R
egardless of the type, ice cream has been scientifically
proven to make us happy. No seriously. In 2005,
neuroscientists in the UK scanned people’s brains while
they ate ice cream and found immediate results in the areas of the
brain where people experience happiness.
Maybe that’s why people in Windsor-Essex are so happy? Adding to generations of
ice cream goodness in our area, last year local shops began to sell Kawartha Dairy, ice
cream from a company located in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Chapman’s, Cow’s Creamery and
Maypole are other popular brands in Canada.
But not all ice cream-like treats can be considered officially ice cream. To be titled “ice
cream,” it must contain more than 10 per cent fat and more than 16 per cent milk solids.
Gelato contains more sugar than ice cream, at more than 16 per cent sugar. Ice milk - what
you might consider soft serve - is only 5 per cent fat. There is also frozen yogurt, sorbet,
custard, and italian ice to throw into the mix.
So where do you go for ice cream in YQG? The list of places to check out is long, filled
with old traditions and new sensations.
Dairy Freeze, in Essex, kicks off our list as the oldest of the
traditional. Since 1954, this family-owned shop in North Ridge has
been offering up sweet treats (and burgers!) to locals, including the
best Boston Cooler (Vernors float) outside of Detroit.
Since 1971, Dari de Light has had a packed parking lot every
evening of their season. With a variety of offerings, Dari de Light
was the first in the area to hit the road, going mobile with an ice
cream trailer in 2016. The trailer can be brought to festivals and even
rented for weddings.
Stop 26, serving up shakes, smoothies and three brands of
hard-scoop, has been in business since 1985. With a convenient
window to the sidewalk for rollerbladers or dog-walkers, Stop 26
keeps chugging away. It’s a great place to grab a cone after a paddle
across to Peche Island!
Buuntz & Co, in the heart of downtown Windsor, embraces its
Above & below:
Buuntz & Co. is
settling into its
second season in
downtown Windsor