Youse CREAM

Summer will end eventually. Before it does, make a stop at one of these ice cream havens of the suburbs.

 

Tanner Brothers Dairy

1070 Hatboro Rd.

Warminster

215.322.3864

 

How fresh is Tanner’s ice cream?

There are cows in the field next to the store.

With dozens of flavors (including oddities like Bubble Gum), an entire store full of other foodstuffs, and ambience that seems right out of the 1950s, this Bucks oasis is worth the winding trip into the bucolic countryside.

And, you won’t leave hungry: the cones are packed with a softball-size dollop of ice cream.

The Zebra-Striped Whale

12 S. State St.

Newtown

215.860.4122 

 

While the ice cream is rich and tasty and comes in a plethora of flavors, the atmosphere at ZSW is as unique as you will find in any ice cream shop: wireless internet, gourmet coffee and caffeinated drinks, homemade baked goods, cones dipped in chocolate and rolled in candy, coconut or just about anything you’d like, and a window that looks out onto the picturesque perfection of Rockwellian Newtown’s State Street.

 

Locations everywhere (really, check your block)

 

Yes, this is a chain, but it’s our chain- founded in Trevose in 1984 by Bob Tumolo.

While it has made its name on “wooder” ice – and that damn infectious jingle – Rita’s is entering the ice cream wars with the Blendini, a combination of frozen custard, crushed Oreos or Nilla Wafers and water ice.

It’s like those bowl things at KFC, only better, sweeter and with a Philly hook.

 

Christine's Twistee Treat

3802 Bristol Oxford Valley Rd.

Levittown

215.943.5121

 

YES! This is exactly what an ice cream stand should look like.

A cone at this slice of Americana in the suburbs and you can check one more of those “Things To Do Before I Die” off your list.

 

670 Shannondell Blvd.

Audubon

610.635.0115

 

Oh…my…God!

Zwahlen’s custard is not like regular ice cream. It’s probably how whatever deity you worship makes ice cream: with eggs, and in a special recipe.

In the summertime, dig the daily flavors at Zwahlen’s, like Banana Chocolate Chip (Aug. 15-16), Key Lime Pie (Aug. 17-18) or Black Forest (Aug. 31) when they blend chocolate ice cream with their store-made brownie bits and Bordeaux cherries.

Also, don’t miss trying the Apfel Krisp – an ice cream dessert made fresh in the store (hot or cold!) with Granny Smith apples and Zwahlen’s caramel drizzled on top.

 

1520 Brownsville Road

Trevose

215.355.0315

 

This chain has many stores in the mid and western parts of PA, but is slowly making its way into the Philly area (locations are planned for Audubon and the city) too.

Fresh, hard ice cream is doled out in cones, cups and in parfaits, sorbets and cakes as well.

Rover need a treat? According to the Web site, he (or she) gets a Doggy Sundae for FREE at Bruster’s.

And you wondered why he was barking when you drove by?

 

Joe Student / Philly EDGE Editor