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Labor Day weekend 2011
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Sweet scoops

Fantastic flavors of ice cream, ice, gelato and sorbet from Chicagoland shops. We tried them all. Now it’s your turn. 

By TOCK staff Photographs by Nicole Radja Styling by Lisa Kuehl
Published: June 7, 2011

Sweet scoops
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  • [title]

    Strawberry Lemonade Italian Ice

    Anthony's Homemade Italian Ice, 3442 N Southport Ave, 773-868-4237. $3.
    Summer on your spoon.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.annettesstrawberry.jpg[title]452891
  • [title]

    Banana Fudge

    Bellezza Gelato, 3637 N Harlem Ave, 773-545-1239. $3.50. 
    Like a cocoa-covered banana, sans stick.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.belezzabfudge.jpg[title]452952
  • [title]

    Malted Vanilla Gelato 

    Black Dog Gelato, 859 N Damen Ave, 773-235-3116. $3.50. 
    A vanilla malt—before the blender.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.blackdogmaltedv.jpg[title]452993
  • [title]

    Mango Italian Ice

    Bobtail Ice Cream Company, 2951 N Broadway, 773-880-7372. $3.19. 
    Sweet sunny perfection.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.bobtailmango.jpg[title]453054
  • [title]

    Cashew Raisin

    Patel’s Café, 2600 W Devon Ave, 
773-262-0100. $2.50.
    So rich. So good.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.patelscashewrais.jpg[title]453555
  • [title]

    Banana Cream Pie

    Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 Madison St, Forest Park, 708-366-7970. $2.99. 
    Hands down, our staff favorite. Nuff said!

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.browncowbanana.jpg[title]453116
  • [title]

    Blueberry Tartufo 

    Canady Le Chocolatier, 824 S Wabash Ave, 312-212-1270. $3.25. 
    Grown-up flavor, kid-perfect purple color.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.canadychocoblueberry.jpg[title]453177
  • [title]

    White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

    Bobtail Ice Cream Company, 2951 N Broadway, 773-880-7372. $3.19. 
    Big candy cups in creamy, smooth white heaven.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.bobtailwhchocopb.jpg[title]453078
  • [title]

    Chocolate Mint Mousse

    Capannari's, 10 S Pine St, Mount Prospect, 847-392-2277. $3.25.
    Frozen Frango Mint perfection.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.capannarisfrangomint.jpg[title]459099
  • [title]

    Red Bean

    Azuki, available at Broadway Grocery, 4879 N Broadway, 773-334-3838. $6/pint. 
    An Asian fave.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.broadgroceryredbean.jpg[title]4530910
  • [title]

    Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet (summer only)

    Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe, 114 W Belmont Ave, 773-929-1100. $3. 
    Better than pie.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.bittersweetstrawrhu.jpg[title]4529711
  • [title]

    Bear Claw 

    Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 Madison St, Forest Park, 708-366-7970. $2.99.
    Gooey caramel in dark chocolate ice cream—mud-pie messy.  

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.browncowbear.jpg[title]4531312
  • [title]

    Batman

    Flamingo’s Ice Cream, 6733 Cermak Rd, Berwyn, 708-749-4287. $2.25.
    Tri-flavor insanity (in Superman colors!).

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.flamingobatman.jpg[title]4532713
  • [title]

    Nutella Gelato

    Black Dog Gelato, 859 N Damen Ave, 773-235-3116. $3.50.
    Get your fingers out of the jar and order a scoop of this instead.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.blackdognutella.jpg[title]4530114
  • [title]

    Cubby Crunch

    Bobtail Ice Cream Company, 2951 N Broadway St, 773-880-7372. $3.19. 
    Bobtail's #1 flavor for kids (sprinkles!) pays homage to Wrigley's loveable losers.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.bobtailcubbycrunch.jpg[title]4530315
  • [title]

    Brownie Batter 

    Capannari's, 10 S Pine St, Mount Prospect, 847-392-2277. $3.25. 
    Tastes like Duncan Hines.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.capanaribrownie.jpg[title]4531916
  • [title]

    Passion Fruit Italian Ice

    Miko’s Italian Ice, 1846 N Damen Ave, 
773-645-9664. $3.
    A light choice for non-sweet-tooths.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.mikospassionfruit.jpg[title]4534317
  • [title]

    Concord Grape Sorbet

    Paciugo Gelato, 3241 N Broadway, 
773-248-8433. $3.49.
    Grapey goodness without being too sweet.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.paciugogrape.jpg[title]4535118
  • [title]

    Blood Orange Gelato 

    Caffe Gelato, 2034 W Division St, 
773-227-7333. $4.
    Play-Doh bright. Tastes like Pez!

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.caffegelatoorange.jpg[title]4531519
  • [title]

    Malted Milkball Gelato 

    Ciao Bella, available at select grocery stores, go to ciaobellagelato.com for locations. About $6/pint.
    Malted ice cream dotted with candy. Sick.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.ciaobellamalted.jpg[title]4532120
  • [title]

    Honey Lemon Sorbet

    Ruth & Phil’s Gourmet Ice Cream, available at area specialty stores, go to ruthandphils.com. About $7.50/pint.
    Sweet and tangy.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.ruthphilhlsorbet.jpg[title]4537121
  • [title]

    Prairie Berry

    Homer’s Homemade Gourmet Ice Cream, 1237 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, 
847-251-0477. $2.61.
Four kinds of berry bliss.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.homerprairie.jpg[title]4533322
  • [title]

    Caramel Chaos

    George’s Ice Cream and Sweets, 5306 N Clark St, 773-271-7600. $2.95.
    Tiny chocolate-coated caramel cups in caramel ice cream=jackpot!

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.georgescaramel.jpg[title]4532923
  • [title]

    Strawberry Cupcake

    Nice Cream, available at area specialty stores, go to nicecreamchicago.com. 
About $10/pint.
    A cupcake in our ice cream? Yes, please.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.nicestrawberry.jpg[title]4534524
  • [title]

    Salted Caramel

    Hot Chocolate, 1747 N Damen Ave, 
773-489-1747. $2.
    You’ll love it so much, you’ll want to marry it.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.hotchococaramel.jpg[title]4533725
  • [title]

    Strawberry Lemonade Italian Ice

    Anthony’s Homemade Italian Ice, 3442 N Southport Ave, 773-868-4237. $3.
    Summer on your spoon.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.anthonysstrawlem.jpg[title]4529126
  • [title]

    Oreo Gelato

    Via Gelato, 1853 Tower Dr, Glenview, 847-729-7088. $3.50.
    The name says it all.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.viagelatooreo.jpg[title]4538327
  • [title]

    Cheesecake

    Margie’s Candies, 1960 N Western Ave, 773-384-1035. $2.25
    A little slice of heaven.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.margiescheesecake.jpg[title]4533928
  • [title]

    Green Mint Chocolate Chip

    Petersen’s Ice Cream, 1100 W Chicago Ave, Oak Park, 708-386-6131. $3.22.
    The old-school, Martian-green classic.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.petersensmint.jpg[title]4535729
  • [title]

    Chocolate Marshmallow

    Scooter’s Frozen Custard, 1658 W Belmont Ave, 773-244-6415. $2.99 (call ahead for availability).
    Grab a graham and you’ve got s’mores.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.scooterschocomarsh.jpg[title]4537330
  • [title]

    Mackinac Island Fudge

    Drew’s Eatery, 2207 W Montrose Ave, 
773-463-7397. $3.50.
    From cult-fave Ashby's Sterling in Michigan.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.drewsmacfudge.jpg[title]4532531
  • [title]

    Black Cherry Vanilla

    Windy City Sweets, 3308 N Broadway, 
773-477-6100. $3.78.
    Forget the sundae—just eat 
this topper!

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.windycitycherry.jpg[title]4538532
  • [title]

    Dulce de Leche

    Oberweis Dairy, multiple locations throughout Chicago area, 
oberweis.com. $3.
    A perfect blend of caramel and vanilla.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.oberweisdulce.jpg[title]4534733
  • [title]

    Amore Banana Nut Love Gelato

    Mariano’s Fresh Market, 
802 E Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, 
847-253-5439. $2.99.
    Go to the nut house—in the best way!

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.marianosbanana.jpg[title]4534134
  • [title]

    Superman

    The Plush Horse, 12301 S 86th Ave, 
Palos Park, 708-448-0550. $3.25.
    Supertykes will love the Day-Glo palette.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.plushhorsesuperman.jpg[title]4536335
  • [title]

    Cake Batter

    Paciugo, Gelato, 3241 N Broadway, 773-248-8433. $3.49.
    Mixed-in sprinkles make it a win 
with kids.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.plushhorsecake.jpg[title]4535936
  • [title]

    German Chocolate Cake

    Scooter’s Frozen Custard, 1658 W Belmont Ave, 773-244-6415. $2.99.
    Nicely captures the chocolate and coconut flavors of the kuchen.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.scootersgermanchoco.jpg[title]4537537
  • [title]

    Watermelon Italian Ice

    Anthonys Homemade Italian Ice, 3442 N Southport Ave, 773-868-4237. $3. 
    Picnic-perfect, minues the seeds.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.anthonyswatermelon.jpg[title]4529338
  • [title]

    Red Raspberry Gelato

    Café Spiaggia, 980 N Michigan Ave, second floor, 312-280-2750. $9 for three flavors.

    Practically fresh from the patch.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.spiaggiarasp.jpg[title]4537739
  • [title]

    Udderly Truffle

    Oberweis Dairy, multiple locations throughout Chicago area, oberweis.com. $3.
    Chocolate truffle bits swirled into vanilla goodness .

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.oberweistruffle.jpg[title]4534940
  • [title]

    Bubble Gum

    Rainbow Cone, 9233 S Western Ave, 
773-238-7075. $3.05.
    A rite of passage for under-12s.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.rainbowcone.jpg[title]4536741
  • [title]

    Blueberry Ginger Soda Sorbet

    Ruth & Phil’s Gourmet Ice Cream, available at area specialty stores, go to ruthandphils.com. About $7.50/pint.
    Fruity and fun for 
grown-up palates.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.ruthphilbluebery.jpg[title]4536942
  • [title]

    Citrus Blast Italian Ice

    Tom & Wendee’s Homemade Italian Ice, 1136 W Armitage Ave, 773-327-2885. $4.
    Pucker up just a little.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.tomwendeecitrus.jpg[title]4537943
  • [title]

    Red Velvet 

    Plush Horse, 12301 S 86th Ave, Palos Park 708-448-0550. $3.25.
    Ignore the earthy color and just taste it.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.plushhorseredv.jpg[title]4536144
  • [title]

    Ferrero Rocher Gelato

    Via Gelato, 1853 Tower Dr, Glenview, 847-729-7088. $3.50.
    Tastes like a fondly remembered semester abroad in Europe.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.viagelatofarrero.jpg[title]4538145
  • [title]

    Door County Cherry

    George’s Ice Cream and Sweets, 5306 N Clark St, 773-271-7600. $2.75.

    Cherry-licious ice cream and 
fruit pieces.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.georgescherry.jpg[title]4533146
  • [title]

    Guava Sorbet

    Paleteria La Tropicana, 6239 Cermak Rd, Berwyn, 708-749-2625. $2.25.
    A tropical vacation in scoop form.

    009.ea.ft.tock.op.icecream.paleteriatropicanaguava.jpg[title]4535347

Strawberry Lemonade Italian Ice

Anthony's Homemade Italian Ice, 3442 N Southport Ave, 773-868-4237. $3.
Summer on your spoon.

Prices are for a small serving unless otherwise noted. Some shops rotate flavors. Call ahead to make sure the ones you're looking for are available. Although we tried, we surely didn't cover everything. Let us know what flavors we left out at kids@timeoutchicago.com.

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Eating
Labor Day weekend 2011
Previous: Six spots for barbecue
Next: Stand-up paddling is perfect for families
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