Commentary by Jennifer Ingersoll
I love ice cream, and while Carmel has multiple sources for the frozen treat, there are occasions when the craving turns into a fun-filled excursion. Here are some fun places to check out before summer officially ends.
SubZero (427 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis) takes custom-made ice cream to a whole new level. Customers select the type of milk that will serve as the base, including non-dairy varieties. Next, choose from a list of flavor sensations like key lime or Mocha Madness or create your own from over 50 flavor and mix-ins options. The ingredients are placed in a bowl and zapped with liquid nitrogen producing a fog, which becomes your ice cream, and within 15 seconds. There are scientific reasons why this generates a creamier, denser product, but it tastes great. Isn’t that what matters?
Zaharakos (329 Washington St., Columbus) is an ice cream parlor with a rich past. From the marble soda fountain to the lively music played on the orchestrion, a kind of mechanical one-man band, it seems as if you have stepped back into 1900 when Zaharakos originally opened. The menu includes traditional ice cream treats, floats and milkshakes created from a variety of flavors, sauces and toppings. Try a soda, like the timeless Green River or cinnamon Coke, hand-made from syrup and soda water dispensed from the antique fountain.
Miller’s Ice Cream House (61 W. Main St., Nashville) makes ice cream the old fashioned way, from fresh ingredients churned in wooden buckets with just the perfect balance of salt and ice, aiding in the freezing process. A selection of 24 flavors are offered daily – 23 standards and one seasonal specialty, like persimmon, apple butter or sassafras paying homage to its Brown County home. Miller’s is known to create 100 gallons a day during the busy autumn season. For a special treat, try a scoop in a house-made waffle cone.
