Hello from my 16-day vacay on the east coast. Between my little sister’s college graduation, my 10-year college reunion and my best friend’s wedding next weekend (post to come), I will travel to six states: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. So far the one thing I’ve done in 3 of the 6 is eat ice cream. I know it’s National Donut Day (find out where to get your free donuts, stat!) – just consider this post sweet-themed in the donut’s honor. Also please know that I am not an ice cream expert on account of my general intolerance to lactose, but these three establishments are so insanely good that I don’t think twice about the stomach ache that will ensue, and voluntary-stomach-ache good is as good as it gets.

My Top 3 Ice Creams, Current East Coast Edition

UDairy Creamery – Newark, DE

“From the cow to the cone” is this gem’s slogan, and it is not a lie. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at The University of Delaware (my littlest sister’s brand new alma mater) runs this on-campus shop using milk from cows that they keep on campus. It literally does not get fresher. They have 1,000 flavors, but I went for something I’ve never seen in my ice cream eating life: mango basil. It was killer.

Also they have this adorable cow truck because they are geniuses.

 

Shady Glen Dairy Stores, Manchester, CT

Every 6-hour drive home from Boston in the pouring rain requires a pit stop. My friend Mike suggested this ’50s diner-style throw-back for the “fried” cheese cheeseburgers, but I think their ice cream might be their finest offering. I had something that had chocolate, coconut and maybe caramel and peanuts in it? I honestly don’t know I just heard Mike order it and said, “yes, that, me too.” They make milkshakes too, and a size small is approximately 1 liter large.

Also they have these adorable boys in adorable hats working the grill line.

 

 

Jersey Freeze, Freehold, NJ

This is my home-town ice cream mecca, but I am not playing favorites. “The Freeze” has been around since the ’50s, and they have the best soft serve that anyone I’ve brought there in my 31 years of life has ever tasted. Close friends from California who visited once in the early ’80s still talk about this place. Do not go there and get hard ice cream, and if there’s any chance you can get an ice cream cake (in addition to your soft serve, duh), do it, even if all you’re celebrating is the fact that you made it to Jersey Freeze and are having one of their ice cream cakes (in addition to your soft serve!).

Also, once in a blue moon Bruce Springsteen (a son of Freehold!) stops in for a serving, so you should probably go as often as possible for the rest of your life – like R intends to do.

 

Enjoy, east coasters or travelers. And stay-tuned for updates from the rest of the six states…