Ice Cream Near You

Why Is It Called Ice Cream?

The dessert we have for you today needs no special introduction. It's a sweet that people of all ages simply love. Kids always ask their parents for it, and the rest of us wouldn't really say no to it either.

Without further ado, what we're talking about is one of the most popular foods on the planet - ice cream!

Simply put, ice cream is a frozen dessert made of milk and cream, as well as other ingredients that serve as sweeteners. This can be sugar but also cocoa, fruits like strawberries, vanilla, and so on.

Color additives could also be used and the whole thing is cooled to under 32 °F.

It is typically made with a machine called an ice cream maker. These devices may utilize the hand-cranking technique or an electric motor. Either way, the goal is to freeze and churn the mixture at the same time. This prevents the forming of (bigger) ice crystals.

Another way of making it is by combining a cream mixture with liquid nitrogen.

In different countries, the term ice cream may refer to a wider variety of products, like in Italy. But in America, for example, it only applies to certain types. Thus, some items are labeled as frozen dairy desserts.

This greatly depends on how much certain ingredients are used. In the United States, the FDA requires that the amount of milk fat is higher than 10%. And it should also contain between 12 and 16% of sweeteners, among other rules. If all these are met, then we officially have an ice cream.

As for how it's served, you can eat this dessert with a spoon, enjoy it off an ice cream cone, or have it as a part of another sweet course. It is sold everywhere, notably in ice cream shops, and you can pick from many different ice cream flavors.

For people on more specific diets, there are also keto ice cream and vegan ice cream options available.

Plus, the dessert can be made with a milk alternative such as coconut milk or tofu. So, no worries, even if you're lactose intolerant or have an allergy to cow’s milk, you can still enjoy this fabulous sweet.

What Is the Origin of Ice Cream?

This dessert has a rich history, but we'll cover some of the more important milestones.

The earliest signs of frozen foods go way back. Some data points to the Persians having such dishes as early as the 6th century BC. And the Romans apparently topped some foods with snow back in the 1st century.

In Japan, they had the kakigori, a sweet made with ice and syrup.

As for the Europeans, freezing was introduced around the 16th century. But it wasn't used for making desserts until later on.

Also, it was Marco Polo who presumably brought sorbet to Italy. He discovered it in China. This is a type of frozen sweet made with ice, fruit juice, and more.

In England, the first ice cream recipe was documented in "Mrs Mary Eales's Receipts", published in 1718.

Wondering who brought it here to America? Well, the specifics of that aren't known. However, we can safely say that notable figures such as Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson would definitely enjoy some.

Also, in 1843, Nancy Johnson got the patent for an ice cream freezer that operated via hand cranking.

Around the same time, ice cream started to become an affordable and thus more popular food. This is when Carlo Gatti started selling it on London's Charing Cross in 1851.

Another person who further popularized this dessert was Agnes Marshall from England. She wrote several cookbooks and even got the nickname "Queen of ices."

Later on, varieties such as ice cream soda, sundaes, banana split, and cones became a thing.

As refrigeration became cheap and common after World War II, so did ice cream become truly widespread. And countless ice cream stores opened everywhere. This even included moving vehicles or ice cream trucks as they're popularly called in the US.

Attesting to the popularity of the dish, several Museum of Ice Cream locations have been opened across America, as well as in Singapore and Shanghai.

How Many Varieties of Ice Cream Are There?

Given its worldwide popularity, it's no surprise that different countries have their own take on this dessert:

Italy - Ah, the famous gelato vs ice cream "debate." Gelato is mostly handmade by using whole milk, sugar, other flavorings, and at times eggs. It usually has a lower percentage of fat i.e. 7-8%. Greece - pagotó Argentina - helado Turkey - dondurma Syria - booza India - kulfi Iran - fālūdeh

And that is just to name a few. Of course, as mentioned earlier, there are variants such as keto, gluten-free, and vegan to fit people with more specific dietary needs.

Oh, and we can't forget about the ice cream cake. This delicacy features ice cream as a filling for a Swiss roll or sandwich cake.

Where Can I Find Ice Cream Near Me?

This dessert can be found everywhere. Still, with so many options, it's great to have some recommendations. Thus, we at Slice are here to help you find the best ice cream near you.

For those of you in NYC, we suggest heading to Il Mattone Tribeca. You can find them on Beach St. They're open 7 days a week and also offer pickup and delivery. What's also great is you save 5% on any online order via Slice.

In Chicago? Then Tapia's Pizza is the right place for you. Located on Howard St, they work every day of the week. Plus, you can order takeout or delivery via Slice and even get 5% off.

Of course, for any other city, just check the listings on this page. No worries, we have all the best ice cream places near you!