Ice cream is back! It's springtime in New Jersey
Breaking news, North Jersey — spring is officially here!
I bet if Shakespeare were alive right now? He'd be writing elegant sonnets about Branch Brook Park, or the way the sun rises gently over the Passaic.
But, he's not.
So, here's this instead. Hope it suffices.
A Food Writer's Ode to Ice Cream, by me
April in Jersey — how the birds sing. From 40 to 75? What a wonderful thing.
As the temperatures rise, and blossoms bloom like a dream, one thought fills my mind; time for Garden State ice cream.
Cookie dough, Oreo, raspberry cheesecake with swirls.
If spring doesn't mean scoops to you? You're wrong, boys and girls.
At the changing of the seasons, we're met with a prize.
The frozen dessert shops reopen, and it's a treat to the eyes.
We've got Francy's in Bergenfield and Denville Dairy on Main; Nasto's in Newark scoops next to Fornos of Spain.
On Graham Slam! On Brownie Batter! On Beenie's Dunkaroos! If the flavor's from Jersey? Who cares what you choose.
When in Ridgewood, Van Dyk's got mint chocolate chip, and with s'mores from Holsten's? Bloomfield's worth the trip. Grab cotton candy at Applegate — which looks great in GIFs — and don't get me started on literally everything at Cliff's.
Top it with fudge, top it with Reese's, crumble cookies and M&Ms. Throw it over a brownie; all ice creams are gems! In Jersey, scoop shops have been around forever, with owners serving nostalgia in ways that are clever.
Thus, when you eat Conrad's — in any sundae rendition — you're tasting 3,000 calories of sweet, sweet tradition.
So, forget California with its charcoal black flavors. If my ice cream is hipster? Please do me a favor:
Throw out those veggie-infusions with "corn from the shuck." Avocado and basil? I don't give a truck (sorry, family-friendly newspaper).
Give me Ice Cream on Grand; write Curly's on a sweater.
Because I'm from New Jersey — and our ice cream is better.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
Want to visit the ice cream shops mentioned in this article? Follow this list:
Francy's Artisanal Ice Cream: 461 S Washington Ave., Bergenfield; 201-942-6282, francysicecream.com
Denville Dairy: 34a Broadway, Denville; 973-627-4214, denvilledairy.com.
Nasto's Ice Cream Co.: 236 Jefferson St., Newark; 973-589-3333, nastosicecream.com.
Beenie's Ice Cream: 38 Morris St., Morristown; 862-260-9221, beeniesicecream.com.
Van Dyk's Homemade Ice Cream: 145 Ackerman Ave., Ridgewood; 201-444-1429, vandyksicecream.com.
Holsten's Ice Cream: 1063 Broad St., Bloomfield; 973-338-7091, holstens.com.
Applegate Farm: 616 Grove St., Montclair; 973-744-5900, applegatefarm.com.
Cliff's Homemade Ice Cream: 1475 Route 46, Ledgewood; 973-584-9721, cliffsicecream.com.
Conrad's Confectionary: 107 Westwood Ave., Westwood; 201-664-2895, conrads1928.com.
Ice Cream on Grand: 523 Grand Ave., Englewood; 201-569-5346, icecreamongrand.com.
Curly's Ice Cream: 30 Route 23, Riverdale and 121 Monroe St., Boonton; 973-794-4720, curlysboonton.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Best ice cream in North Jersey? Check out our list