You asked for it and you got it. The heat that is. While you may want to chase the ice cream truck down the road, there are other ways to acquire tasty frozen goodies in our great city. This isn’t a best-of list, but rather a selection of frozen treats you have to try this summer. From classic cones to ice cream sandwiches, these 10 delicious establishments will help you beat the heat.
The Classics
TOM’S DAIRY FREEZE
Get nostalgic at Tom’s Dairy Freeze on the Queensway in Etobicoke. They’ve been serving authentic soft serve, old fashioned sundaes, milkshakes and banana splits since 1969, and not much has changed since.
DUTCH DREAMS
If you can actually remember the movie Half Baked, you might recognize this little ice cream shoppe on Vaughan Rd. at St. Clair and Bathurst. The storefront is hard to miss and the line is always worth it. Nothing beats a secret family recipe.
— Dutch Dreams (@DutchDreams) June 6, 2014
ICE CREAM JUNCTION
Many people (including myself) would say that Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream is supreme to all other forms of ice cream. Finding a scoop of Kawartha Dairy in the city is a rarity. This shoppe in The Junction serves giant portions of over 30 flavours of heavenly Kawartha Dairy in homemade waffle cones.
ED’S REAL SCOOP
No list of Toronto ice cream shops would be complete without including Ed’s Real Scoop. Born in the Beaches (or Beach or whatever you want to call it), Ed’s Real Scoop also has a shop in Leslieville, and recently spread to scoop their 100+ flavours for West enders on Roncesvalles. Favourites are burnt marshmallow, French mint, crème brule, pistachio gelato and sangria sorbet.
The Ice Cream Sandwich
BANG BANG
If you haven’t made it to Bang Bang yet, go should probably go right now. Now in its second year, this ice cream parlour / bakery is run by Rosanne Pezzelli (the pastry master behind Bakerbots) and her brother and is nestled in the Ossington strip. Toronto natives may favour the Bellwoods Stout, Sam James Espresso, or Sanagan’s double smoked bourbon bacon. There are also the classic flavours and some not so classic like avocado.
BOREAL GELATO
This Parkdale place serves a full menu of food and sweets, specializing in gelato. The Cookie Monster is a must-try and comes with a scoop of gelato squeezed between homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, smothered in toppings. Yup.
Crazy Flavours
MOMOFUKU MILK BAR
New York City’s Momofuku Milk Bar opened its first and only international outpost here in Toronto in Noodle bar at University and Adelaide. They’ve recently added soft serve to the lineup (a staple at all NYC locations) and are featuring some pretty unique flavours including their famous Cereal Milk, garnished with cornflakes. Or get your caffeine fix with the Double Double, inspired by none other than Tim Hortons and made with Sam James Cut Coffee.
congratulate yourself for crushing another wednesday with some soft serve tonight at milk bar! #treatyoself #zerts pic.twitter.com/bmpqEYyPwq
— momofuku milk bar (@momomilkbar) July 16, 2014
GREG’S ICE CREAM
The Annex has been beating the heat with Greg’s Ice Cream for almost three decades now and in 2012, they opened up shop in Distillery District. Greg is known for creative flavours like Bourbon and cornflakes, peanut butter curry, popcorn, avocado mint, and everyone’s favourite, roasted marshmallow.
THE ACE
This revitalized Roncy restaurant was once a family-run Chinese food restaurant in the 50s and is now home to the new “The Ace”. The menu is full of homestyle comfort food and French classics, but save some room for dessert! Their homemade ice cream is delectable. The flavours are always changing but can include oatmeal, corn pops, frosted flakes, basil, olive oil, and some traditional ones as well as a few sorbets.
Popsicles
AUGIE’S GOURMET ICE POPS
From its lemonade stand beginnings, Augie’s Ice Pops have become a summer treat found all over Toronto from farmers’ and flea markets, to Whole Foods, Pusateri’s and more. Flavours vary on the season but can include honeydew green apple lime + mint, strawberry basil lemonade, cucumber lime + chile, and so many more. Check their website to see where Augie’s Ice Pops will be featured next (Evergreen Brick Works Market July 19).
#stopnm @TheStopCFC Night Mkt: Augie's Ice Pops–Vietnamese coffee; Ont. strawberry + cream; honeydew cucumber mint pic.twitter.com/nddARJGfKR
— janet Dimond (@augies_gourmet) June 18, 2014