Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Topping

Posted by BRYAN


First, get your mind out of the gutter (at least for now). Tonight, Doug & I were brainstorming over margaritas ideas to help our truck stand out from the crowd sure to be illegally parked with us this summer. High on our list of ideas is an ever-changing medley of “premium” or in-season toppings that keep you coming back for more. Now we know others could take the ideas & run, but these aren’t really original anyway.

Here are a few ideas that we came up with right away. Let us know your thoughts on them or any of your own ideas you’d like to see when you stop by this summer.

  • Grape Nuts: seems a be a classic combo with vanilla & both D & I are fans.
  • Bacon Bits: Bac-Os just seem wrong & too chemically (sorry Betty Crocker) but if anyone has ideas for more natural bacon bits let us know. This idea is inspired by the amazing Mo's Bacon Bar by Vosges.
  • Olive Oil & Sea Salt: Mario Batali has his (very excellent) gelato at Otto, but this soft serve creation I first had at the great Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, California (Marin County).
  • Blueberries: Doug needs to use his roots & bring back some fresh Maine blueberries from his trips home. Or, maybe some Cape Cod varieties (Nathan, are you reading this?)
  • Chili Powders: ancho, chili pepper, chipotle, nothing spices up & intensifies chocolate like some heat.
  • Crushed Pretzels: I’m a huge sweet & salty combo fan. This would do the trick.
  • Malt: For those that love soda joint classics.
  • Toasted Coconut: Surprised this isn’t already an option.
  • Sno-Caps: good size candy, perfect as a topping.

24 comments:

  1. Bacos might seem "wrong & too chemically" but remember what they are going on. Ha!

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  2. I've made Mario Battali's gelato recipe several times and all I can say is "droooooool". I think I may make a trip to NY this summer!

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  3. How about Cardamon for a little Indian-inspired ice cream.

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  4. Charmaine, that's a terrific idea and cardamom will definitely be rotated in. Thanks!

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  5. how about some manner of candied ginger? I'm eating Trader Joes chocolate covered ginger right now and its mighty good.

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  6. Why not REAL bacon, cooked very crispy and broken up in bits? You would only need a pound a day at most. Everyone loves bacon. EVERYONE!

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  7. Hormel has real bacon bits! They are pretty good, but not as good as real fresh bacon.

    Hormel Bacon BitsI had chocolate chip cookies with bacon in 'em that were surprisingly good... maybe there's something in that idea. :)

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  8. Tony: I learned in my MOBILE FOOD VENDORS CLASS tonight that preparing bacon at home and then serving it on the truck would be AGAINST THE LAW. Seriously.

    Ginger candies are a great idea, and we'll give those Hormel bits a shake. Thanks!

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  9. This may be a little "off-topic" but you could have a Safe Sex Sundae that you serve with a condom on the side.

    But as for real toppings -- what about PopRocks? They explode in your mouth!

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  10. Kim: a condom dessert is in the works. The name and specs are top-secret!!

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  11. I saw something on Nightline (or maybe it was the evening news) about some guys that were doing bacon flavored things, one of them was a seasoning. I'll look for the link. Bacon is a very popular flavor and I think it would be well received with the right crowd.

    Last winter, Starbucks had a salted caramel hot chocolate. I think a caramel topping sprinkled with sea salt would be delicious. I also like the idea of crumbled pretzels.

    What about crushed roasted espresso beans?

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  12. Hey D & B!
    I'm reading and looking forward to enjoying some of your homebrewed Mr. Softee!

    Well speaking of C Cod blueberries there is a spot I know of where you can gather them and I'd be happy to get some with Devin next time we're out there. However speaking of things good from the cape how about cranberries as a topping? A bit too sour maybe? Might be good too though.

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  13. CHEESE! Who doesn't like cheese!?

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  14. How about a vanilla cone served upside down in a bowl of warm maple syrup, a good Maine product.

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  15. More ideas from the back woods of Maine:

    Crumbled whoopie pies

    Moxie floats (I'd consider making a regular trip to NYC to get one of these.)

    Spruce gum parfait (mmmmm...)

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  16. Oh the maple syrup idea will have to be tested out- I link that. I'll try out a moxie float but that might not have a wide market appeal; in addition I'm not sure you can buy here.

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  17. Since bacon is against the law (#!*&%@$!!!!) can you make a nipply treat? They make these baby finger food yogurt melts in different fruit flavors. If you had two scoops of ice cream in a bowl and topped each with one of these yogurt melts I think you would make up for the illegal bacon. Don't get me wrong. Bacon is very important, but nipples are also very important.

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  18. I suggest watching Iron Chef America for tips; they turn everything into ice cream. I think you should just buy up a ton of Girl Scout Cookies, some of every kind, crush them all together and have a Girl Scout Cookie Orgy topping.

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  19. I worked at an ice cream store in the 90's in Miami Beach, and we served a Grapenuts Ice Cream. Big Hit. It works better in than on.

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  20. I was just at Costco the other day, and tried some Kirkland brand bacon crumbles. Very good and very close to what you'd get if you cooked up bacon strips at home and smashed them into crumbles.

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  21. Sundae topping over vanilla ice cream: Appricot or peach jelly spiked with habanero chilies. Mmmmm...

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  22. Duck sauce and fried chinese noodles? Maybe with a bit of 5 spice powder or cilantro?

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  23. Is there such a thing as GARLIC ice cream.
    The bacon bits would go well with that!!

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