Greg’s Ice Cream

When I say ice cream you say Greg’s. Ice cream! *Greg’s* Ice cream! *Greg’s*

As you can tell, I’ve been tuning into the incessant chanting of friends, bloggers, and ice cream devotees alike that when it comes to this famous frozen treat, that nothing beats Greg’s in the city. One flavour in particular, Roasted Marshmallow, gained so much notoriety, and such a great fan following that Ben and Jerry’s picked up on it and put in a bid for the secret recipe. They had no luck whatsoever, as Greg wasn’t ready to give it up.

Why is it that Ben and Jerry’s hasn’t been able to figure it out? Well it’s simply because there are no actual marshmallows in the mix. Yes you read right. So how does one create the flavour of a marshmallow that has been toasting over a campfire till it’s crusty and golden on the outside, and melted and gooey on the inside. Beats me! I even questioned the infamous king of ice cream David Lebovitz in a radio interview, where he suggested I try baking marshmallow fluff in the oven and incorporating that into an ice cream base. I will admit that I have not given it a go, but I’m not sure that it’s the answer to this flawlessly smooth concoction that has no traces of goo anywhere.  Which leads me to the question, what the heck is in it?

I made the trip to their location in the Annex, and surrendered myself. Fully committed to the cause I ordered a cone, and took my first lick. The roasted flavour was through the roof, and right on. The milky, and almost tan tinge of the ice cream almost confirmed the absence of real marshmallows in the mix, although the spot on flavouring told another story. I will admit that I am still partial to Hollywood Gelato’s version, the only other ice creamery in the city that was capable of replicating the flavour. Their version is made in a gelato machine and is velvety, soft, and has little black specks in it that are very reminiscent of the charred bits one would find on a campfire marshmallow.

If you can’t make it to a camp ground this summer, then check out Greg’s at Bloor and Spadina. And if you’re camping, it wouldn’t hurt to have a tub of this stuff in your cooler.