Sharpening the Ice Cream Saw.

If you're a long-time Ice Cream Diaries reader, you may remember that late October is usually the time I add a rant about my annual trek to the New England Ice Cream Retailers Association (NEICRA) conference. It's basically a couple days of hobknobbing with ice cream shopkeeps, ice cream ingredient and equipment suppliers, and other frozen dairy dessert industry folk, swapping secrets and ideas, enjoying a nice dinner, and unlimited free sweet samples. What's not to like about that?

And another great thing about this ice cream gathering is it's always held at a different location. Last year was Providence, Rhode Island. I went to Cape Cod for it once. This year, Stowe, Vermont. At the Trapp Family Lodge. Since it's just after peak leaf peeper time and before ski season, I think we doubled the population of Stowe, and certainly filled the Lodge.



If my ride was any indication, Vermont is pretty empty this time of year.

I won't bore you with all the cool tips and tricks of the trade I picked up during the conference, except to mention the great recipe for a banana flambe ice cream I learned from the person sitting next to me at dinner, but I thought I would share a few shots from the roadtrip.


I must say Stowe is a very cool small New England town. It looked a little different without snow, but no less beautiful, even post Fall colors...


I always look for the old country store. There's just something so timeless in the datedness of these old places...


Guess this is why they called the place I stayed 'The Riverside Inn'. This was the back window view. Nothing wrong with that...


And wouldn't you know, next to the Inn was a big old fiberglass cow, I'm guessing from a CowFest public art display somewhere in Vermont...


I even stopped at the Ben & Jerry's factory on the way home. I figured it'd be worth a little inspiration, a giftshop ice cream trinket, and perhaps a flash of insight for the mere cost of an hour and three bucks.




They wouldn't let me take photos of the factory floor so we'll have to settle for their famous flavor graveyard. Had to wander up to see that one...



By the way, I did try the free sample at the end of the tour, and throwing all modesty aside, I think my mint chocolate chip would give theirs a run for their money. But that's just one ice cream guy's opinion.

Gotta get me one of these...

Of course with a giant Mt. Tom's logo and some bears on the side. And the Ben & Jerry's crossed out.

Speaking of bears, guess who just started a Fall internship here at Mt. Tom's...

Thanks to Peter Gunn, winner of Chrome Bear II, for graciously offering up Chromey for all to enjoy. He's a little tacky still, but we hope to include him in upcoming holiday window displays.

And finally, a shot of the post Labor Day crew, compliments of Mimi and a couple days with the cat away...

Must go warm up the throwing arm for the Rag Shag parade coming up here soon...

Happy Halloween to you & yours, and feel free to stop by anytime (except Monday)for a scoop of your favorite pumpkin pie ice cream or perhaps try my latest, banana flambe.