REVIEW: Front Porch Chocolate Rocker

While most of Front Porch's flavors are surrounded by a Southern theme, not many of their offerings incorporate chocolate. Of the 15 current offerings, Chocolate Rocker is the only pint that employs a rich chocolate ice cream as the base. Although a smorgasbord of chocolate ingredients can sometimes be overpowering, flavors like New Orleans Ice Cream Company's Mississippi Debris, Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Therapy and Private Selection's Denali Extreme Moose Tracks were all able to secure high scores.

Containing only 180 calories per serving, Chocolate Rocker is a lot less calorie dense than the aforementioned competition. Removing the brown rimmed lid reveals a lighter colored ice cream than I had expected. Front Porch has taken their rich chocolate ice cream and added a fudge swirl and chocolate truffles, many of which poke through the top of the pint. Grabbing the base first, I find that despite the rich adjective in front of the chocolate ice cream, this is a lot less overbearing than the chocolate bases used in other offerings. It was just mild enough to avoid the dry finish that many of the other chocolate on chocolate flavors seem to have.

If a company is going to incorporate chocolate mix-ins, I prefer this less-rich base to showcase the other ingredients. I would have loved to have seen this ice cream used in some of Front Porch's other offerings. Soon after fully appreciating the base, I begin to run across the fudge swirl. This lacked the liquid-like consistency of other swirls, but bordered on the same look and feel as the stiff fudge found in Private Selection's Denali Extreme Moose Tracks. The richness was taken up a notch, which complimented the chocolate ice cream efficiently.

Eventually I begin to encounter the chocolate truffles, which turned out to be the best part of the pint. Much richer than the previous two elements, these were much more dense than I had anticipated. Like the cake pieces in past Front Porch selections, these weren't going for authentic texture, but instead trying to incorporate as much flavor as possible inside. The chewy squares of chocolate enhanced every bite they managed to slide into. The overall feel wasn't quite as dense as Chocolate Rocker's competitors, but the result was one of Front Porch's most enjoyable offerings.

Where I Found It: Ingles Markets
Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Omari's Review of Target's Market Pantry Turtle Sundae

Since I shop at Target fairly often I am familiar with their store brand items especially their ice cream. One day I noticed that their Market Pantry brand of ice cream had a lot more flavors added to their roster which this is one of them. Sadly, I also noticed that they discontinued their Archer Farms brand ice cream (R.I.P.) though some of these flavors got a Market Pantry re-branding (but that's another show). I really liked their Archer Farms ice cream so why not see what their other brand could do. Here is the description on the box, "Turtle Sundae Ice Cream: Caramel Ice Cream with a Fudge Swirl & Caramel Filled Turtle Candies."

First off, the caramel ice cream based has a light caramel color tint to it that just lets you know that is caramel flavored. I like this as it gives it more of a natural look as if the only thing that colored the ice cream was actual caramel. The ice cream based has a good taste and texture yet it is not very strong in caramel flavor by itself and it ends up as a background/supportive role. The fudge swirl has a consistency more like a fudge sauce that you would use to flavor milk or use as a topping. It has a good chocolate flavor that by itself could be a little too strong but combines well with the other ingredients.

Last but definitely not least are the turtle candies. I just love turtle candies and this is the main reason why I picked up this ice cream. These candies are actually shaped like turtles which are very detailed for their small size. The candies were so delicious that Target could sell them separately as they have a delicious chocolate taste and the caramel has a soft, silky texture with a taste that could compete with the best. Sometimes I wonder if the caramel ice cream flavor was toned down as to not overshadow the actual caramel in the candy as it might not be picked up as a distinct flavor. I would have rated this higher if it had pecans in it like another chocolate caramel pecan candy that I love. Stay tuned for the next part in the caramel ice cream saga.

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

REVIEW: Publix Premium Caramel Mountain Tracks (Limited Edition)

As I often do on my business trips into Publix territory, I packed a cooler and some ice in hopes of scoring some of their recently released, limited edition flavors. Sure enough, not only had they rolled out most of their holiday inspired lineup, I was also able to locate a carton I’d been wanting ever since seeing it as part of a reader’s Freezer Find. I’m always pleased by the creativity of some of the limited edition flavors from Publix Premium, but an intricate combination of toffee ice cream with ribbons of caramel and dotted with praline pecans and milk chocolate caramel turtles seems sounds like more than enough to keep my taste buds occupied. The bear careening down the mountain on a snowboard made of toffee and praline pecans also continued the tradition Publix has made of including wacky artwork on their cartons.

Even with an overly complicated ingredient list like the one we have here, Publix is still able to contain their creation to only 180 calories per serving. As soon as my ice cream scooper removed the first layer, I knew I was in for a treat. Flowing swirls of golden caramel, quarter sized milk chocolate caramel turtles, and tons of praline pecans make themselves readily available to be put in my bowl. The component I was most excited to try, the toffee base, was also the most interesting. My first bite wasn’t overly reminiscent of toffee, but instead meandered more towards the taste of marshmallow. Regardless, the result was successful in providing a great start to yet another winner from Publix Premium.

Caramel Mountain Tracks really came alive once the mix-ins came into play. The entire carton featured flowing rivers of caramel that lasted from start to finish. These thick stripes were sweet, buttery and continued inside the caramel turtles. These large candies featured a rich, milk chocolate shell that easily broke away to release even more of the sweet syrup. The finishing touch to this flavor, the praline pecans ended up being my favorite aspect. These sugary nuts provided just the right amount of sweetness and crunch to elevate this flavor to the top tier.

Where I Found It: Publix
Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Carl's Review of 2nd St. Creamery Copper Kettle Caramel

Ahhh that caramel ice cream! To be honest I did not know what to expect from this pint. I did not have high hopes for it just because I never was a huge fan of the salted caramels in other ice creams, BUT this pint definitely changed my outlook on things. Go ahead and hate lol.

I opened the lid and was hit with this beautiful view. It definitely had me enticed. So I took my first spoon full of just the caramel ice cream and thought it was spot on. I love me some caramel ice cream. With the 2nd spoonful I made sure to get some of that gooey, oh so good caramel swirl. BAM it hit my mouth and I thought at first I took a bite of a milky way. So good! Next I was aiming for that Caramel Chocolate. Those were spot on! Not overpowering and tasted delicious.

As I kept digging the caramel chocolates just kept coming and the swirls just kept getting better! I was literally having spoonfuls of these chocolate caramels!

Overall this pint was awesome. It definitely lived up to all the hype. I liked this much better than Talenti's Sea Salt Caramel.

Where Carl Found It: Wawa Gas Station
Carl's Grade: A

REVIEW: Three Twins Caramel Truffle Swirl

With the grand opening of every new, all-natural supermarket that opens in our area, we continue to gain access to some of the brands that usually aren't available. While we've seen Three Twins before and have reviewed quite a few of their products, our first visit to Whole Foods Market in Asheville, NC gave us something new to review. Their Caramel Truffle Swirl takes a sweet cream base and then throws in splotches of caramel and caramel truffles with a chocolate coating.

The first bite brought about the familiar taste of high-quality ice cream we'd expect from Three Twins. The consistency was super-premium and the top-notch mix-ins only enhanced the well-made feel of this pint. When the other ingredients come into play, this flavor really reaches its full potential. The bold caramel swirl ideally complements the sweet cream base and Three Twins didn't skimp on the amount of truffles they threw in. Bites including a bit of all three key components resulted in an ice cream that was far above average, despite the fact that we we would have preferred a more prolific swirl.

Where I Found It: Whole Foods Market
Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Derek's Review of Haagen Dazs White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle

Where I am from in Central Pennsylvania there are only 2 super premium ice creams available in grocery stores. Being the mix-in junkie that I am, I often stick with Ben and Jerry’s and leave the “traditional” flavor offerings of Haagen Dazs to everyone else. With that said, I have had a good run with some of their special edition flavors so I decided to venture out and grab one of their more unique offerings. I picked up a pint of their White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle which is eloquently described as A truly exquisite ice cream inspired by fine chocolate truffles. We begin with pure white chocolate ice cream and swirl in satisfying chunks of chocolaty fudge truffles and a tangy raspberry ribbon. After reading that description I couldn’t wait to remove the lid, rip off the seal and see what they had to offer.

I have to be honest, fruit in ice cream isn’t something I normally get excited for. Yet, upon seeing the hint of the tangy swirl right at the very top I got a little giddy. Something about the adjective tangy with the thought of both white chocolate and fudge just seems to be a winning combo. First I tackle the base by itself. As usual with Haagen Dazs the base is dense, rich and creamier than just about anything else out there. The white chocolate flavor is faint. It definitively is there, but much more subdued they I would have liked. Still, Haagen Das lives by their supreme bases and this foundation is solid enough. Onto the chocolaty truffles. All of the truffles at the top are small, but wow do they pack a punch. These chocolate chip size truffles melt in your mouth to unleash a sweet, fudge flavor far beyond their small stature.

I delve deeper to find larger truffles before I really get into the tangy swirl I am so excited for. Just under the surface the fudge chips more resemble the quarter-inch sized truffles I was expecting, and wow do they take fudgy to a new level. I wouldn’t call these truffles though, as they just seem like giant hunks of delicious, creamy fudge than the chocolate filled chunks one would normally think of. I’m not complaining though as they are one of the best chocolate mix-ins I’ve ever had. Last comes the raspberry swirl. It has a distinct fruity aroma and hits the tangy, sweet notes I was looking for to offset the rich nature of the 2 chocolate companions.

Halfway through the pint and the mix-ins really start to take over. The fudge “truffles” and the tangy swirl are prevalent in every single bite. While the base was smooth and mild in flavor at the beginning, I now find it completely drowned out by both of the other components. Is this terrible? Normally for me it’s actually what I hope for. Unfortunately, Haagen Dazs is known for their rich bases and I’m a little sad that if even a small chunk of the truffle makes it onto my spoon the solid base gets completely masked. The 2 mix-ins definitely score and “A”, but their dominance of the flavor profile knocks the overall score down to a “B”. With that said, this is a great, unique flavor offering that will definitely keep a permanent spot in my freezer when I’m looking for a tangy kick.

Where Derek Found It: Giant Food
Derek's Grade: B

READER REVIEW: Kenneth's Review of Ben & Jerry's Truffle Trifecta (Walgreens Exclusive)

Here's another review from our friend over at The Retail Judge. This time of the Walgreens exclusive from Ben & Jerry's, Truffle Trifecta.

I don't exactly live in the best town to find, obtain and sample new products. It took some time before the Walgreens-exclusive Truffle Trifecta from Ben & Jerry's showed up here. By that point, the excitement seemed to have died down. The flavor received unenthusiastic marks from almost every site, but I still had hope for it to deliver some satisfaction.

Based on the cover and its description, I'm expecting plenty of chocolate action, along with complementary flavors to break up the monotony. Given the nutritional content, it should come as little surprise that the chocolate base is quite dense and very indulgent. Though I initially find it rather uninteresting, its richness grows on me. By the time it starts to melt I grow increasingly fond. As for the mix-ins, which arrive in the form of various miniature truffles, a fair amount are packed in. One immediate disappointment is just how small they are, which leaves even less room for their fillings to speak. The only potential upside to their small scale is the possibility for more to show up. But like I said, their appearances are just frequent enough to make note of, not much else.

As for taste, the truffles provide more chocolate flavor from outer shells, which break apart with surprising ease. It's definitely a pleasing contrast to something like the stiff balls in Chocolate Peppermint Crunch. The caramel-filled truffles seem to show up the most in my pint, with the occasional fudge or marshmallow-filled ones being significantly less prominent. As for flavor, the chocolate shell has a smoother, milkier taste from the base. The caramel-filled truffles stand out the most to me, while the other two blend with the base a little too much. I do wish there was more to this ice cream than chocolate ice cream with tiny chocolates and a brief, occasional shift in flavor.

Truffle Trifecta definitely doesn't live up to what I imagined it would be. While the base is ultimately about what I'd like and expect, the mix-in's just don't put on much of a show. It's still pleasant, and I have no trouble working through the entire pint, but it's easy to feel a bit short-changed by the lack of innovation here. For taste and overall experience, it's a bit below the mark for Ben & Jerry's. Where it falls short the most is with regards to execution. Set that aside and you have an unexciting, but still-enjoyable pint.

Where Kenneth Found It: Walgreens
Kenneth's Grade: C

REVIEW: New Orleans Ice Cream Co. Mississippi Debris

The fifth stop of my tour through the flavors of New Orleans Ice Cream Company, Mississippi Debris has a rather impressive ingredients list. At first glance it appears this pint was produced merely by taking their chocolate base and tossing in every chocolate covered mix-in they could get their hands on. I'm a bit worried that this offering may result in cocoa overload.

With a smorgasbord of chocolate including brownies, truffles, malt balls, cherry cups and an influx of fudge chunks and swirls, they leave nothing to the imagination. With so many options in such close proximity to one another, and drowning in chocolate ice cream, I keep the lid handy so I can refer back to the index in order to see exactly what I'm munching on. It's impossible to grab just the chocolate ice cream, so I opt for a little bit of the fudge swirl for my first bite.

The rich chocolate ice cream is on par with the quality of their vanilla. It provides the perfect foundation to flaunt all these mix-ins. The most inconspicuous of the ingredients, the fudge swirl amplifies the chocolate base more than I had anticipated. Even richer than the ice cream, the thickness requires some chewing and as I'd soon find out, hard to differentiate from the fudge truffles.

Then came the copious amount of chocolate mix-ins. The brownie bits were decadent, dense and took multiple bites to break down. The chocolate flakes, as hard pieces of fudge tend to be, are more of a hinderance than a highlight. The truffles were the same consistency and texture as the fudge swirl, but consisted of a more complex, dark chocolate.

Then came these. These malt balls aren't your standard Whoppers. Coated in high quality chocolate, the crunch from these are audible in different area codes. Unfortunately there were only four or five of these, but with this magnitude of mix-ins, I can't complain. The chocolate covered almonds didn't differ in quality and combined with the malt balls to really beef up the texture.

Another kicker came with the cherry cups. I wasn't sure what to expect, but these ended up being like miniature chocolate-covered cherries that were able to completely change the flavor profile of the entire ice cream. The finishing touch comes with bits of real marshmallow. These mini-mallows were the most accurate marshmallow interpretation I've seen in an ice cream. The fluffiness and texture were tremendous. New Orleans Ice Cream leave no stone unturned in this unique offering. I thought I would get burnt out on so much chocolate, but the high-quality, high-quantity ingredients won't allow that to happen. So sit down, relax and prepare to take your time with this slow-moving pint.

Where I Found This: Ice Cream Source
Grade: A

REVIEW: Häagen-Dazs Salted Caramel Truffle (Limited Edition)

If you haven't noticed by now, we're in the midst of a salted caramel epidemic. Having just endured the widespread obsession with red velvet, it seems like every company has been churning out some form of this sweet and salty combination. I've enjoyed all the purple, limited-edition pints prior to this, so I was interested to see what the dignified folks at Häagen-Dazs would be able to pull off given these ingredients. Their flavors always seem to land slightly higher than average on my rating scale, but with the stout competition in this category, how would they measure up?

In true Häagen-Dazs fashion, their fancy description uses a smooth writing style and emits confidence in their finished product. They've combined their luscious caramel with a slight sprinkling of fluer de sel, a traditional sea salt, along with a sweet-cream base and chocolate truffles to create this trio of favorites. The thought of a Häagen-Dazs salty swirl has me salivating. After peeling off the patented seal, the sweet cream ice cream looks pretty basic, but the chocolate truffles lying right beneath the surface bode well.

The sweet cream base is about as close to vanilla as you're going to find, just a bit more complex. But because it's made by Häagen-Dazs, it's smooth, creamy and the perfect foundation to show off something salty. Other flavors like Talenti's Sea Salt Caramel and Jeni's Splendid Salty Caramel incorporate the brininess right into their base ice cream, but like Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack, Häagen-Dazs allows their swirl do the talking for them. It doesn't take too long before I'm spoon-deep in a salty caramel pool.

Although it's petite and only comes in dainty doses, this swirl is sensational. Perfectly balanced, this creates a combination that doesn't bounce back and forth between sweetness and saltiness like others, but creates another flavor profile entirely. The consistency is top-notch, too. I'm still baffled how these companies can keep caramel so soft and stringy, despite being frozen for most of it's life. The caramel swirl in one of their other flavors, Häagen-Dazs Dulce le Leche Caramel, is simply no comparison to it's salty counterpart.

I could have been content simply with the swirl, but then come these Talenti truffle impersonators. Even sharing the same three ridges on top, these tiny truffles bring the same high quality ingredients as those from Talenti. Häagen-Dazs is rather reserved when it comes to mix-ins, but not here. There are way more of these mini-Rolo candies that I had expected. At least one of these made their way onto the end of my spoon every other bite or so. The added richness from the chocolate, along with the soft and chewy filling of the truffles were a nice compliment to the other components. But when combined with sweet cream and salty caramel, it created one of the best Häagen-Dazs flavors available.

Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: A

READER REVIEW: Mo’s Review of Perry’s Caramel Cup Craze

I went to college in Upstate New York, where, as anyone who’s spent a fair amount of time in the region will attest to, the winters can be downright brutal. In fact, the weather got so cold at times that I actually found myself going weeks on end without eating ice cream for fear that doing so might cause my insides to frost over. But no matter how cold it got, I’d eventually come to miss my ice cream, at which point I’d head over to Wegmans and pick up a carton of Perry’s.

Years later, I came upon an amazing discovery while venturing over to a not so convenient but somewhat local Wegmans: Perry’s ice cream is actually available in New Jersey. I didn’t think this was possible, but sure enough, with a visit to Wegmans (a treat unto itself) came the opportunity to stock up on one of my all-time favorite brands.

Since I’ve been on somewhat of a caramel kick lately, I decided to dig into Caramel Cup Craze, a flavor described as “vanilla ice cream with caramel swirls and mini caramel cups.” Now if you’ve never had Perry’s ice cream before, the following may be a little difficult to grasp, so I’ll do my best to explain: The base had that unmistakable richness and creaminess Perry’s is known for. There’s just something about the way Perry’s makes ice cream that results in wonderful airiness and flavor, and Caramel Cup Craze is no exception. And while the base itself is satisfying on its own, the swirls and cups do a fantastic job of infusing some strong caramel flavors into the vanilla without going overboard on sweetness.

Of course, the fact that Perry’s is fairly generous on the mix-ins helps this flavor shine. The caramel cups are more than abundant, and they serve the dual purpose of enhancing the vanilla while offering a nice degree of textural contrast.

You know how sometimes you build something up in your head and eventually wind up disappointed when you realize you overhyped it? Yeah, that didn’t happen here. After many years of longing for Perry's, I was convinced that the ice cream wouldn't end up tasting as good as I remembered it, but Caramel Cup Craze truly exceeded my expectations. And as an added bonus, this time I got to eat it without freezing my tail off during the heart of winter in Upstate NY. I’d call that a win-win situation all around.

Where Mo Found It: Wegmans
Mo's Grade: A