These days, it may seem like there’s a day or week for just about everything – but with it being National Ice Cream Month, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to talk about one of life’s sweetest pleasures. Whether you’re a lover of rich gelato, or a sucker for a 99 with a Flake, we can all agree that there’s nothing quite like a fun, frozen treat to really brighten your day!
National Ice Cream Month was actually designated by President Ronald Reagan back in 1984, making July the official month to celebrate the tasty treat and how it brings people together. Although this doesn't make it a UK holiday, our love of ice cream has never needed an official month to show it off! Most believe that ice cream first came to the UK in the 18th century, brought over by Italians and served only to the finest of the fine. Back then, ice was required to make it, so it was harder to make and keep cool - but with the invention of the commercial fridge came the beginning of a nationwide adoration for ice cream. Over the years, flavours have become more decadent and experimental – from bringing two (or more) flavours together, to completely new ways to serve the ice cream itself. It seems we have thousands of to choose from, and yet the most popular remains to be vanilla! You can’t go wrong with a classic.
While both are scrumptious in similar ways, there are notable differences between ice cream and gelato. Ice cream is a heavier option, using more cream than gelato and being served at a colder temperature. Gelato is churned slower, meaning less air gets into the mixture and makes it denser, which mixes well with its richer flavours and smooth texture. Ice cream is more common in the UK, with our sentiment of a Mr Whippy by the seaside and the childish excitement of an ice cream van twinkling down the road. Gelato is just as popular, though, with specialist parlours popping up all over the place.
One of those is the award-winning Snowflake Gelato, who combines “English Fare with Italian Flair” and brings to us gorgeous flavours that you can pair with a waffle, blend up into a milkshake, or have as one of their handcrafted gelato stix. But if the fluffy lightness of ice cream is more your bag, Jefferson’s Ice Cream has got you covered, with an ethos for joy and some truly exciting flavours. If you can’t choose which one you prefer, we don’t blame you!
Check out the blog posts below, and find even more on the diner portal!
