn", and have a try at their ice cream. This doesn't look like a barn at all, but actually a building, despite calling this a "barn", where it's more like a yellow building with a wierd looking diagnal thing on it, from the ice cream entrance to another store on the upper floor.
Now, I would call this a "yellow house", so Jim could rename this to the "Jim's Yellow Ice Cream House", and this would be more of an appropriate thing, since it's a yellow house. However, I do say that this yellow house fits in with the ice cream theme, and does makes an apperence. The inside does have it's yellow chairs and tables, which quite interestly, matched the color of WeAllScreamForIceCream's ice cream, which his was a coffee cake ice cream. My ice cream was a large sundae with three scoops of ice cream, with black magic cheesecake, dinosaur crunch, and peanut butter fudge. The ice cream was good, though more like Jay Gee's, as it's not as good as Kimball's ice cream. Speaking of flavers, they were out of half of them as they were taped off by blue tape.
The dinosaur crunch had a blue vanilla flaver in it, with chocolate crunch piece in it, while the peanut butter fudge was self explanitory. The black magic cheesecake was a cheesecake based ice cream with cookie swirls in it.
Now, I also talked to Jim about the situation since Jay Gee's ice cream went in business actoss the street, and they said that it didn't effect him as of yet. However, I feel that this may not be the case within a year or two, when new people that come into Salem, NH, and may more likely stop at Jay Gee's then Jim's ice cream barn at the place, simply because this would be the first thing they see as they drive up route 28, which is a more major road, and that this ice cream barn would be more hidden from view, unless they drive up this road that leads up to the barn.
Furthermore, some people may be swayed to try out the other ice cream place after they come out, because every time they leave Jim's ice cream barn, they can see Jay Gee's" ice cream on their way out. Furthermore, because Jay Gee's across the street would continue to sell ice cream, Jim may change it's mind if Jim see's Jay Gee's ice cream continue to sell ice cream very well while his ice cream place is closed during October, November, and December. That's three months's worth of lost potential.
Yup, that's Jay Gee's ice cream right from the view facing away from Jim's ice cream place, clearly visible just behind the gas station, potentially making Jim embarrest after he sees that ice cream place open while his ice cream closed in the fall. I'm not sure why Jim decided to close this place down this early, but that was a really bad idea of doing so. Maybe Jim may keep this place open till December next year once he realized that ice cream is still sellable during the winter months.
As far as Kimball's farm is concerned, Yes, one of the employees there tried to convince Peter and Mike Kimball to sell ice cream during the winter, but I say, keep buzzing Mike and Peter to continue ice cream service throughout the winter. Maybe they will learn if Jay Gee's extended ice cream season is successful.
Jim's Ice Cream barn is open from April till September.
A sign that may convince others to extend the ice cream season till later, and to reinforce my demand on Kimball Farm to sell ice cream year round, Jay Gee's has announced that they are keeping the Salem, NH store open till after Thanksgiving weekend.
According to facebook page, Jay Gee's states this message:
"5 short weeks and our Methuen store will close to complete our 30th season, however our SALEM NH store will stay open until closer to christmas!! BE SURE TO VISIT US THERE!!" at the Facebook page.
Now, if you look at the Jay Gee's NH location, it's clearly an ice cream window service. Now, they are still a season, but now they don't close till DECEMBER! Now, if Kimball's start to consider extending their ice cream, that place will be more of a hit, as well as creating new oppertunities, and new ideas as far as flavers.
Now, I think that if Kimball takes note of this, then perhaps they COULD at least extend the ice cream season for another month or two, if Jay Gee's extended season goes well.
However, for now, the Methuin area will still close down on October 30th. But Jay Gee's could extend the ice cream for that area if the Salem extension proves successful.
Now we are heading the end of september and into october, ice cream stands are starting to close down. Now, the first tip that I covered is that on some ice cream stands they just simply get their ice cream from another place. Of the five places, Rota Springs, Richardsons, Kimballs, Jay Gee's, and Bedford Farms, the most definite place to stock up is Kimballs and Jay Gee's, simply because they close earlier then other places, while Richardson's and Bedford Farms are open basically year round. So, before you stock up on your favorite flavers to get you through the winter, do some research and make sure that your ice cream stand makes the ice cream on the premise, or it is made from the same company.
So, here's a few tips when it comes to stocking up.
For more popular flavers that are seasonal, stock those up about a week or two prior to closing. Ice cream can last for months in the freezer, so there's no waiting till the last minute before you stock. Some places have sales on the last day, but chances are, you will not find the flaver you want. So, it still be on the safe side to stock up about a week or so prior. As far as pumpkin and gingersnap molassis from Kimballs, I already stocked up on them. Hopefully, they will have indian pudding one more time before they shutter for the season.
Always ask the people in there to not overflow the containers. Chances are, the ice cream will melt over, and as a result, a mess that took me lots of times and a lot of paper towels and water to clean up. Make sure that they are able to snugly put the lid on the containers before you go.
OK. Only a week and a half before they shutter the ice cream stand down for the winter, or at least stop producing ice cream. I've been there in September, and noticed that there were still long lines at the stand. But soon, it will turn october, and come Columbus Day, they will stop producing ice cream, close down the Lancaster, Carlisle, and Jaffery locations, and sell out and eventually close down the stand in Westford.
I understand the Bates farm in Carlisle, since that place is an ice cream stand-only place, and the window service at Westford. But here's the problem.
The country store at the Westford Location (and Lancaster) is a sandwich cafe selling coffee, sandwiches and some more stuff, and tables inside for you to eat your food at. Now, if Kimball makes their own ice cream in the back room, and if there's a cafe in the country store, then why don't they continue to make ice cream (but on a lower scale, and serve it in the country store once the weather gets too cold for window service?) Now they do continue to sell half gallons for a while, but why don't they just open these boxes and sell the customers a sundae indoors? Certainly, after my horse ride, I would like to go in the country store cafe and have a nice brownie sundae with cookies and cream ice cream there.
To take into further route, the weather is still perfect in october into early november to have window service. It doesn't have to be every day, maybe do window service on Friday Afternoons, Saturdays, and Sundays, but still serve ice cream inside during the weekdays. Not to mention that the Silo saying: "KIMBALL FARM ICE CREAM" mocks me every time I go to the country store and they don't sell sundaes in there in the cafe.
Now, let's compare the closings to other places. Rota Springs Farms IS seasonal, but they don't close until the second weekend of NOVEMBER! Richards ice cream is open year round, in both locations. They only time they close during the winter is Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bedford Farms is open year round.
So, if Kimball Farms has a cafe in the country store that's open year round, and they produce ice cream on the premise, and they sell ice cream very well on Columbus Day weekend, then they SHOULD think about continue to sell ice cream throughout the winter.
My flavers would be the basic five flavers (Choc, Strawberry, Vanilla, Coffee, Black Raspberry), top five other flavers on the regular menu, rotate three other flavers, and serve seasonal/specialty three other flavers. If other places are serving ice cream very well like Bedford and Richardson's beyond Columbus Day, then Kinballs could make a ton more money selling ice cream in the winter.
And yea, I checked the facebook page, and I'm not alone. People miss the ice cream, especially those who haven't stocked up yet.
So, for Kimball Fans out there, here's what you can do to get Kimball to start selling ice cream in the Winter:
1) Go to the country store and ask how you can give Kimball suggestins on what they do.
2) Suggest Kimball DEMANDING them to try to sell ice cream in the country store during the winter (or if the weather's good, do window service)
3) As for right now, stock up. I suggest stocking up about a week before they close, to have more of a chance to get the flavers you want.
4) After the season's over, keep petitioning for year round ice cream service!
And as for me, this is how I feel after they stop selling Ice Cream.
So, all I have to say is: Petition, Enjoy the last few days, and STOCK UP!
Located in King Richard's and Queen Ann's Faire, this ice cream place doesn't serve much, just chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and a few variations of sundaes, which is Royal Sundae, and the Brownie Sundae. Next window, however, is an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.
It's two windows, next to each other, with the left one serving ice cream cones and sundaes, and the right one serving slushies. The ice cream is soft serve, with two Taylor machines basically only serving chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
The Sunday I ordered was a brownie sundae with a twist and some toppings and cool whip. It costs about 15 tickets (Yea, you have to buy food tickets at this place to get the food here.)
Well, it's just a short review, since that's basically just faire food here. Well, anyways, enjoy your stay at King Richard's (and Queen Ann's) Faire!
Located at The Family Convenience Center next to the convenience store with a gas station and a Dunkin Donuts, the No-name Ice Cream Store in Douglas, MA is what I call, Ice Cream Lady, simply because of the statue when I drive to Douglas State Forest. Not that this place isn't my best, but that it's just that, a statue figure when I go down there.
I mentiened this place briefly, simply because I just skipped out on the ice cream because I went to Rota Springs instead. But thanks to this place closing down for the season this weekend, I went to order a Sundae.
The menu is that. 24 flavors of hard scooped ice cream (Black Raspberry, Butter Pecan, Bubble Gum, Cake Batter, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Coffee, Coffee Kahula Brownie, Cookie Dough, Cotton Candy, Death By Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Milky Way, Mint Chocolate Chip, Mocha Chip, Moose Tracks, Peppermint Stick, Pistachio, Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Rum Raisin, Strawberry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Vanilla), Low-fat options (Black Raspberry, Coffee, Purple Cow), an Oreo Yogurt, an orange or watermellon sherbert, and just two soft serve choc-vanilla flavers. Furthermore, these ice creams comes from Richardsons, so this place closing down isn't a big deal for me. So, the pints and quarts of ice cream is just for convenience type thing if you want to get some ice cream. Otherwise, you may find an ice cream place around here that could be open year round. So unless you can't drive far, and unable to reach Richardson's ice cream in Middleborough, this place closing down isn't that big of a deal. Now, if someone else takes over this place, and actually MAKES ice cream here, then it would be a big deal.
Anyways, I ordered a brownie sundae with Death By Chocolate, Cake Batter, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. The brownie sundae wan't anything too fancy, and the place called Rota Springs had a better sundae there, though, you are restricted to two flavers.
Well, if you are feeling about this place, then maybe one day, you can take over, and start serving ice cream year round. Oh, Yea, You can order Ice Cream from the inside too. So to have this end SO early in September is no excuse. Just close the window, but don't close the business down as a hole.
Let's face it. We are nearing the end of september, and ice cream places are starting to close for the season. The good new is, unless the ice cream stand is going out of business and the most dreaded words are: "Once this season's over, we may never sell ice cream again", the ice cream stands open in the end of winter to mid spring, some late spring.
So, during the week before they close, the decision, if you have multiple favorites, like me, who has Kimballs, Bedfords, Rota Springs, Jay Gee's, and Great Brook Farms; is, should you stock up on that place, or not. The decision depends on the following:
-The Ice cream at the place is made on the premise or is a small chain and where the ice cream came from is not far from here and is from the same company.
-The source of the ice cream is seasonal.
-The cows the cream they got it from is either raised themselves, or raised from a local dairy farm.
Now, the run down. On my choice on the following ice cream stands: should you stock up?
BEDFORD FARMS: No. Although the bedford store is season, the concord is open year round.
(UPDATE: Bedford shop is now open year round)
KIMBALL FARMS: Yes*. They close in october, though, in a select few flavers, they serve half gallons through January. However, I would play it safe and stock up on your favorite flaver.
ROTA SPRINGS FARM: Yes.
GREAT BROOK FARM: No. Their ice cream comes from Bliss Bros. Dairy.
SPRINKLES: No. They are open year round, and their ice cream comes from Richardsons.
MAD WILLIE'S: No. They are open year round, and their ice cream comes from Richardsons.
RICHARDSONS: No. They are open year round.
MAD MAGGIE'S: No*. They are open year round, though, closed on weekdays in the winter.
TROMBETTA'S Farm: No*. They are open year round, though, closed on weekdays in the winter.
JAY GEE'S: No*. An update now is that Jay Gee's ice cream in Salem is now year round.
Well. that's my list of places and my suggestions on whether you should stock up.
Oh, remember, if it's hand packed, be sure to tell them not to overflow it past the brim, because some time they did and it made a hell of a mess.
First of all, all you Kimbal fans out there, start petitioning to sell ice cream in the country store in Westford (on a limited bases throughout the winter), because the thing is: only three weeks remain. Petition, enjoy as much ice cream from there as you can, and think about what you want your flavers when you stock up for the winter.
Anyways, on this beautiful Sunday on my trip to Monadnock St. Park, I stop by here for lunch, at this Jaffery NH Kimballs. Unlike the other places, with the exception of the Bates farm in Carlisle, this is a full blown casual restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating (something that Kimballs should consider doing to the Westford and Lancaster locations). Because it's just a few minutes away from Mt. Monadnock, you can take your food to the summit and eat there. Maybe even ice cream (if you can bring your personal cooler with ice in it, so you can have a sundae at the top of the mountain.
Quite frankly, if you look on the right side, you can see Mt. Monadnock, which is like a "Nature's Picture" for this place that you can stare at, when you eat your meal and ice cream. But what's unique about this place, you can try out the ranchburger, which consists of two patties. But if you want to take Kimballs with you to the mountain, then I suggest you get something that doesn't spoil, like a ham and cheese sandwich. Make sure you bring bags with you to pack up the potato salad or whatever you are bringing with you.
The country store in this place just sells it's usual fashions, like jams and jellies and candy. But because of the full blown restaurant, this country store doesn't sell breakfast foods. So you have to either stop by at the westford or lancaster location to get the breakfast food before you set off here.
Needless to say, I got the ranchburger, and this sundae, which consists of pumpkin, gingersnap molassis, and indian pudding (one of the best flavers of the fall), though, on my next apple crisp, I will order pumpkin next time. It's a large sundae after eating a ranch burger, but certainly, the calories are needed to climb the mountain.
Now, I tell you, that's some fall treat there. Pumpkin, Gingersnap, and Indian Pudding. That's all three flavers in this Tripledae. Yes, I call it a tripledae, because it's three scoops and three toppings plus whip cream and nuts. But the final sundae, which I may order on Columbus day, will contain my flavers for the year before this close. But as far as stocking up, I am problably going to do four flavers: Pumpkin, Gingersnap Molassis, Indian Pudding, and the Chocolate Truffle sundae. I say only one other one, because there are ice creams that are open year round. Furthermore, I may not eat these fall flavers till after October when my vacation is up.
Well, anyways, the last photo is my view of the summit. It's not perfect since I left my main camera in the car, but thankfully, my iPod has a camera on it, so it's not the best picture.
Well, again, if you are a fan of Kimball's ice cream, here are three things you can do: Tell Josh Kimball demanding them to keep selling ice cream, at least a few flavers in the country store at least in the Westford Location during the winter, enjoy as MUCH ice cream as you can before the season ends, and on Columbas Day, STOCK UP, STOCK UP, STOCK UP! (And perhaps purchase some Savaday trays and scoops to create your Tripledae at home!
Anyways, the ice cream stands I may be visiting next month are Jim's Ice Cream barn, Richardson's, The Frosty Dog, and perhaps Crescent Dairy
