READER REVIEW: Bob's Review of Handel's Snappy Turtle

Handel's Snappy Turtle consists of a strong and delicious chocolate base (far superior than Ben & Jerry's) with mixed in nuts, and a caramel swirl. Turtle is something that is very common in this combination but Handel's in my opinion knocked this one out of the park.

Upon first bite the base is so rich. This chocolate is so unique. It's beyond a chocolate bar like you get with Hershey's as it has a bit of swiss chocolate taste to it. Some may think this is on the lighter side, but the boldness of the ice cream is what sticks out. If you leave a Ben & Jerry's pint out for 20 minutes it will start to melt. Handel's is so dense that is barely begins to melt at all. The stuff is thick and really packs a good flavor. The mix-ins of the almond pieces is a great addition as well. They are hidden underneath the top layer, but once you dig down in and as you can see in the further pictures they start to pile up as you get downward to the bottom which provide a nice crunch. The turtles also provides a great caramel swirl. Now this swirl is no where near something you get in Karamel Sutra, or a swirl found in Scotchy Scotchy Scotch, or as good as 2nd St. Creamery Copper Kettle Caramel, but it's still good. The base in this pint is what really separates this from other turtle ice creams out there (which are primarily a vanilla base).

Overall, the pint is killer from top to bottom. The swirl could be better with the inclusion of caramel, but it gives you enough to compliment the chocolate base. This is no Jeni's, don't get me wrong, but it's probably my 2nd favorite chocolate base right behind it which gives this a very good feedback and score. The inclusion of the nuts is great, even not being a big "nut lover" in ice cream the crunch packs the unique turtle taste as well as the caramel swirl which is mediocre. If that was enhanced this would be an A+ pint without a doubt. Just the overall base and its rich flavoring along sells the pint and gives it incredible flavor. If you are a chocolate lover, then this is right up your alley. You don't need chocolate swirls like found in Chocolate Therapy or Mississippi Mud Pie to make it a killer pint. The base alone gives this pint something to look forward to if you never have had Handel's, their flavoring alone makes it worth your time.

Where Bob Found It: Handel's (Pittsburgh, PA)

Bob's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Elliot's Review of New Orleans Ice Cream Co. Cafe Au Lait & Beignets

You have to hand it to the folks at New Orleans Ice Cream Company. Their vision to leverage the storied New Orleans food culture to produce creative and fun ice cream flavors is brilliant. Café au Lait & Beignets is the iconic French Quarter breakfast. Enjoying piping hot beignets covered with a mountain of powdered sugar alongside café au lait is part of the definitive New Orleans tourist experience. Café au Lait & Beignets (the ice cream) has garnered much attention from it's acclaim on this very website.

Creating an excellent coffee flavor was personally important to Adrian, one of the founders of NOICC, who has a background in the coffee industry with New Orleans Coffee Co. For the café au lait base, a chicory-coffee blend is cold brewed and married with scalded milk. Beignet dough pieces are spiced with cinnamon and liberally scattered throughout the base. Cinnamon is not traditionally found in beignets, here the spice is added to provide depth of flavor. The flavor is finished off with a powerful sugary swirl, adding tremendous sweetness, as powdered sugar does in the real thing.

For those who like sugar on their sugar, this saccharine, caffeinated pint delivers all the sweetness you need. The beignet pieces are more akin to "beignet dough" than beignets. The chewiness the beignet component provides is enjoyable, and while non-traditional, the cinnamon spice works well with the sugared coffee flavor and keeps things interesting. Coffee and donut themed ice cream is one that several companies have tried, and this one is at the top of the heap when it comes to that flavor profile.

New Orleans Ice Cream Company has been expanding distribution, and is becoming more widely available throughout the country. As more people try their ice cream, while some will be motivated to do so by their recollection of the great taste of the real thing, I wonder if the ice cream will inspire those who haven't made it to NOLA to head down south.

Where Elliot Found It: Straub's Market
Elliot's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Elliot's Review of McConnell's Peppermint Stick

Candy canes take me down memory lane, a holiday constant going all the way back to the days of my youth. For me, the sight and smell of these fragile, minty, saccharine treats is decidedly associated with Christmastime. It is one of those candies that creates a certain excitement simply based on this seasonal affiliation.

When December rolled around this year, thanks to the local specialty market that stocks McConnell's, I had the chance to scoop McConnell's' Peppermint Stick ice cream. This pint is actually available from McConnell's year round, but only stocked locally during the holidays. Peppermint Stick is an old time flavor from this heritage brand, and that it earns it's spot in the lineup all year long is a very promising sign.

The majority of mint ice creams out there are combined with chocolate, known as "mint chip" on the street. A product of my environment, I have been conditioned to believe the chocolate component is a necessity, and wondered if the mint flavor alone can deliver the goods.

Some issues we've all experienced with candy canes, besides breakage during the unwrapping process, are the cloying sweetness, sticky fingers and potential for dental impact, not to mention the destruction of any finished surface a half eaten cane comes into contact with. Just leave them on the tree this year. This ice cream has a lovely sweet peppermint candy flavor, and the best part is that it plays up the hopelessly thick, high butterfat, low overrun sweet cream McConnell's base I love so much. Some brands may need to throw out a bit of misdirection in the form of other mix ins to shift the focus from a stabilized base lacking structure and flavor balance. If you've got it, flaunt it. McConnell's lets the peppermint accentuate the ice cream, and that is exactly what I love about this flavor.

As you see pictured, candy cane pieces dot the landscape, and provide enough texture to keep things reminiscent of gnashing candy canes through your teeth as a yule log burns warmly in the background. This McConnell's classic is one of the most delicious peppermint ice creams I've ever had. If you're looking for a pint to put you in the Christmas spirit, this is it.

Where Elliot Found It: Straub's Market
Elliot's Grade: A

Steve's Review of Blue Bell Mardi Gras King Cake (Seasonal, Gulf Coast Exclusive)

Wow! Mardi Gras season down here in Cajun country doesn't start until January 6th, but I was pleased to pass by my local Walmart and notice that Blue Bell has gotten a jump start on those festivities by releasing Mardi Gras King Cake, a flavor exclusive to the Gulf Coast region, stretching from the Florida panhandle to east Texas. Blue Bell says that this is a Cinnamon ice cream with pastry pieces, candy sparkles, and a cream cheese swirl, which by my reckoning hits the major King Cake ingredients, and since I always enjoy a good King Cake, I plunged the spoon in eagerly.

This ice cream is pretty delicious! The best part is the base, which tastes like the same rich cinnamon concoction that works so well in their Gingerbread House flavor. Also noteworthy are the pieces of pastry, which are really round chunks of cake. While these do not have the consistency and taste of classic King Cake pastry, their cinnamon spiciness is welcome, they are provided in generous quantity, and combine very nicely with the thick green cream cheese sauce that winds its way throughout. Unlike in some Blue Bell flavors, the candy pieces are substantial, they add taste and are not just window dressing, but they do have the aesthetic effect of reminding you that this is a "King Cake" offering.

Overall, the combination of the cinnamon base, pastry/cake pieces, and cream cheese sauce adds up to a very satisfying treat. I was initially unsure how cinnamon ice cream might combine with cream cheese, but the impact on the taste buds is pleasurable. I rate this flavor a half-notch below the top level but still, this is well-worth grabbing if you live in Mardi Gras territory in the deep south.

Where Steve Found It: Walmart
Steve's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Colby's Review of Jeni's Queen City Cayenne

Well I finally made it to the new Jeni's Splendid Westside Provisions Scoop Shop in Atlanta. I have been eagerly anticipating sampling many of Jeni's seasonal flavors and other flavors that I can't normally find. The scoop shop had about 30 flavors to sample, 9 of which I tried. I ended up purchasing 3 pints: Loveless Biscuits and Peach Jam, Middle West Whiskey Eggnog, and Queen City Cayenne. This review will be of Jeni's Queen City Cayenne, which is described as: Velvety, rich, mellow milk chocolate. Bright, zippy, back-of-the-throat spice makes for a complex, tingly finish.

Boy, Jeni wasn't lying about the back-of-the-throat spice that's for sure! My first bite of this ice cream caught me off guard. It really does pack a nice punch from the cayenne peppers. Being a lover of all things spicy, I immediately went back for a second scoop. Same burn as before! Love it!

As far as the overall flavor is concerned, all the comments really play together nicely. The milk chocolate base is smooth and creamy and the unexpected zing from the spices makes this a very unique ice cream. The spice level might actually be too overpowering for someone who is not a fan of spicy foods. My only negative comment about this ice cream is the lack of any mix-ins. This is a definite must try flavor for spice fanatics, however, it is not an ice cream that I want to sit down and devour a pint of in one sitting. I do believe though that this is a great ice cream to accompany a rich chocolate cake or brownie. Overall I give this a solid B by itself, although it could easily reach A level with the right mix-ins. Worth a try for sure!

Where Colby Found It: Jeni's Westside Provisions Scoop Shop (Atlanta, GA)

Colby's Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Bob's Review of Ben & Jerry's Mississippi Mud Pie (Walmart Exclusive)

Finally my Walmart decided to stock the new, limited edition flavor, Mississippi Mud Pie by Ben & Jerry's. There were only 2 pints left, so I snagged one to see what this had to offer compared to pints like Chocolate Therapy, Phish Food, or S'mores off their line. I have heard that Ben & Jerry's improved their chocolate base so that would be another thing I want to touch on in this review.

Chocolate ice cream & vanilla ice cream with chocolate cake pieces & a chocolate mousse swirl is the makeup of Mississippi Mud Pie, and with that, the surface looked promising. I saw the dense chocolate base, and small swirls of vanilla ice cream and a hint of cake pieces with the swirl on the left hand side of the picture. Now let me tell you that Ben & Jerry's will deceive you with the top layer because underneath is usually loaded with their mix-ins and sometimes they are rock hard (the peanut butter cups for instance in Peanut Butter Cup, fudge chunks in the Phish Food, brownie pieces in Half Baked) but overall this pint had very moist cake pieces that were not very rough.

The chocolate base has improved there is no question. Usually Ben & Jerry's has a very bland and basic chocolate base, but this had a bit more flavor to it than before which made it a lot more pleasing. For only being 270 kcals a serving it was a good blend of mostly chocolate, some vanilla, and loads of cake pieces. The swirl is hard to pick up on like in Chocolate Therapy because the flavoring of the chocolate base got a bit denser and backs more of a Hershey's like taste to it which was good.

Overall is was a good pint, nothing to rave over or top 10 wise, but still enjoyable as a limited edition flavor. The improved chocolate base will make Ben & Jerry's consumers happy who did not enjoy them. The cake pieces are hit or miss (as I saw with some other reviews, but mine had quite a good amount which left me satisfied). The swirl is noticeable but not as much as you would see in a Scotchy Scotch Scotch or Karamel Sutra where it does reign supreme. The 75/25 ratio of chocolate to vanilla in this one makes it a dominant chocolate pint, but its not as rich as a Chocolate Therapy as far as chocolate density goes, but the flavors do compliment well making it a great, well-rounded pint.

Where Bob Found It: Super Walmart

Bob's Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Elliot's Review of McConnell's Winter Cranberry Chip & Egg Nog

I was able to get ahold of a couple of wintery seasonal flavors online at www.McConnells.com. Their seasonal offering covers a broad spectrum ranging from previously reviewed Pumpkin Pie, Cardamom & Swedish Ginger Snaps, Burnt Caramel Apple, to Peppermint Stick (no review yet), Winter Cranberry Chip and Egg Nog.

In the spirit of providing a broad flavor spectrum year round, McConnell's produces a perennial pint featuring cranberry and Guittard chocolate called Winter Cranberry Chip. It represents a bright, tangy berry flavor, which is a nice contrast against the predominantly minty seasonal winter flavors.

Winter Cranberry Chip is the winter seasonal flavor in their line-up of beloved "chip flavors" made using their unique molten chip process. I've loved each one of their flavors featuring Guittard chocolate chips. Double Peanut Butter Chip won gold in the "Outstanding Dessert" category at The 2013 NY Fancy Food Show.

Chef Eva Ein, one of the owners of McConnell's, makes the cranberry preserves in Winter Cranberry Chip as she does for several flavors. Milk Chocolate & Raspberry Jam is one. Their popular summer themed pint, Eureka Lemon & Marionberries also showcases her talent.

The tart/sweet cranberry/cream/chocolate combination is something I've never encountered nor imagined. I can see this flavor profile taking a bit for some people to come around to, as it did for me. There's just no other flavor like it. I'm thankful they had the gall to leave the cranberry out past Turkey Day and sprinkle in Guittard chocolate to give us a uniquely creamy, bitter, sweet and sour treat. It's a very cool combination.

Where Elliot Found It: www.mcconnells.com
Elliot's Grade: A

When I received a holiday pack from McConnell's, I was a little apprehensive about scooping the Egg Nog pint. As one to politely decline a glass of the holiday beverage when offered; I had low expectations for how much I'd enjoy it in ice cream form.

The biggest surprise with the Egg Nog was the balance. The majority of ice creams are not well balanced from a flavor perspective. Creating a custard base that is consistently balanced and not overcooked is a great feat in itself. To crown that achievement with a fantastic flavor atop it is like magic. Some of us have been put off of Egg Nog for life after tasting a batch that's been over-liquored by their rascally Uncle Jeffrey. McConnell's' version uses a hint of rum as a flavor enhancer, enhancing the warm, wintery blend of nutmeg and allspice. Folks who love the nutmeg and allspice aspects of pumpkin spice would enjoy this flavor.

Where Elliot Found It: www.mcconnells.com
Elliot's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Derek's Review of Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter World (Target Exclusive)

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate may have more ice cream offerings than any other flavor on the market. Because of this, I am always eager to try a new one in hopes that it can unseat my current go-to favorite Ben and Jerry’s Peanut Butter World. This exclusive flavor, found only at Target, is described as “milk chocolate ice cream with peanut buttery swirls & chocolate cookie swirls.” At 340 calories per serving your waistline will certainly not get as much enjoyment out of this pint as your taste buds will.

Ben and Jerry’s is known for having a sub-par chocolate base, but their milk chocolate base is a completely different story. The sweet, creamy base provides the perfect chocolate flavor that is enjoyable both by itself and with mix-ins. Every time I try this pint I get slightly upset this base isn’t used in some of their other flavors given its superb flavor.

After the initial layer of chocolate base, the ability to scoop this dense pint comes to a screeching halt. The peanut butter swirls and chocolate cookie swirls meld together to form and impenetrable forcefield. Your two options are to allow for the base to melt or to struggle forward pulling off only small bits and pieces. I, given the impatient person that I am, always opt for the latter. I manage to get some of the peanut butter by itself and the sweet, nutty swirl provides just a touch of salt to pair perfectly with the milk chocolate base. The swirl is thick and brittle, providing that great crunch I look for in a frozen peanut butter addition. The chocolate cookie swirl is impossible to get by itself but luckily it is not drowned out when sampled with its peanut butter counterpart. The gritty cookie adds a third textural element that sets this pint over the top. The two swirls combine to form a diabolical Andes mint looking creation that I’m fairly confident will never be anything short of amazing.

This creation is essentially nothing but mix-ins and the dense nature of the pint first encountered just under the service remains intact throughout the entire thing. While this is by far my favorite peanut butter and chocolate flavor, it is not without its faults. The flavors meld together so perfectly that the individual swirls are impossible to sample. For me this is somewhat upsetting as I like to have differing flavors in each spoonful. The crunchy swirls often tend to bend spoons so be careful not to get overzealous! This is the definition of a must try.

Where Derek Found It: Target
Derek's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Omari's Review of Market Pantry Chocolate Fudge Brownie

I love chocolate and I like brownies (it doesn't hurt that they contain chocolate) so I decided to pick up this ice cream. Too bad these brownies do not have walnuts in them. Here is the description on the box, "Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream: Chocolate Ice Cream Swirled with Fudge & Brownies."

I usually do not care for chocolate ice cream since most brands do not deliver a full chocolate taste. Though there a few chocolate ice cream brands that are definitely worth eating on their own and this might be a contender. I did not notice a discernible fudge taste in the ice cream though I assume that the fudge and the chocolate ice cream merged and thus made a tastier chocolate ice cream flavor. I would not be surprised if this happened as the best chocolate ice cream that I have eaten taste like it has chocolate syrup in it. The brownie pieces were chewy, flavorful and plentiful though they might be a little too chewy for my taste but good overall. The brownie pieces' size were big enough that about two would fit in a spoonful of ice cream. This is good as I like my mix ins to not be too big. I am really not a fan of brownies in ice cream though and my rating reflects this but I encourage you to try this flavor. If you are having a hard time finding this or any other flavor of Market Pantry ice cream then I suggest you find your nearest Super Target. The larger stores tend to carry more of a selection of items and the Super Target that I went to had all of the available flavors.

Where Omari Found It: Target
Omari's Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Omari's Review of Market Pantry Tin Roof Sundae

I love tin roof sundae so much that I used to make them myself. I used to buy vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and peanuts and I would make myself a sundae. So I picked this flavor up as it is much more convenient than buying the ingredients separately. There is something so delicious that comes from minimal ingredients. Here is the description on the box, "Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream: Artificially Flavored Vanilla Ice Cream with Fudge Swirl & Fudge Covered Peanuts."

Since I have already talked about everything except for the peanuts in other reviews then this is going to be short. This has a mild vanilla flavored ice cream with a very typical fudge sauce. I like chocolate covered peanuts and the ones in here are just as good as any other that I had before. Interesting to note was that the peanuts were not distributed evenly enough in the container that I bought. Since this occurred with mix-ins in another Market Pantry ice cream that I bought, I wondered if I did something or if it was like that beforehand. Because of this uneven distribution, I would get a bowl that had little to no peanuts and another that was chock full of peanuts. This flavor was not bad but I definitely had better namely Publix Premium Limited Edition Tin Roof Sundae which I wish they would bring back.

Where Omari Found It: Target
Omari's Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Omari's Review of Market Pantry Caramel Waffle Cone

One of my favorite ice cream novelties is Sundae Cones. I just love a good crispy waffle cone with the inside lined with bittersweet chocolate with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Let's get this straight. This ice cream is literally a deconstructed sundae cone novelty. If you were to go to the store and buy a pack of sundae cones with a caramel swirl then this is what you are getting here. Here is the description on the box, "Caramel Waffle Cone Ice Cream: Vanilla Flavored Ice Cream with Caramel Swirls & Fudge Covered Waffle Cone Pieces."

The ice cream based has a nice vanilla flavor that could be enjoyed on its own and definitely blends well with the other ingredients. It is not the best vanilla ice cream out there but it is nowhere near the worst. This has the same rich and creamy caramel that I have come to enjoy from other Market Pantry selections. When I decide to eat ice cream in a cone, I want the cone itself to be delicious. To me cones are not just containers for ice cream but are meant to add flavor and texture to the ice cream experience, These fudge cone pieces do not disappoint (blah, blah, blah...I would buy them separately) and the majority of them were crunchy and even the ones that were moist were still good. To me it seems that the Market Pantry ice creams has a focus on making the mix-ins flavorful and pairs it with a mild flavor ice cream that is good enough but not just grand. That is not a bad strategy for a low price ice cream that can definitely compete with some name brands.

Where Omari Found It: Target
Omari's Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Kenneth's Review of Ben & Jerry's Scotchy Scotch Scotch (Limited Edition)

I don't know how to put this, but I don't think Anchorman is that big of a deal. There, I said it. While every bit of footage gets my peers antsy for the sequel, all I can do is roll my eyes and sigh. On the other hand, I don't think it'll be tough for me to enjoy this Anchorman-inspired flavor from Ben & Jerry's, Scotchy Scotch Scotch. True, a simple butterscotch-on-butterscotch play doesn't sound very interesting, but aside from Rockin' Blondies, butterscotch is a (awesome) flavor we don't see too often in ice cream. So let's see if simplicity is on this flavor's side.

The usual traction from peeling the lid back yields an ice cream showing its mix-in glory from the get-go. Whenever there's residue on the cap, I like to use that as a preface for trying the ice cream in full force. What I'm surprised to find are tiny bits of butterscotch candy in the base. Although, that surprise was nothing compared to the sharply sweet flavor greeting my tongue.

Don't let that light base color fool you, Scotchy Scotch Scotch is a gigantic case of so-sweet-it's-deadly. Those candy-like bits I already mentioned appear throughout the entire ice cream. Unless you're eating with a toothpick, you'll be treated to more than a few in every bite. These also seem to be smaller parts of the butterscotch swirl, which I imagined with be very chewy and gooey. Instead, the swirl is stiff, but not hard. Think of it as a Werthers candy crunched up and muddled together; softer than peanut brittle, but harder than peanut butter. As for the taste? Let's just say it makes the base feel like Blue Bell's Rum Raisin, by comparison (bland).

Though I continue to dig in (try), I quickly find myself overwhelmed. This ice cream is so sweet, it should come with a warning label. It takes less than half a serving to make me feel like I've hit the point of no return. Sugar, Werther's and cream is all I can think of it (in that order). If you feel like entering a diabetic coma, this is the ice cream for you. As for me? I'm going to check my blood sugar.

Where Kenneth Found It: Walmart

Kenneth's Grade: C