Looking for inspiration for the Ice Cream Contest? Or maybe you're just looking for a way to cool off. Either way, we just learned about a new ice cream company, local to NYC, called 5 Boroughs Ice Cream that might be of interest to you New Yorkers.
They buy many of their ingredients from local, independent vendors like Rose & Joe's Italian Bakery (Astoria, Queens) and Sahadi's (Brooklyn).
In an updated-Ben-&-Jerry's-funky-ingredient-combinations kind of way, they have some pretty interesting flavors:
• Amaretto Amoré: Amaretto ice cream with toasted almond slices.
• Bakla-Wha?!: Cinnamon, walnuts, and baklava chunks buried throughout "made in Astoria by hand at Victory Sweet Shop!"
• Cha Cha Chocolate: Chocolate ice cream spiced up with a Chipotle/Habañero pepper blend, cinnamon, and scattered with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Landfill: Vanilla ice cream with Bordeaux cherries, coated chocolate crunchies, brownie chunks, and a serious fudge swirl. "This is recycling everyone loves."
• SoHo: "Cappuccino ice cream with hazelnut biscotti and crushed espresso bean semi-sweet chocolate flakes. "Chock full of caffeine."
You can buy 5 Bouroughs Ice Cream at these fine retailers.
When I read the ingredients for Bakla-Wha?! I actually got goosebumps on my arm.
I love chocolate and cinammon together too, I might try something like that Cha Cha Chocolate for my next homemade ice cream. I'm not sure about the Habanero pepper part, I bet it tastes great at 5 Boroughs but it could be tricky to get the amount right when experimenting at home. My guess is "less is more".
Erin-
Chocolate and a bit of chili pepper heat is amazing! Though you're probably right about the trickiness of getting the right balance. But do rey it out, it's a great combo
That SoHo version looks awesome! I've got the Kitchen Aid ice cream attachment for my mixer and have had good luck with making "plain" ice cream but would love to try something a little more adventurous like these!
Any tips on how and when to incorporate the crunchy bits when you are making ice cream at home?
The best hot chocolate I ever had was in Italy, made with thick chocolate and hot peppers. It didn't so much dampen the sweetness of the chocolate as reveal this whole other side of chocolate that I'd never tasted before. (Though I agree trying out a similar peppers/chocolate combo in ice cream at home might be frustrating).
Five boroughs? Not exactly-- looks like this stuff is only available in Manhattan.
make the ice cream as per usual. when it's as hard as it can get in the mixing bowl gently blend in the chunky bits, seal it up in a container and freeze. voila, chunky homemade ice cream.
Thanks to everyone who's checking us out! Kim and I can't believe the awsome response we've been getting. Naomi, we are trying our hardest to get our ice cream everywhere!!!! We do have a simple PDF info sheet that has all the info your favorite deli/grocer would need to order us. It's on the locations page on the website. If you get a chance please help us spread the word by printing it and handing it to whoever you think should carry us. Sorry to have to ask for your help, but we're so small and grassroots that every bit counts!
PS: We love all the comments.
OK, first of all, as a do-it-yourselfer from waaaay back, I fully appreciate the desire to try and recreate something spectacular at home. That said, however, having tasted the ambrosia that is 5 Boroughs Ice Cream, I cannot imagine ever being satisfied with anything other than the real, actual, true 5 Boroughs product. These people are ice cream geniuses!!! (If you haven't had it yet then RUN don't walk to get some.) As for the person who noted that she has only seen it in Manhattan well, if people keep supporting and eating it, then other stores will carry it - and they'll tell their friends, and they'll tell their friends, and so on, and so on...
Great stuff, we will be featuring it on our Fall Menu's-Chef John
P.S. My favorite is Holy F'N Cannoli
Ick. I just bought and tasted the Soho flavor; it has far too much sugar, too few chocolate bits, and the consistency is very sticky, as if air were pumped into it (is it whipped?).
If anyone lives downtown and loves ice cream, please try Sundaes & Cones on 10th street between 3rd & 4th avenues, it's very fresh and tasty...