By Allison Perrine | aperrine@tworivertimes.com
The Peninsula Ice Cream War is about to heat up.
District schools are competing to show off who can create the most awesome ice cream flavor. Local students brainstormed the recipes and names for their tasty treats and local ice cream store Nicholas Creamery churned them to life. The original ice cream flavors will be sold through the month of March at its stores in Atlantic Highlands and Fair Haven.
The school that sells the most tubs of ice cream will win $1,000 and the winning flavor earns a spot on the store menu for a year.
“It’s a great way for some good old-fashioned school spirit,” said Jodie Edwards, a partner in Nicholas Creamery. It’s fun “to see everyone get so excited about something everyone can participate in,” she added.
A look at the ingredients speaks to what kids are craving – and it isn’t vanilla.
Rumson’s “Baby Yoda” – mint chip ice cream, Oreos and brownie bites.
Bayshore’s “Echo Extravaganza” – Valrhona chocolate ice cream, mini York Peppermint Patties and chocolate chips.
Shrewsbury’s “SBS’mores” – strawberry ice cream, graham cracker swirl, marshmallow swirl and chocolate chunks.
Rumson Country Day’s “Raspberry Country Day School” – black raspberry ice cream with chocolate chips.
Fair Haven’s “Unicorn Surprise” – cotton candy ice cream, rainbow sprinkles and cotton candy toppings.
Little Silver’s “Warrior Crunch” – pretzel ice cream, chocolate chunks, salted caramel swirl and sea salt.
Henry Hudson’s “Admiral Blue & White” – vanilla ice cream, homemade blueberry jam and pie crumble.
Red Bank’s “Cookies & Dreams” – brown sugar cookie dough ice cream, chocolate chip cookie crumbles and Oreo cookie crumbles.
Last year, Henry Hudson took home the gold in the first Peninsula Ice Cream War competition with their “Hudson Trail” masterpiece, a blend of homemade peanut butter ice cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Oreos.
“We love our communities. We feel so blessed to be a part of this area where family and school and community are still important,” said Edwards.
At Nicholas Creamery, children’s cups of ice cream cost $3.75, mediums are $4.50 and larges are $5.25. Sundaes and shakes are $7.50 and pints and flights are $8.50. Waffle cups and cones are $1 extra and toppings are $0.50 extra.
Every school has a “guest scooper night” where teachers, coaches, custodians, administrators and others stand behind the counter and scoop ice cream for their community. They also bring in their mascots to add to the fun, as Shrewsbury did last year with their Tiger mascot, which arrived on a firetruck with the principal.
Jessica Porter, a teacher at Henry Hudson, was a guest scooper for the school last year. When she arrived at her post, she found a long line full of Henry Hudson parents, students and supporters, waiting to get their ice cream.
“As customers came, I’d ask them what size and flavor ice cream they wanted and whether it was for here or to go,” she said. Then, she scooped the ice cream and passed it to an employee or to chef Nicholas Harary to be rung up.
“I just got the email the other day asking if I would want to volunteer to scoop again and I said yes immediately,” she added.
The Peninsula Ice Cream War flavors can be found at the stores located at 586 River Road, Fair Haven and 84 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands.
The article originally appeared in the March 5-11, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
