I love my job.
What’s that old saying? Do something you love and you’ll never work a
day in your life. That’s how I
feel about my job at the Ice Cream Man in Greenwich NY.
What is this job that makes me so happy? I make ice cream. I actually make the ice cream that goes
into the dip table and into the famous ice cream cakes they sell. Now when I say I make ice cream this is
what I mean. First of all I put
the machine together and make sure it’s clean and sanitary. Then its time to put in the cream. Depending on the recipe of the ice
cream we’re making (and we make at least 10 batches a day) I add the first bag
of cream and the ingredients then add the second bag of cream. Each bag of cream weighs 20 pounds so
40 pounds of cream is added to the machine which will make at least 4 boxes of
ice cream each weighing 2.5 gallons. Not only do I make ice cream for pints,
quarts and the shop, I also make vanilla and chocolate to fill the cake pans
for ice cream cakes. Sounds like a
hard day? Yes, but so much fun
too!
On the days that I don’t make ice cream I decorate the cakes
that we made during the previous ice cream making day. The ice cream cakes are usually
decorated with balloons or flowers but can be decorated with just about
anything. We’ve even made wedding
cakes!
The Ice Cream Man is well known in the Saratoga area. So well known that Bobby Flay wanted to
do a Throw down there in 2007 and most recently we were visited by Jennifer
Savino host of the public access cable show called “Bite Me.” In her show she highlights local food
business owners and asks them questions about the business, what makes it their
passion and how they got started.
Since she was once a food business owner (she owned a gourmet cookie
business) she likes to participate in the actual preparation process and since
we were making ice cream the day she visited, Julia (the owner and my boss)
decided she would let her “dingle” in the ingredients in the last batch of ice
cream for the day—almond joy. They
filmed Julia making the Almond Joy ice cream. The first bag of cream goes into
the machine, then coconut extract and real coconut, then the second bag of
cream. The machine runs for five minutes, then chocolate covered almonds are
added and the machine runs for another 5 minutes. Then it’s time to draw the ice cream into the boxes while
another person “dingles.” What’s
dingling? Very simple. While the ice cream is coming out of the machine the
second person sprinkles in whatever ingredients the recipe calls for, in this
case more chocolate covered almonds.
After the ice cream was finished it was time to show
Jennifer how we make waffle cones.
Julia explained the batter and then demonstrated the procedure. Finally Jennifer got to sample the
final product. Then she knew why
it was our number one seller!
“Tastes like a frozen Almond Joy candy bar!” she said.
For us it was just another day at the Ice Cream Man, sharing
our delicious Ice Cream and letting people know where and how they can get
it. The Ice Cream Man has grown
since it was started in the 1980’s by the Mann family and will continue to
grow. The original shop was housed
in the small log cabin which now the production room, where the magic happens
even if I do say so myself. The
next owner, Nancy Schneider added on the addition of the larger dip room,
indoor seating and screened in porch so that the ice cream business could go
year round. In 2001 the current
owner, Julia Reynolds bought the business (after being the shop manager) and
has grown it into what it is today – by adding deli sandwiches, soups, pies
(from Smith’s Orchard in Charlton), cheesecake from the Nuns of New Skete along
with custom ice cream cakes and a growing retail business. Ice Cream Man ice cream is available in
pints and quarts at Shop Rite, Hannaford (which also carries cakes), Meat House
and East Side Deli in Saratoga. If
your having a birthday party at Strike Zone you can add one of our fresh made
and decorated cakes for an additional cost.
Northeasterners love their ice cream, there’s no doubt about
that. So come into the Ice Cream
Man and see why we’re so well known.
Try a sample, buy a pint or quart, order your next special event cake
(I’ll decorate it for you personally) or just grab a sandwich and a cone,
sundae or shake.
Please be sure to say you saw it on my blog. I’d love to
meet anyone who stops by!
It will take a few months for the final editing to be done
on the “Bite Me Show” episode so I will be sure to put the link on the blog.
In the meantime here’s the link to Jennifer’s blog:
Been to the Ice Cream Man in Greenwich NY? or are you planning a visit? What's your favorite flavor?
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