PrintSugar Rush: Grapenut Ice Cream from Bittersweet
After the Brooklyn Flea this weekend, I took a stroll around the nabe. In the mood for a refreshing nibble, I misread the "Jamaican Grapenut" flavor on the chalkboard menu at Bittersweet to be "grapefruit." Mini fiber-laden pellets aren't as refreshing as a ball of citrus, but it was still ice cream so no complaints.
The owner of the part coffee shop, part ice creamerie (all flavors are churned in-house) is Jamaican, and apparently this is the country's unofficial flavor. It's satisfying in the way healthy cereal can be—especially when multiplied by heavy cream.
Some branches of Uncle Louie G's (like the one on Prospect Park Southwest) also stock grapenut ice cream, but Louie doesn't seem to have any Jamaican lineage.
Bittersweet
180 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11205 (map)
718-852-2556
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
9 Comments:
If you ever get to Los Angeles you have to go to a tiny but wondrous ice cream parlor called "Scoops". The owner changes flavors every day - except for his brown bread ice cream. Folks simply won't do without it.
It's absolutely AMAZING, and the "secret" ingredient? Grape nuts!
ohiogal at 7:06PM on 04/20/09
I read your post title as grapefruit. Weird. In other news, who knew that New Englanders and Jamaicans had so much in common?! http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-06-06-regional-ice-cream-flavors_N.htm
BrooklynBrownie at 11:23PM on 04/20/09
Sounds like the Scoops proprietor is from New England. Giffords grape-nut ice cream and canned brown bread are staples where I grew up (Maine.)
Ghostly at 11:55AM on 04/21/09
Do the grape-nuts retain their crunch? I used to love it as a topping on ice cream at home as a teenager, because of the texture.
Big B at 2:40PM on 04/21/09
@Big B: They actually do!
Erin Zimmer at 3:01PM on 04/21/09
Awesome! My grandfather, from Fitchburgh, MA, loves grape nuts ice cream. Ditto to other commenters about the flavor's New England roots.
Tara Mataraza Desmond at 9:06AM on 04/24/09
There's an amazing ice cream place in Old Lyme, CT called Hallmark. Homemade ice cream - rich, creamy and delicious. And they have an amazing grapenut flavor - amazing! Go yanks.
Brown bread ice cream, though?? Wow, I've got to try that.
Sweet Freak at 9:46AM on 04/24/09
If you think grapenut ice cream is yummy, grapenut pudding is a must try! This also has New England roots. The only place I've seen it lately is at a delicious Jewish deli in Natick, Ma on Route 9.
paulapoo at 10:21AM on 04/24/09
grapenuts ice cream is the bomb. I've seen them in my local grocer freezer but I don't trust these stores when it comes to frozen foods - it's probably been there for months. Now I know about this store, thanks.
QueenAlli at 11:58PM on 06/12/09