ice cream

I∙CE∙NY

Tastefully Smashed Ice Cream

This ice cream is fun! It’s super creamy, focused on fresh ingredients, and the presentation is over the top. We’d been hearing the buzz, and now we know why! The smash and roll method ice cream shop started in Thailand, and quickly spread throughout Asia. In 2015, the founders made plans to take their idea across the Pacific. They opened the first shop New York City, and named it I-CE-NY. Now there are 20 locations in the country, two of them being in Ann Arbor and Novi, Michigan! Almost as fun as the ice cream was the server preparing it, thank you Donovan! We love it when the people behind the food are passionate about their fare. Since this was our first visit, we asked for recommendations: Donovan suggested the Strawberry Cheesecake and Biscoff Cookie Butter, so we replied, “we’ll take them both”. Not wanting to limit our options he mentioned the Banana Pudding was really good too. Good to know, “we’ll have one of those -also.” Struck by the beautiful photos on the counter top menu, we asked about the pretty lavender colored one. “To-Taro” he said, their “best seller”. “Add it to the list” we responded. “Ooh,” thought Sadie, the Vietnamese Iced Coffee sounds good to wash down all of this ice cream, “Rachel would you like a coffee?” she asked. “That’s an ice cream flavor” Donovan says. “Oh really? OK will try one of those too.” (We spent the rest of the day on the treadmill.)

How It’s Made

They start by pouring their cream on a frozen metal plate (that can get as cold as -15 degrees Fahrenheit). Next they use scrapers to mash and mix the toppings of your choice into your customized creamy creation. In just a couple minutes, the ice cream firms up. Then it’s spread into a thin layer, and scraped into rolls. They stand them up into a cup like a freshly rolled bouquet of ice cream and top it with a variety of fresh fruits, syrups, candies, cookie crumbs… Yeah.


Where to Begin?

It was hard to know which one to try first! Since pi(e) day, a couple days ago, Sadie had been craving banana cream so she started with Banana Pudding – Sweet cream ice cream, Nilla wafer, Banana, and Caramel sauce?…Yum. Decadent, but still fresh with the fruit, light, and creamy.

Rachel started with the To-Taro, Taro Ice Cream, Coconut Flakes, Cornflakes, Mochi and Condensed Milk. It just looked like so much fun. Seriously like a teenage dream; light purple, topped with colored gummy balls and a drizzled in sweetened condensed milk. So lively! And it was delicious, we can see why it’s their best seller.

The Strawberry Cheesecake next- oh my goodness. Sweet cream ice cream, NY Cheesecake (made daily), Fresh Strawberries, and Strawberry Sauce… Perfection and instantly Rachel’s favorite. “It’s rich without being heavy and the fresh strawberries are (put your fingers to your lips and make a kiss sound).”

Next we followed up with the Biscoff Butter Cookie- Sweet cream ice cream, Biscoff Cookies & Spread, Caramel Sauce.. Just the best ice cream concoction Sadie has ever tasted. Really.

We ended with the Vietnamese Iced Coffee – Café Du Monde Coffee (brewed fresh daily), Lychee, Coconut Jelly, Cookie Straws, and Sweetened Condensed milk. Befitting because who doesn’t like to end a dessert with a little coffee? At least we at Sadie‘s Nest do. It had great strong coffee flavor, but the coolest part was the coconut jelly ice cubes. Honestly they look like ice cube sitting on top of drink! So creative!

The Ice Cream is So Good!

Do try it. It’s delicious.

Try five or six at a time -because they’re that enjoyable.

For more information, check out their website! icenyicecream.com

“If I had my life to live over…” Erma Bombeck

Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television … and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.

I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more I love yous … more I’m sorrys … more I’m listenings … but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it … look at it and really see it … try it on … live it … exhaust it … and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”
― Erma Bombeck, Eat Less Cottage Cheese and More Ice Cream: Thoughts on Life from Erma Bombeck, courtesy of goodreads.com