Skip to main content

For Creative Ice Cream Sandwiches: “Coolhaus”














When I was a kid, I could tell summer was approaching by one very specific sound, the bell of the ice cream truck. I could hear it from blocks away and all the kids on my block could count down to when it was close enough to ours so that we had enough time to go and beg for money from our parents. We had such a good system in place that we knew one kid stopped and held the truck from leaving the block until everyone was back waving their dollar in hand to collect their treats. Once victory was ours there was no better feeling. It was the moment we waited for all day. Then about two hours later once it was dark, poor Mister Softee would drive by but that never had as much appeal as being able to score a Bubble O’Bill or Fat Frogg off a truck that had Good Humor products. I also remember eating an ice that was shaped like a vampire and turned my mouth all red and black. I still miss those products and search for them in vein.

Today’s generations have it so much easier. There are so many things that I did not grow up with: cell phones, the internet, but even something small like food trucks are so life changing nowadays. I initially fought the idea of food trucks because when I was a child there was only one kind, and that was the men on the streets of New York selling what us natives call “dirty water dogs”. I knew better than to eat those.

But times they are a changing. Now we can get fancy items like tacos, pizza, grilled cheese, cheese steaks, fish, and of course your choice of desserts. Each category of food is not even in its traditional form. Every company is out to outdo the other in terms of creativeness, diverseness, and deliciousness. For the consumer this is only a plus. I have learned to heart the land of growing food trucks everywhere, especially in my own backyard.

Recently while I was searching for another kind of food truck, I actually stumbled upon my newest addiction to my food truck collection, “Coolhaus”. They are the geniuses behind what they define on their website as:

“Cool house, isn’t that what you are eating- an ice cream sandwich deconstructed into a cookie roof and floor slab with ice cream walls?”

There is no better way I can explain it to you.

When I starting reading the website I was automatically hooked, you get to pick your choice of homemade cookie and fill it with your choice of their homemade ice cream. Now that’s all fine, good, and common. But what makes them stand out even more is not that they are doing this on a truck but the flavor choices for both the cookies and the ice cream. How often do you see red velvet cookies and candied bacon ice cream on the same menu? I never have. The menu options and pairings appear limitless. They also sell some candy and other sweets on the truck but I was going for my one and only kind of ice cream sandwich that I was going to design all by myself.

When I went a few weeks ago it was a day much like today in N.Y.C. The heat was sweltering but I braved it anyways because I was tired of waiting to go there and I could really use a cold treat. I knew I would have to eat it fast so that I got to it before the weather did but I was okay with that.

During my ten minute walk to the truck I was anticipating my choice and debating with my friends what we each would get. It appeared as though no one could make a decision and stick with it. When we arrived at the truck there were only a couple of people ahead of us online. Naturally I began taking pictures while my friends starting ordering. To add to the mix of confusion the truck had additional flavors of both cookies and ice cream that were not on the website. I was not prepared for this monkey wrench to plan! Oh well I was the last of our bunch to order and in my panicked haze I shouted out the first thing that came to mind: potato chip and butterscotch cookie with bananas foster ice cream. I wasn’t even sure if that went together but I liked both things so I went for it. My three partners in crime all got red velvet cookies, one had chocolate ice cream and the other two went for the aforementioned candied bacon ice cream.  I heard no complaints. Actually I heard nothing at all.

I rushed to take my photos and then rushed even faster to choke down my food before the heat and my friend finished my delicious mess before I did. I needed a baby wipe for sure afterwards but it was sinfully good. I mean next to Godliness. My cookie was so fresh and soft it was actually crumbling into the ice cream. It tasted just like the flavors it was named for but wasn’t too salty or too sweet. The ice cream was even better, rich but creamy and smooth too. It was the best combination I could have ever picked let alone picked by accident. I have ordered bananas foster dessert in New Orleans in the restaurant it was born in and if I closed my eyes that was what this ice cream tasted like.

I never wanted it to end. But sadly it was all over in a flash. Speaking of flash this is the part of the story where I am walking back to my building and as my reward for braving the heat I get to endure flash flooding. The heavens opened up and it began to rain as though the world was ending and I should have been with Noah on his arc. I was so soaked I thought I would never be dry again. It was disgusting. I would have been beside myself except that it was worth it. I would say I would do it again but I hope next time the weather and God are on my side. I have a feeling he was just jealous that day.

Although there is something to be said for pouring rain to remove any lingering stickiness on your hands from too much dessert. I didn’t need the wipes anymore that’s for sure.

Since I have embraced all things food truck related and am feeling ice cream in my blood, my next triumph shall be the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. I have had a date with him in my dreams for quite some time. A Salty Pimp shall be mine!

I still see Mister Softee drive by and I feel sorry for him. Then I wish it was a Coolhaus truck and I feel sorry for myself.

As the saying goes, "We all scream for ice cream". Now start screaming for Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches.

For Coolhaus trucks and in a store near you:



For more information:




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards

For Find Out Friday - How Do You Milk An Almond?

Despite my affinity for cheese and other dairy products, occasionally (actually a few times a week) I like to go dairy-free.  During those times I rely heavily on my favorite brand of almond milk, as seen in the picture above.  Though I know there is no dairy in this product, I constantly wonder: “how does one milk an almond”? Logically I am aware that no actually “milking” is taking place.  I also know that almond milk can be made at home, although I have zero interest in attempting to make it despite my love of spending time in my kitchen. So, what is the actual process?  How long does it take?  When / where / who was the first to successful develop this product? When talking about this kind of “milk” what we are really talking about is plant juices that resemble and can be used in the same ways as dairy milk. Plant like juice has been described as milk since about 1200 A.D. The first mentions can be found in a Baghdadi cookbook in the thirteenth

For a Doughnut Worthy of Food Network Glory: “Dun-Well Doughnuts”

All because I wanted a Boston creme doughnut. That is how this blog truly began. It was Father’s Day weekend and although I was initially thinking of myself, I knew my father wouldn’t mind having a sweet treat for dessert. Brooklyn is synonymous with great pizza, bread, and of course bagels. But it also has many great bakeries producing some of the most delicious doughnuts you have ever tasted. Just to name a few, there is: Doughnut Plant , Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop and Dough .   On the day of my craving, I did what any of us do countless times a day - I opened Google. When I Googled “best Boston creme doughnuts in Brooklyn” Dun-Well Doughnuts appeared high on that list. Intrigued I researched it further and learned that it had won the Canadian  Food Network’s contest called “Donut Showdown” in 2013. That was enough information for me to decide to visit the very next day.  Dun-Well Doughnuts was opened by Dan Dunbar and Christopher Hollowell in December 2011. Despite