Investigating the the area's sweet spots
BYRAM-Going to my local ice cream parlor can be a bitter-sweet experience. I often stand there wondering what to order, thinking I need to try something new. Is it going to be too big? Too expensive? Too gooey? Too boring? Or maybe I won't like it at all, ending up with nothing. So, I always play it safe, getting my usual, "a one scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream cone, please." As part of a assignment for The Township Journal, I recently visited some local hot spots to investigate the sweet and gooey attraction of ice dream. For that ice cream parlor feel and taste I headed right over to Alpine Creamery in Sparta and couldn't resist ordering their best, ultimate banana split. This banana comes with many toppings, including cherries, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, strawberry and pineapple. If you love banana splits, that's the place to go, but bring a friend (or your dad) because it was a very big dessert. Then I aimed my sweet tooth to Basking Robbins in Byram. New on their menu, Bold Blends, a type of smoothie drinks. You could choose from kiwi, strawberry citrus, and wild mango. I went wild and ordered the mango flavor. To tell you the truth, it was way too mango-ish for me. But my mom thought it was the greatest smoothie she ever had. According to her, she felt like she was on a tropical island, when she was sipping it. Whatever I should have stuck with strawberry. Oh well. Sparta residents know it's spring, when Dairy Queen opens. To celebrate its 20th anniversary DQ is selling cakes. No, not ice cream cakes, little chunks of real cheesecake, in raspberry, blueberry, or strawberry ice cream, blended together in one of their popular Blizzard treats. It was like a buy one and get more all in one. It will take your taste buds for a wild ride. Dunkin Donuts is not just for coffee and donuts anymore. I have always wanted to order one of the ice aatte, but wind up choosing my standard chocolate cream filled fav donut instead. But this time I decided to all the way "A chocolate dipped banana ice latte, please," I announce to the girl behind the counter. Now this is the coffee lovers dream come true, complete with chocolate swirled, whipped cream. This should be considered a dessert, not a drink. It's rich, sweet, and creamy. This latte also comes in strawberry flavor and is available for a limited time, so hurry. And, you don't have to like coffee to enjoy them. On to Zinga's Corn Patch in Lafayette on Route 15. Don't let the name fool you, this place is a really neat ice cream place. You could sit inside or enjoy the weather outside. Here is where I finally got to order the famous ice cream sundae. However, when the girl behind the counter asked if I wanted wet walnuts my next thought was Eww, Gross! "Wet what?" I asked. "Walnuts," my dad said, "try it, it's good." To be honest, the walnuts, even wet, were pretty good. I really liked the hot fudge and cherries that make the sundae a sundae.