A taste of Vermont, part II

The second and final stop for the food tour ( I was only gone for 1.5 days) was the Ben and Jerry's factory. They also provide a tour of the factory for $3 per adult. Ice cream and cheese are two of my favorites. Thus, I would have had a good time at both places even if the tours were not that great. I assure you though both were quite enjoyable. The tour at Ben and Jerry's starts with a video as well on the history of Ben and Jerry (the people, not the ice cream) and how the business got started. Those of you who follow my blog know that I recently got the Ben and Jerry's ice cream cookbook. The opening to this book is very similar. Needless to say I felt like quite the expert.


Next comes the factory portion. For security purpose or so we were told no photos could be taken during this part of the tour. But essentially you are on a walkway above the processing floor with windows on both side. They play a video on the process as well as have the tour guide speak to the process. At each point of the production description a light on the corresponding machine illuminates. With my new found interest in ice cream production this huge process was very overwhelming to say the least. Clearly I will never be a multi-million dollar producer. Sadly, since it was labor day weekend there was no ice cream being made.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all had large vats of cream, milk, and sugar outside our houses?

The tour ends with sample of that day's ice cream. I got cookies and cream. Not to be disappointed it was delicious. Of course, it was only a small teaser and there is a Scoop shop outside to get a more hearty dose of ice cream.

The Ben and Jerry's experience cannot be concluded until you take a walk through the retired flavors graveyard. Being from Maine I had to take a picture of the Makin' Whoopie Pie. It only lasted a year. Each sign as a clever saying as well as the explanation of the ice cream flavor.

On a side note: Jordan decided after my first attempt at ice cream making with the ricotta cheese that he would suggest the flavor to Ben and Jerry's. He coined the title of Holy Cannoli. Amusingly at the grave yard he realized that the flavor had already come and gone. He is still fretting about his missed opportunity.