Edina Creamery

Our second stop for ice cream was one of our standard stops, Edina Creamery. Todd and I fell in love with the Butterfingers ice cream from there years ago and often make a stop in for some on our date nights. We finally took the kids earlier this year and they too liked the ice cream. The shop itself has an old fashion soda fountain feel and the menu reflects that as well. In addition to about 30 flavors of ice cream, they serve floats, sundaes and ice cream cakes. It has done a good job of replacing the 31 flavors that served the area when I was a kid.

We decided to use this stop to motivate us to get through eye appointments on a dreary Monday afternoon. Edina Creamery does not have much around it to make it a destination for us, so the shop itself became the destination. Edina Creamery is located in the 50th and France area of Edina. The corner between Edina and Minneapolis is known for cute boutiques, upscale resauarants, and the historic Edina movie theater. Despite the fact we all love a movie, the idea of spending an afternoon shopping ranks up there to my boys with eye appointments and shots from the pediatrician!

I have to be honest, I am not sure if the Edina Creamery has undergone a change in management or some cost savings due to the tough economy, but the ice cream has changed. Still charging $3.25 for one scoop, one bite into my bowl of Butterfingers and I knew something was not the same. The ice cream has more air and less cream, the sign of a cheaper ice cream formula. In my food science days we learned that a good ice cream will start with good cream, milk, sugar, and good quality ingredients. It will whip in very little air before freezing. It will leave a creamy feeling in the back of your throat. This bowl of Butterfingers did not leave a creamy feeling and felt a bit ice crystals, which is the sign of too much air. Plus, there was very little Butterfingers pieces in the ice cream itself. I was very disappointed.

Despite my disappointment, the boys loved their ice cream. The mint chocolate chip, although chalky to me, was delectable and perfect. The cookie dough actually had cookie dough pieces in it. I guess that is what happens when you finally order something new, surprises everywhere! However, for a little girl who wanted pink, sweet surprise ice cream, the strawberry left a little to be desired. She preferred the raspberry sorbet of her friend. The kids rated the experience well. They especially liked the old time soda fountain feel of the spinning stools at the counter! The also liked the self dispensing water fountain a little too much! It was a perfect stop for the kids, but Mom and Dad won't be back for date night anytime soon.

After, filling with mid-afternoon ice cream we did venture to Bone Adventure to buy a few treats for the dog in our life. The best part of this store is that you can belly up to the counter lined with individual dog treats for sale. You can get anything from peanut butter bites for 10 cents each or a tendon for $13. Each kid picked out a canine treat and surprised a very happy dog!