There’s a reason ice cream is considered a comfort food. You can’t eat ice cream while you’re mad. Go ahead, try it. It’s like trying to sneeze with your eyes open. Impossible. It works for sadness too. In movies and TV we always see jilted lovers healing their post break-up wounds while curled up on the couch with a big carton of ice cream. Something about that double fudge swirl just makes everything better. It’s a proven fact.
Ice cream even helped our nation through the Great Depression. One soothing flavor – Rocky Road – was named after the bumpy times many Americans were facing and quickly became a national favorite. And though we’re not facing a depression today, we still see proof of the healing powers of ice cream when we take a look at some of our local ice cream shops. Even in the midst of a sour economy, people are still lining up for a scoop or two of their favorite flavor.
Yes, business is booming for scoop shops, because no matter how many points the Dow is down or how bad the housing market is, ice cream always tastes good. And for those 10 minutes while you’re enjoying that frosty treat, nothing else matters.
If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.