Rhapsodies, Oshkosh, WI

If you are in Oshkosh, for EAA and in need of a cool treat,  check out my favorite place,  Rhapsodies! 

The decor is music themed and so are the treats! 

There's a new flavor every day! 

Rhapsodies serves frozen custard,  made fresh daily. 

Visit owners Dan and Lance Geffers. They are located at 1226 Oregon Street.

http://rhapsodiesfrozencustard.net/

Check back soon for more details and history. Also find out what my favorite sundae is. Let's see if we can convince Lance to add it to the menu!

National Ice Cream Day!

Celebrate the day!  You deserve it.

I am always in search for a fantastic ice cream experience.  Post your favorite places for me to visit and review.  Follow my blog to see where you could go!

Soft Serve, Ice Cream or Frozen Custard?

What are the differences you may ask.  There are two main differences.

1. Overrun or the amount of air pushed into the product
2. Milk fat content = taste and calories!

I will explain what varying levels of these will produce.  

The more overrun and less milk fat, the lighter the product and less calories.  Soft serve or ice milk has the most air and least amount of milk fat at 5%.  If you are looking strictly at calories, this has the least. You can often find soft serve at fast food chains such as Dairy Queen, Hardees and McDonald's.

You will see the twist that is characteristic of soft serve.  This is from the machine that it is pumped out of.

It is easy to add flavor and color to soft serve.  I don't know if I could eat purple soft serve!

Less overrun (air) and higher milk fat means the product will be more creamy.  Ice cream is regulated by the FDA to have at least 10% milk fat and be frozen at a lower temperature.  This may be of interest to the state health inspector but to me, it simply means a creamier and harder frozen treat.  Ice cream is harder and thus hand scooped.  When you see those signs that they hand scoop, it's not to impress upon you that they work harder.  It simply means it is ice cream not soft serve.

Frozen custard has the highest amount of milk fat.  It also has more than 1.4% egg yolk solids.  This gives it the smooth dense consistency.  Frozen custard is my favorite!

Notice how creamy and smooth the custard looks, yes chocolate!

I'll sum this up for you.  

Soft serve: less milk fat = less cost = less flavor

Ice cream: higher milk fat = higher cost = better flavor

Frozen custard: higher milk fat + egg yolk = highest cost = best flavor and smoothest consistency

You are already sacrificing your calorie count for the day because you are succumbing to the desire for dessert.  Why not get the highest quality?  Enjoy your ice cream or frozen custard!

FDA information taken from
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=135.110

Milk fat levels taken from interviews with Mike Schraa, owner of Leon's in Oshkosh, WI and Rick, owner of the former South Side Dairy Queen in Oshkosh, WI.

Scoopy's Wisconsin Dells, WI

Store front

I admit that my ice cream adventure friend, Steve and I stopped here during the Fourth of July weekend.  We were traveling back from a weekend of canoe camping and hot sun.  We were tired. Crowds of people were not what we desired but we  "needed" ice cream.

My goal was to simply find ice cream.  I resorted to seeing what the GPS system showed in our car.

Scoopy's is located in front of Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf  It's easy to find on the corner of Hwy 13 and Wisconsin Dells Parkway.  You don't have to get into the busy park of the Dells shopping area to find it.   

I'm beginning to notice that many stores carry Chocolate Shoppe ice cream.  Scoopy's does.  The flavor tested here was Exhausted Parent.  I think that's perfect for Wisconsin Dells.  What parent isn't exhausted after spending a fun day here with their family?  This was bourbon spiked espresso ice cream with bittersweet chocolate chunks. MMMMMMM.

It was good ice cream.  The atmosphere was not what I like in an ice cream shop.  If you are looking for a quick place to take your kids for ice cream, this is perfect.  If you are looking for atmosphere, this isn't the place.  This is more of a candy store/gift shop/popcorn factory that happens to have a small ice cream counter.  The attached establishment, Kernel's Popcorn Factory is sweet if flavored popcorn is your thing.

Rainbow Popcorn

If atmosphere is what you crave, you might want to venture down Wisconsin Dells Parkway.  There you will find The Frozen Bear and Belgii's Waffle Bar.  If you are a history fanatic, you can also visit the original Culver's location in WI Dells.

I did not ask for a favorite flavor here but I do have a sweet quote from the candy shop.  "If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate is that considered a balanced diet?"  I figure I can apply that logic to chocolate and vanilla ice cream as well.   

Turtles Over a Blue Moon

This is what fueled my imagination to write this blog.

Over 20 years ago, I went on a writing adventure with 9 high school classmates at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh, WI.  We were a hungry bunch in 7th hour Advanced Composition class.  We voted on a writing project that would take us on 6 frozen treat escapades in the city.  

Yes, we were driven by the desire to eat ice cream but not unlike many motivators, this lead us to some actual learning as well.  We learned basic skills in interviewing subjects, draft writing and picked up on many interesting terms such as butter fat content and over run. 

Close to 25 years after this fun project, I still remember the differences between ice milk, ice cream and frozen custard.  My stomach tells me not to worry about the fat content.  The level of satisfaction found in eating this Gilly Cookie Sandwich far outweighs my concern over calories. 

I am still driven by my desire to eat frozen treats and I also recognize my desire to write.  So here I am, a middle aged ice cream loving writer still going on frozen treat escapades.  

Thank you Tim Crimmins, for voicing your idea in Advanced Composition class and to Mrs. Mengeling for making the project a reality.   

Mom & Pop's, Mankato, MN

I had to stop into this place simply because of it's name.  After all, these are the names I call my parents, Mom & Pop!

Store front on Riverfront Dr.

If you find yourself near the Twin Cities, this is a definite destination worth your time.  Located on the riverfront of Mankato, you will find Mom & Pop's nestled among other cute shops sure to spark your interest.

 629 N Riverfront Dr 

Mankato, MN 56001

(507) 344-0629

http://www.momandpopsicecream.com/

Interesting historical photos above the menu

Kitchen and serving area

Mom & Pop's stocks 32 flavors of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, straight from Madison, WI.  The flavors are rotated so you are sure to find something new and delicious each time you stop in.  

If you visit in one of the few warm months of the year, be sure to check out the fantastic outdoor eating area.  It is even dog friendly with treats for your favorite K-9.  

My favorite part about Mom & Pop's is they encourage you to recycle the paper serving containers. 

Yeah for active composting!

Post Script: I was able to add more photos thanks to my friend, Steve, who willingly sacrificed his calorie deficit for the day to make a return trip.  Thank you for supporting the research!

All In Good Taste, Princeton, WI

Betty is seen here mingling with her customers outside.

All In Good Taste is located in Princeton, WI.  This little shop has a great atmosphere and is definitely worth the stop.  Princeton is known for it's Saturday flea market in the park and a good number of antique stores.  All In Good Taste fits right in with their unique gift store.

Meet Betty, who is always smiling!

You will be greeted with cheer by 16 year owner, Betty Wegner.  Betty shared that she worked at another ice cream shop (now closed) on weekends while her boys were growing up.  She enjoyed it so much that she opened her own place.  You can feel Betty's sincere enjoyment and that definitely adds to the experience!

Betty serves Cedar Crest Ice Cream, rotating flavors.  She said there really is no favorite flavor.  One that I taste tested was "Main Attraction."  The ice cream was kettle corn flavor with sea salt caramel and chocolate covered corn nuts.  It was tasty but remembering that I almost lost a tooth while crunching on corn nuts as a kid, I couldn't bite the bullet and select that flavor.  Instead I selected Malt Mixer a chocolate malt ice cream with caramel swirl and chocolate covered peanuts.  Yes, I LOVE chocolate and caramel.    

725 Main St.

Princeton, WI 54968

920-295-0344

https://www.facebook.com/allingoodtaste/

If you find yourself in the area, stop in to see Betty.  Check out her unique gift store and enjoy a cone!