Calling All Ice Cream Fiends...
- Mary Boser
- Mar 14, 2021
- 4 min read
As mentioned in my previous blog post, I am an ice cream fiend. Despite having a major sweet tooth for just about any kind of dessert, ice cream always takes the cake. You can put just about any other type of sweet into ice cream - cookie dough, brownies, Oreos, even fruit - and it will come out even more tasty. So, enough of me going on about my love for ice cream - here’s my top five favorite local places that you can’t miss!
Ted Drewes
Let’s get this one knocked out right away - considering it’s the St. Louis classic! The first Ted Drewes location opened 90 years ago, in 1931, on Grand Blvd in St. Louis. 10 years later, a larger location opened on Chippewa, which is the location which is most frequented today. The menu offers an extensive selection of malts, shakes, sundaes, floats, ice cream sodas, and their most popular item - concretes. Customers can choose from classic combinations, or make their own, adding as many toppings as their heart desires. Ted Drewes uses the fewest ingredients possible in their ice cream so that there isn’t anything unnecessary. Keep in mind that Ted Drewes only serves walk ups at their windows and doesn’t have a seating area - so prepare for an ice cream tailgate!
The Baked Bear
Like I mentioned above, any type of sweet combined with ice cream makes it 1000 times better. The Baked Bear does just that - with specialty ice cream sandwiches. Located across the street from The Pageant in the St. Louis Loop, The Baked Bear is a small business with a lot to offer. Don’t be deterred if there is no indoor seating available and the line is out the door. While you’re waiting in line, begin to think about what kinds of cookies you will request when you get to the counter. They’ll let you choose two different kinds - one for the top, and one for the bottom of your sandwich. Although they offer classic selections year-round such as chocolate chip and gooey butter cake, there is a unique cookie of the month special you can request. After choosing cookies, you choose one of twelve ice cream flavors to be packed in-between the two, and then a topping to be sprinkled onto the edges of the ice cream peeking out. While you pay, you can request to have your sandwich slightly warmed, which I recommend. It makes biting into the giant masterpiece a little easier. Be sure to ask for a stamp card, so you can get credit toward a free sandwich after 10 purchases.
The Soda Fountain - Union Station
Make sure you have an empty stomach for this one - you’re going to need it! The Soda Fountain, an attraction within Union Station which opened in late 2019, is known for its freak shakes. The Soda Fountain’s menu defines a freak shake as, “1. noun - a very unusual and unexpected improvement to your everyday milkshake. 2. verb - the dance you’ll do when this thing arrives at your table.” Basically, a freak shake is a 22 oz milkshake topped with some of the biggest and most ridiculous toppings you will ever see. Although they have four freak shakes to choose from, just one shake alone is topped with graham cracker crumbs, a piece of New York Style Cheese Cake with strawberry topping, a fresh strawberry, red sprinkles, a whirly pop, a candy strawberry, whipped cream and a cherry. It’s a lot to take in - both mentally and physically, so make sure to bring a friend you can split it with.
Crown Candy Kitchen
Crown Candy is the oldest location on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less in quality! Self-proclaimed as “the oldest soda fountain in St. Louis,” Crown Candy opened in 1913 and has kept its doors open ever since. Walking into the small business is like going back in time, as the interior has kept its original look. Crown Candy proudly serves specialty sundaes, malts, and shakes, in addition to an old-school candy bar, hence the name. Lunch and dinner items such as BLTs and Chili are also served. Most people who stop in make their ice cream the main course - and then buy candy to take home!
Ice’s Plain and Fancy
If you only choose to visit one ice cream stop on this list, visit Ice’s Plain and Fancy, located a few streets away from Tower Grove Park. Ice’s Plain and Fancy churns their ice cream with liquid nitrogen at a chilling -321 degrees, resulting in ice crystals which create a smooth texture. (I have never tasted a texture like it - think a middle ground between ice cream and custard.) Best of all, you can watch the staff make your order through glass panels - so you can see the entire process, nitro clouds and all! Popular flavors such as Cookies n' Cream, Butter Pecan, and Rocky Road are offered. Indoor seating is limited, so if it’s cold out, have a backup plan such as eating in your car. Most of all - enjoy!
If this blog post made you want ice cream as badly as me, be sure to follow on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram at @livininthelou1. I’m constantly discovering new ice cream places around St. Louis, so you won’t want to miss any new updates or additions to this list!
Until then, keep exploring!
~Mary
Comments