{"id":340811,"date":"2026-07-15T12:05:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/340811\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T12:05:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:05:15","slug":"national-ice-cream-month-chill-with-these-frozen-favorites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/340811\/","title":{"rendered":"National Ice Cream Month: Chill with these frozen favorites"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was today years old when I learned that \u201cTCBY\u201d originally stood for \u201cThis Can\u2019t Be Yogurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lawsuit from a similarly named competitor eventually prompted a switch to \u201cThe Country\u2019s Best Yogurt,\u201d but that wouldn\u2019t have mattered to my teenage cohorts and me as we sampled swirls from our local shop in the \u201980s, when the stuff was having its moment, and way ahead of its time on the whole acronym thing, but TBH \u2014 TCBY *definitely* tasted like yogurt.<\/p>\n

And not everyone liked it.<\/p>\n

It looked like soft serve, so some people expected it to *be* soft serve. But instead, it was tangy. Interesting. Yogurt. I liked it.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Santorini baklava special is topped with baklava crunch, pistachio and honey at Thera Greek Frozen Yogurt, which opened in Waterford Lakes last month. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)<\/p>\n

And, IMO, it\u2019s been just about perfected at Thera Frozen Greek Yogurt<\/a>\u00a0(12789 Waterford Lakes Parkway in Orlando, 407-270-6263; instagram.com\/theragreek<\/a>), which opened about a month ago in Orlando\u2019s Waterford Lakes neighborhood.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an all-new concept, created by UCF grad Luisa Ganatios Davis and her mother, Patricia Davis, inspired by their world travel, their love of Greek yogurt\u2019s flavor, and the healthful properties of kefir. Combined in Thera\u2019s from-scratch recipe, the product \u2014 smooth and creamy with a wonderful tang \u2014 features a multitude of beneficial yeasts and probiotics that neither can offer on its own.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince day one, we wanted to make it our own; we wanted it to be as natural as it could be,\u201d Ganatios Davis told the Orlando Sentinel. \u201cInspired by the Greek concept, but with all the good bacteria for your gut health.<\/p>\n

\"AA staffer assembles a swirl soft serve Crispy Cone at the brand’s shop in Orlando’s Curry Ford West neighborhood. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe researched, followed recipe steps, proportioning the mix to work in the machine,\u201d she says, noting that her mother is definitely the family\u2019s cook and baker. \u201cShe was the one who crafted the recipe \u2026 the hardest part to get was the consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

What started in their countertop Ninja CREAMi<\/a> was eventually scaled for production. And man, did they nail it. The product here is silky and light, but satisfying. It\u2019s tart, but sweet enough that kids will enjoy it. There\u2019s a pistachio flavor, as well, but I can\u2019t see myself straying from the original. And even with all the topping options, Thera\u2019s Santorini Baklava offering \u2014 a beautiful white swirl awash with sweet, crispy bits of phyllo, crushed pistachio and a drizzle of honey \u2014 is the move of moves when the temps are soaring.<\/p>\n

5 frozen favorites in Central Florida for the first weekend of summer<\/a><\/p>\n

You do you, though. Just make sure you check this growing brand out. They\u2019re hoping to expand before too long. In the meantime, Waterford Lakes has the cool-and-creamy Greek market cornered. But that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t chosen frozen options all over the city.<\/p>\n

July\u2019s only half over, so much like the team at Visit Orlando and their partners, the Florida Dairy Farmers and their Ice Cream Trail<\/a>, I propose something of an ice cream *crawl* for National Ice Cream Month. It\u2019s a great excuse to check out new places like Thera, or spots that are just new to you.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Biscoff Bubble Waffle from Ice Screamin, a new-to-Orlando shop serving Amish ice cream. The first location is in Tampa. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)
\nIce Screamin<\/p>\n

I was not precisely today years old the first time I tried Amish ice cream, but close. And I have definitely been missing something. Slow-churned and super creamy due to its high butterfat content (sounds sexy, right?), in Florida, parlors that scoop it often get it from Yoder\u2019s Southern Creamery, a Sarasota gem for something like two decades.<\/p>\n

Ice Screamin, with one Tampa location and a second that just opened in East Orlando, is one of them.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s well documented that I rarely finish meals in this job, so it\u2019s important to confess that my companion and I absolutely destroyed the Biscoff bubble waffle at Ice Screamin. I can\u2019t even critique it. The freshly made waffle was warm. The ice cream couldn\u2019t be better. The cookie butter and caramel and crumbly bits? Off the charts. There was nothing left.<\/p>\n

And I have zero regrets.<\/p>\n

Ice Screamin: 10165 University Blvd. in Orlando, 321-295-7626; instagram.com\/icescreamin_orlando<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Jeni'sJeni’s founder Jeni Britton wrote a James Beard Award-winning book on ice cream. Taste that expertise at her brand’s Winter Park location. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)
\nJeni\u2019s Splendid Ice Creams<\/p>\n

What got me in the door of this cute little shop in Winter Park Village was its Goat Cheese with Red Cherries ice cream.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m always seeking something a little different, and this flavor, like the yogurt I\u2019d later discover at the aforementioned Thera, has some tang, though not as pronounced. Think cheesecake, but light, with a cherry pairing that comes in triple: sauce, fresh and dried. Lovely.<\/p>\n

Jeni\u2019s popped up in Ohio in the early aughts when an enterprising young art student dropped out of college to start up a business that, over time, with ups and downs, evolved into a massive enterprise (not to mention a James Beard Award-winning cookbook: Jeni\u2019s Splendid Ice Creams at Home<\/a>). There are dozens of scoop shops around the nation, with pints, sandwiches and bars available in locations such as Target, Whole Foods and more.<\/p>\n

\"TwoTwo cones kiss at Jeni’s in the Winter Park Village shopping center. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an array of flavors, traditional and surprising, of course. I\u2019ve got my eye on the Hibiscus Chili Punch sorbet for the next visit or store grab. I think I enjoy it best out of the freezer at the shop. Same goes, of course, when I hit up Orlando\u2019s own one-name ice cream celebrity.<\/p>\n

Jeni\u2019s Splendid Ice Creams: 510 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park, 407-853-2670; jenis.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ThisThis Crispy Cone was customized, but they have a menu of specials. Guests can enjoy these cones with or without ice cream, including vegan options. (Courtesy Lisa Wilk\/TasteCookSip.com)
\nCrispy Cones<\/p>\n

What do you get when you combine a fried pastry reminiscent of Eastern Europe\u2019s famed chimney cakes and fill it with soft serve and spreads and toppings? You get Crispy Cones, where you don\u2019t have to fill your cone with ice cream \u2026 but why on earth wouldn\u2019t you when it\u2019s a million degrees outside? (To keep things plant-based, for one, as there are so many delightful fillings for these fresh-made cones, but I digress\u2026) It\u2019s a fun stop in Orlando\u2019s Curry Ford West neighborhood, one where you can choose from several pre-conceived creations or make up your own, enjoying the cool vanilla, chocolate or combo swirl in an edible vehicle unique to this fun little shop.<\/p>\n

Crispy Cones: 2415 Curry Ford Road in Orlando, 407-721-5691; thecrispycones.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"KellyKelly Seidl, founder of Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, stands in front of a timeline that marks her ice cream journey. It is located at the company’s production facility in Altamonte Springs. (Joe Burbank\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nKelly\u2019s Homemade Ice Cream<\/p>\n

Few names are just one name \u2014 Cher, Madonna, Prince \u2014 but in Orlando, when it comes to ice cream, there\u2019s Kelly.<\/p>\n

Yes, she has a last name (Seidl), but that\u2019s basically for journalistic use only. And Seidl, whose eponymous, hometown brand does special limited-time flavors every month of the year,\u00a0 has always taken National Ice Cream Month and Day (July 19) very seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year, I look back to where we started \u2014 scooping out of a pink truck \u2014 and I am overwhelmed by gratitude for how this community has embraced us,\u201d Seidl told the Orlando Sentinel.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, National Ice Cream Day isn\u2019t just a fun holiday on the calendar; it\u2019s a celebration of joy, nostalgia and the connection we make over a scoop of ice cream. We do what we do because we love bringing people together, celebrating life\u2019s little moments and making your day just a bit sweeter. Whether you\u2019ve been with us since the food truck days, or just discovered your favorite flavor last week, you are part of the Kelly\u2019s family.\u201d<\/p>\n

To note: Kelly\u2019s July flavors of the month are Cinnamon Churro, Chocolate Mint Oreo, Nanaimo Bar, Passion Fruit and Peanut Butter & Jelly.<\/p>\n

Kelly\u2019s Homemade Ice Cream: Multiple locations; kellyshomemadeicecream.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NanNan & Pop’s has been around a long time in Longwood, and though its original owners have since retired, the current ownership is keeping the old-school ice cream vibes alive. We definitely appreciated this classic banana split! (Amy Drew Thompson\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nNan & Pop\u2019s<\/p>\n

This Longwood shop has been around for quite some time and makes for a lovely little scoop shop serving all the classics, from cups and cones to milkshakes and sundaes. In fact, its wholesome, old-school vibe is precisely what had my companion eyeballing the traditional banana split as our pick of the hotter-than-hot afternoon.<\/p>\n

Because banana makes it a fruit salad, right?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve lived here a long time, and this shop wasn\u2019t on my radar \u2019til recently. If you live in the neighborhood or happen to be in it, put it on yours to cool off this month.<\/p>\n

Nan & Pop\u2019s: 351 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Suite 1005, in Longwood, 321-203-4006; nanandpopsicecreamshop.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"KimKim and Tyler Malek are the founders of the Portland, Oregon-based Salt & Straw. (Courtesy Posy Quarterman Photography)
\nSalt & Straw<\/p>\n

Much like Jeni\u2019s, it was a specific flavor that brought me to the Disney Springs outpost of this Oregon-grown brand with shops nationwide: Arbequina olive oil.<\/p>\n

Sound weird? Maybe. But that\u2019s the way Portland likes it.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Keep Portland weird\u2019 is practically the city\u2019s unofficial motto!\u201d says Christina Thomas, Orlando-based publisher of GoEpicurista.com<\/a> and proud Portland native. \u201c\u2018Weird\u2019 is the highest compliment \u2026 and part of what makes Salt & Straw\u2019s flavors so special is their commitment to local partnerships, whether that\u2019s the Florida-exclusive \u2018Salty Donut guava and cheese flavor,\u2019 complete with the pastelito puff pastry or the olive oil classic, made with oil from Durant Olive Mill back home in Oregon\u2019s Willamette Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a staple flavor, she says. And a must-try. I wholeheartedly agree.<\/p>\n

\"SaltSalt & Straw is well known for unique flavors, but has plenty of traditional favorites at its Disney Springs location. (Chad Surmick \/The Press Democrat)<\/p>\n

\u201cSalt & Straw didn\u2019t invent olive oil ice cream, but they perfected it by partnering with a family-run farm that\u2019s not only one of the pioneering Oregon wineries, but also the producer of small batch artisanal olive oils and Oregon\u2019s only commercial Oleoteca, recently named No. 2 in the country and No. 7 in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

That should be enough to pique your curiosity. And if you\u2019re among those who\u2019d balk at olive oil\u2019s grassy, near-tropical notes?<\/p>\n

Well, how about goat cheese marionberry habanero? Or huckleberry oat crisp with foraged porcini?<\/p>\n

Okay, maybe those are more my jam. But they\u2019ve got double-fold vanilla, cinnamon snickerdoodle, chocolate gooey brownie and more for fans of the classics (which I happen to love, too).<\/p>\n

Salt & Straw: 1610 Buena Vista Drive in Orlando, 689-208-0255; disneyworld.disney.go.com\/dining\/disney-springs\/salt-and-straw<\/a><\/p>\n

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram\u00a0@amydroo<\/a>\u00a0or on the OSFoodie Instagram account\u00a0@orlando.foodie<\/a>. Email:\u00a0amthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>, For more foodie fun, join the\u00a0Let\u2019s Eat, Orlando Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Al'sAl’s offers a vast array of desserts, including ice cream, alongside classic options like this tres leches. He and his wife, Anna, make everything from the gelato to the cakes, crusts and cookies that come with it. (Amy Drew Thompson\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nMore spots!<\/p>\n

Al\u2019s Ice Cream Gelato: Who doesn\u2019t love an ice cream truck? So wholesome, so satisfying, and with Al at the wheel and the scoop, so delicious<\/a>. Step right up and enjoy some award-winning frozen delights to beat the heat this summer. More: instagram.com\/als_gelatodesserts<\/a><\/p>\n

Fragaria: All plant-based and all kinds of delicious, Fragaria\u2019s New Zealand-style ice cream started on one of the most adorable food trucks ever<\/a> (you\u2019ll still find it rolling around town) but has happily expanded into a new Maitland shop where creamy, dreamy and uber-fruity flavors await. What\u2019s more, Fragaria uses oatmilk, coconut cream and sunflower seed butter in its mixes. Ergo, all their ice cream bases are also nut-free!\u00a0 More: 10 N. Orlando Ave. in Maitland, 321-972-1799; fragariaicecream.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AllAll the treats at Fragaria are entirely plant-based and peanut-free. At press time, they were testing out a new sunflower seed-based milk that will eventually have them totally nut-free. (Amy Drew Thompson\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Il Gelato Roll: This cute little truck pops up all over town (I tried them at Tuesday\u2019s Tasty Takeover in Orlando\u2019s Milk District neighborhood) with fun creations that meld mix-ins and creamy gelato with that fun, rolled aesthetic, achieved by pouring its creamy base onto a freezing-cold metal pan. More: instagram.com\/ilgelatoroll<\/a><\/p>\n

Phoebe\u2019s Ice Cream: From scoops and sundaes to milkshakes and coffee-centric affogatos, this little spot in Oviedo will cool you off with ease. Bonus: Steps away, Cavallari Gourmet is a joy to peruse for handmade sausages, Italian-sourced products, locally made goodies and more. More: 1954 W. State Road 426 in Oviedo, 407-542-0519; phoebesicecream.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Violet\u2019s Ice Cream: Like Ice Screamin, Amish ice cream is the lure here, and there are multiple locations in which to enjoy it in all its creamy glory. Find your closest location and check them out in Oviedo, Sanford, DeBary, Orlando, and Lake Mary. More: instagram.com\/violetsicecream<\/a><\/p>\n

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