cc_rider wrote: 
Well Grandma lived in Dallas, and there was a Blue Bell creamery within bike distance. So in the mind of an 8 year old < insert joke here > it was from Dallas. 

Wiki says your right about Cookies 'n Cream, also that it's the 3rd most popular ice cream in the country despite only being sold in 20 states. It's also been served in space! 

 islander wrote:
  You ain't from 'round here, are you?

Blue Bell ice cream is made in Brenham, which is about halfway between Houston and Austin. Been through there a million times, couple times on a bike even, but never took the creamery tour. An old ad said: 'Why is Blue Bell ice cream so good? Because the cows think Brenham is Heaven.'

I don't eat much ice cream so I haven't looked at the label in years, but BB used to be free of those weird fillers and emulsifiers and whatnot.

I may be wrong, but I think Blue Bell may be the one that created the ultimate flavor, 'Cookies 'n Cream'.

 Manbird wrote: 
Maryte turned me on to it, she has great taste. 

 islander wrote: 
I endorse your opinion, sir. Five chocolate it great stuff. 

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
I'm very snobish on ice cream. I really dislike any kind of gum in it. Bryers used to be good, but they switched over. Now Haagen Dazs Five is one of the few gum free ice creams you can get in the store. 

 Alexandra wrote: 
Mid 90's, hence the need for coolers and dry ice.  Blue Bell is a southern brand. We had developers from Columbus and vendors from Dallas and Houston. I grew up going to Dallas in the summer, so there's a bit of nostalgia with Blue Bell, but it really is amazingly good. It's also made in Dallas, so any concept of low fat or healthy is likely to get you a blank stare if you're lucky, and a solid slap if you're not.

 islander wrote: 
We started getting "Umpqua Premium" here and it's sort of a midline price point, but their coffee flavor was really really good. 

But the ingredients label has the same weird stuff as most ice creams. I picked up a package of something budget a while ago and it had just 4 ingredients. Sugar, eggs, vanilla, cream. Now I have to find that one again...

 

 Alexandra wrote: 
No Fred Meyers anywhere, but they're in the Kroger family, in which our local QFC is also a subsidiary. And that's who's got it for almost $6/pint. Not gonna happen when Snoqualmie is half that price AND there's exceptional ice cream at The Elevated in town. 

 JustineFromWyoming wrote: 
Congrats for winning another year.

 Alexandra wrote: 
Oh you poor, poor thing.

It's the last day of school, I clawed my way through the day, I'm in bed before 7 pm and I'm sick a mucus-swamped dog.

All I can think about is ice cream.

 islander wrote: 
How long ago WAS that? Because they only started exporting it west sometime last year.
 
I've never heard of Blue Bell.
 
There are plenty of ice creams that are as rich as Graeters—-but I'd venture to say that NO one makes chips like they do. They are pieces of crushed high-end chocolate bars. You feel like a paleontologist digging up dinosaur bones when you unearth one....

 BlueHeronDruid wrote: 
If you go in together it's only 3 apiece... Win-Win.

 BlueHeronDruid wrote: 
Yeah, so you said.........that's strange. Fred Meyers has it perpetually on sale for $3.99/pint. Got FMs up in Pete? I think I just might have to treat you to some anyone, because I can justify it. It's not just good. It's GOOD.

 Alexandra wrote: 
Back in Denver at the Big Phone Co we had a running debate about Graeters Vs. Blue Bell. Being engineering sorts, we arranged some conveniently located meetings and secured some Styrofoam and dry ice. In a well controlled, double blind test, Blue Bell was the clear favorite. 

Greaters is pretty good though, and I'm an ice cream snob.  I still don't get Skyline chili though. 

 Alexandra wrote: 
Did I tell you we have Graeters in one of our local  groceries? Redonculously expensive. Cannot justify $6/pint. 

I am taking Graeters Ice Cream (a Cincinnati delicacy) to two more natives tonight.....and cannot WAIT to watch them savor it!
 
It's the least I could do for all her hospitality and a weekend at the sea!

 Prodigal_SOB wrote: 

There was a newsstand/ice cream/sandwich shop in my childhood neighborhood, that looked a little like that shop.  I couldn't get any info on that photo from the site where I found it, but I think it may be somewhere in New England.  Gene pointed out that Hendries Ice Cream sign - I believe that company was based in or around Boston.  I remember seeing that brand on trips to Connecticut and R.I., when I was a kid; in NY, they usually had Carvel or Hershey's Ice Creams.

 Proclivities wrote: 
I haven't seen a Hendries Ice Cream tuck in years.

 cc_rider wrote: 
  I could do that growing up.  There was an independent grocery store a block away in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  It didn't leave until the late 70s early 80s more I  think because the old man retired than being driven out.  The building is still vacant.   I always thought of us as more Leave it to Beaver than Mayberry though.