FYI: If you have not seen the segment between Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert dueling for their Ben & Jerry’s flavors, check it out:
I do not think I have ever encountered a premium vanilla bean base before. It is not something that I particularly like and this flavor did not overturn that verdict for me. I am just not sure what the purpose of the bean is. I think it detracts from the taste overall rather than enhancing it, but I am sure that there are people who really enjoy it. Regular vanilla and French vanilla suit me much better. It is difficult to get into an ice cream when the base does not hit home, but all was not lost.
The potato chip is just so out of place, beyond the fact that it just does not work. Sometimes, fidelity to the concept has to be sacrificed for the practicality of something else, which is something Ben & Jerry’s did with Jeremy Lin’s flavor. I am not a potato chip eater, so perhaps I am biased on this account, but I also do not see the intrinsic fidelity of late night snacking and potato chips. The crunchiness matters more to me than the content.
With both the base and the ‘unique’ mix-in missing the mark for me, my salvaging facet of the pint is the salty caramel swirl. The swirl truly enhances the otherwise bland base, even though it takes a few scoops and some effort to reach the goldmine of swirls. Once I attained the swirls, I made sure to incorporate it into every bite.
Late Night Snack is not the most appealing ice cream flavor that you will try. Jimmy Fallon received an upgrade to the Tonight Show. Correspondingly, his flavor should receive a commensurate upgrade. If you are looking to celebrate the confluence of late night ice cream with a late night host, I would recommend Stephen Colbert and the Americone Dream.
Where Arjun Found It: Giant Eagle
Arjun's Grade: C