Get Sweet on Ice Cream in Massachusetts

Focus on All Things New England! Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web](. JULY 18, 2022 Get Sweet on Ice Cream in Massachusetts No summer trip is complete without creamy, handmade local ice cream, served up at beloved ice cream spots and dairies across the Bay State. Sponsored by: [Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism]( A summer vacation in the Bay State is a perfect time to get in on a cherished local secret: where to find homemade ice cream. In the Berkshires, that list includes the family-owned High Lawn Farm in Lee, whose delicious wares are shown here. Linda Campos The story of ice cream in Massachusetts is one of delicious innovation. In the early 19th century, Boston native Frederic “Ice King” Tudor popularized ice — and its many household uses, such as chilling cocktails and keeping ice cream frozen — by harvesting blocks from local ponds with horse-drawn plows and shipping them around the world. When artificial refrigeration eventually overtook ice boxes, it helped give rise to ice cream parlors — and again, the Bay State would lead the way. The bustling ice cream shop that Edward L. Brigham opened in Newton in 1924 soon multiplied, and by the 1970s, there were more than 100 Brigham’s locations across the Commonwealth (today, the cherished brand lives on in grocery stores throughout New England). Hoodsies, the nostalgic half-vanilla-half-chocolate ice cream cups eaten with a stubby wooden paddle, were invented by Charlestown-based HP Hood in 1947. And in the early 1970s, Steve Herrell pioneered cookie and candy mix-ins at his landmark Somerville shop, Steve’s, which spawned the gourmet ice cream boom in the Bay State and beyond. It’s no wonder Massachusetts takes its frozen treats so seriously. With that in mind — and just in time for [National Ice Cream Month]( — we offer a sampling of the many local-favorite places to get your strawberry or maple-walnut fix in the Bay State this summer, whether you’re in town, at the beach, or on the farm. IN-TOWN SCOOPS Downtown Northampton has been getting its licks in at Herrell’s Ice Cream — home to more than 400 gourmet flavors — since 1980. Courtesy of Herrell’s There’s no better way to cool off in the city than with a cone piled high with ice cream, best eaten while indulging in a bit of summertime people-watching. To get a taste of Steve Herrell’s legacy (showered with real chocolate sprinkles, naturally), stop by the last remaining [Herrell’s Ice Cream]( in Northampton; though Steve is retired, it is run by his former wife and longtime partner, Judy, and has been a staple of this Pioneer Valley city since 1980. No matter where you are in Greater Boston, you’re not far from a J.P. Licks — just look for the cheerful Holstein cow! Courtesy of J.P. Licks Of course, Herrell’s influence is still felt in the Boston area, too: [Toscanini’s]( founder Gus Rancatore worked at the original Steve’s and opened his first shop in 1981. He now has two Toscanini’s locations in Cambridge dishing out the fan-favorite “B3” flavor: brown butter, brown sugar, and brownies. Another Boston-area shop that came on the scene in the early 1980s was [J.P. Licks]( which debuted in Jamaica Plain and today has 17 stores and an array of addictive flavors, including variations on cookies ’n’ cream (mint, chocolate, coffee, salted caramel) and special guest stars such as King Tut, a version of golden milk ice cream, and Unicorn Crunch. In addition to creamy scoops of homemade ice cream, Gracie’s in Somerville sweetens the deal by offering sugar cones that have been dipped in Marshmallow Fluff and toasted. Courtesy of [Gracie’s Instagram]( Visit Massachusetts Memories are made and what better place to make great memories but in Massachusetts. Indoors–outdoors; scenic views or city vibe, solo or with family –whatever moves you, discover it in MA. [PLAN NOW]( SPONSORED For something a bit funkier, check out [Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream]( in Cambridge, known for its spicy concoctions such as fenugreek-gingersnap and cantaloupe–star anise (no doubt inspired by owner Ray Ford’s other shop, Christina’s Spice & Specialty Foods). Similarly offbeat is the Somerville newcomer [Gracie’s Ice Cream]( serving up flavors like Fruity Pebble and Gronk Smash (a peanut butter base with potato chips, pretzels, Kit Kats, peanuts, and chocolate chips) in cones dipped in that Massachusetts icon, Marshmallow Fluff. Meanwhile, the most popular order at [Honeycomb Creamery]( in Cambridge is salted caramel crackle, crafted with homemade honeycomb candy. Additional picks for In-Town Scoops:[Forge]( Somerville; [Mrs. Moriconi’s]( Worcester; [New City Microcreamery]( Hudson, Sudbury, and Cambridge; [SoCo Creamery]( Great Barrington; [Harbor Creamery]( Newburyport! COASTAL TREATS Enjoy a sugar rush by the seashore on Nantucket, where local favorite The Juice Bar scoops up memorable concoctions like the Green Monster (mint and chocolate chip cookie dough). Meredith Hanson via [Instagram]( After a long beach day, waiting in line at the local scoop shop — with your still-sandy feet shuffling along in flip flops — is a peak New England experience. When on Nantucket, follow your nose down Broad Street to the hand-rolled waffle cones at [The Juice Bar]( where you can top your sundae with mini marshmallows, Heath Bar bits, and even Nerds candy (though maybe not all at once). On Martha’s Vineyard, [Mad Martha’s]( which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, is a must. With locations in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, the iconic local chain often blends other island-made sweets — Back Door Donuts apple fritters, Enchanted Chocolates chocolate-covered almonds — into its creations. Cape Cod Creamery scoops are an ideal complement to the Cape’s other summer delights, from spending a day at the beach to watching a Cape Cod Baseball League game. William DeSousa-Mauk The mainland has plenty of seaside creameries, too, especially down the Cape. The ice cream names at [Cape Cod Creamery]( shops in Dennis, Hyannis, and South Yarmouth celebrate local flavor: Nauset Peach, Cummaquid Coconut, Provincetown Pistachio, and more. At the cutely named [Sundae School]( in Harwich Port and Dennis Port, which has been churning out the good stuff since 1976, may we suggest Shark’s Tooth (black raspberry with white chocolate chips) as one of the three scoops in your giant banana split, crowned with hot fudge, strawberries, pineapple, and whipped cream? Soft-serve fanatics should head to the North Shore, where Gloucester’s [Long Beach Dairy Maid]( has two dozen flavors of the swirly delight (not to mention the 60 or so hard-packed flavors, including a frosty tribute to yet another Massachusetts invention, the Toll House Cookie). Additional picks for Coastal Treats: [Farfar’s]( Duxbury; [Lewis Brothers Homemade Ice Cream]( Seas Ice Cream, Centerville;