An affinity. A cult-following. Some would possibly even name it an obsession. For those who’ve lived in Cincinnati for any size of time, likelihood is you possibly can distinctly evoke the style of blue ice cream, a blueberry-based gentle serve — though the precise identify of the flavour is simply “blue” — and quintessential Queen Metropolis deal with. Launched by Kings Island in 1982 to advertise a then-new Smurfs experience within the park’s Hanna-Barbera Land, the ice cream has turn into one of many metropolis’s most iconic and sought-after eats, on par with Skyline Chili, LaRosa’s pizza and a rack of Montgomery Inn ribs.
Sadly, admission to KI is a steep worth to pay when a yearning for blue ice cream hits. However lately, increasingly native retailers have carved out a spot for the flavour on their menus — with near-instant best-selling outcomes.
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“This is a form of nostalgia that so many people can partake in,” says Joe Fields, proprietor of Maineville seasonal ice cream store Whipty-Do!, the place blue ice cream makes up a big share of gross sales. “We have parents introducing their babies to it for the first time — we are regularly told, ‘This is their first blue ice cream!’ — people who haven’t had it in 15 years and people who just had it yesterday. For this city, this is true happiness in ice cream form.”
The historical past of the deal with is as wealthy as its taste, and whether or not you seize a cone at KI or order a cup at a creamy whip window, there’s a narrative to be informed behind your blue ice cream of selection. And though flavors and textures range barely at every location — with many retailers implementing particular (and secret) twists — the treats style almost similar, staying trustworthy to the amusement park’s true-blue recipe.
Table of Contents
Kings Island
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The Scoop: Because the public first received its palms on this famend cone in 1982, KI’s blue ice cream has remained a summertime staple; the park’s temporary hiatus from the deal with in 1993 drew so many complaints that serving resumed in July of the exact same season. Initially used to advertise a Smurfs Enchanted Voyage experience in Hanna-Barbera Land, the ice cream has deftly ridden out the experience’s subsequent incarnations as The Phantom Theater (1991-2003), Scooby Doo & The Haunted Fortress (2003-2009) and right now’s Boo Blasters on Boo Hill attraction.
The Cone: The park’s traditional blueberry gentle serve put blue ice cream on the radar, and it’s maintained its cravability ever since — leaving the park with out having one is a sin. Get it plain, doused in rainbow sprinkles or swirled with creamy vanilla at areas throughout the park. 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, 513-754-5700, takeoutfood.finest.
Putz’s Creamy Whip
The Scoop: When Putz’s Creamy Whip first started serving blue ice cream virtually a decade in the past, it was solely obtainable to clients each different weekend. The flavour was so standard its very first yr that Putz’s changed an outdated machine with a brand new one which was capable of sustain with the excessive demand, permitting the ice cream to be served every day. Opened in 1938, the creamy whip is positioned simply off Interstate 74 and options an adjoining grassy space stuffed with picnic tables, making it a bustling and accessible location to swing by and get your repair.
The Cone: Strive Putz’s blue ice cream plain, in a sundae, with a dip prime or on a sugar or waffle cone. Pair it with certainly one of Putz’s sizzling canine or sandwich choices, which embody coneys, metts and vegetarian backyard burgers, plus chips, nachos, pretzels and extra. 2673 Putz Drive, East Westwood, 513-681-8668, takeoutfood.finest.
Whipty-Do!
The Scoop: Whipty-Do! opened its doorways in Could of 2009, when homeowners Joe and Kristen Fields turned their love of ice cream into a colourful brick-and-mortar store. They started serving blue ice cream in 2010, and clients drive from so far as Columbus and Indianapolis to refill on the stuff with coolers and dry ice in tow. “People lose their minds on the rare day we don’t have it — less than once a season for a myriad of factors,” Joe says. “I’m talking grown adults crying and swearing.” Fields provides that the ice cream is by far Whipty-Do!’s number-one merchandise, making up a big share of enterprise in its numerous varieties, which vary from cones, sundaes and milkshakes to transportable pints and quarts.
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The Cone: Prospects are inclined to get inventive with their Whipty-Do! blue ice cream concoctions, making the most of the store’s many topping choices like rainbow sprinkles, chocolate dip, sizzling fudge and Fruity Pebbles. Swirl it with vanilla and add a home made waffle cone or strive it in its “iceberg” incarnation — a base of blue ice cream topped with any taste of slushie (cherry, orange, lime, grape, blue raspberry or strawberry). 2529 Montgomery Highway, Maineville, 513-774-0200, takeoutfood.finest.
Mount Wholesome Dairy Bar
The Scoop: Mount Wholesome Dairy Bar, a quaint, seasonal store in operation since 1958, serves its personal blue ice cream — a concoction that makes use of the identical components as Kings Island with a further “special twist,” in response to homeowners Mark and Tricia Brisker. “It is very popular and a top choice for many customers, young or old,” Mark says. “We have had people drive from all over the city for it.”
The Cone: Ranging in dimension from small to “monster,” Mount Wholesome’s Large Blue Cone will be custom-made with sprinkles or a dip prime, the latter of which is available in enjoyable flavors like butterscotch, cotton sweet and cake batter. A phrase of recommendation: “monster” is their smallest-sized cone — “Our sizes are very large, and people are pleasantly surprised,” Mark says. 7840 Hamilton Ave., Mount Wholesome, 513-522-1288, searchable on Fb.
Gold Prime Dairy Bar
The Scoop: There is no such thing as a phantasm as to why this dairy barn is called Gold Prime: It has a vivid yellow-gold peaked roof. Though the historical past is a bit imprecise, Gold Prime has been a favourite of the White Oak space because it was in-built 1968. Within the late Nineteen Nineties, Marilyn Tenhundfeld of The Goody Store reestablished Gold Prime and helped it turn into what it’s right now. Jen Davis, Gold Prime’s present proprietor, bought it in 2003. For Davis — a enterprise administration grad from UC and former worker of Miami Township’s Angelo’s Creamy Whip — this was a dream come true. “I don’t know any other job where I get to work six months and then get six months off to be a mom so it’s a perfect job,” she says. Davis says she additionally loves Gold Prime for the individuals. Mother and father take their youngsters to her creamy whip to have fun good grades or victories after sports activities video games; households deliver their furry campions; and younger {couples} are sometimes discovered sitting outdoors the creamy whip on a causal date.
The Cone: Gold Prime is understood for its well-known blue raspberry ice cream, which regularly is simply described as tasting “blue,” however the taste additionally has hints of raspberry and vanilla. Exterior of sentimental serve, in addition they supply a large assortment of customizable truffles, housemade chocolate-covered bananas, cookies, chipwhiches (image a cookie ice cream sandwich) and extra. Gold Prime has one thing for pups, too: They make canine treats in home with yogurt, peanut butter and bananas. 2810 Blue Rock Highway, White Oak, takeoutfood.finest.
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