The Michigan Daily
Judging by the patrons in campus ice cream shops, students seem to scream for ice cream - even in the winter. Ice cream remains one of the world's most popular treats, no matter what the weather. Fortunately for us, there is an abundance of good ice cream in our own backyard. And for those who are a little more health conscious, there is more than a profusion of frozen yogurt vendors who want to please all.
What could be better than spending a study break, romantic interlude or just a lonely Saturday night over an ice cream cone (or a cup of frozen yogurt)? Not much.
Probably the most famous ice cream and frozen yogurt on campus is Stucchi's. This hotbed (or should I say cold bed?) of frozen dessert action has a corner on the market with its two prime locations. The South University locale is brightly lit with cheerful green, black and red square dots bordering the walls, creating the perfect place to stop for a quick treat. The State Street store has a slightly more modern look to it, ideal for the downtown crowd.
Like most creameries, Stucchi's offers a variety of ways to serve your favorite flav. With Smushins (candy and other treats mixed into the ice cream), malts, floats, shakes and any topping you can think of, this parlor can probably concoct the ice creation of your wildest fantasies.
Stucchi's stocks 16 flavors of ice cream, 16 flavors of hard frozen yogurt and two flavors of soft frozen yogurt. From the mundane chocolate and vanilla to the more exotic Hazelnut Espresso and Grasshopper Pie, Stucchi's flavors are as scrumptious as they are creative, ice cream and frozen yogurt alike.
LSA junior and Stucchi's employee Beth Eurod said, "If you don't want soft serve, the frozen yogurt has the consistency of ice cream, without the fat."
Of course the employees like it - but how does it actually taste? Stucchi's serves up some of the best ice cream in town. The rich, smooth (and not so friendly on the waistline) ice cream is virtually perfect: Whether it's huge chunks of Oreo cookies or the rich taste of chocolate chips, Stucchi's ice cream is packed with its said flavor.
The yogurt is equally delectable. Stucchi's featured frozen yogurt is hard packed, and it is nearly indistinguishable from premium ice cream - and supposedly lower in the "bads" that regular ice cream carries.
This taste doesn't come cheap, however. Prices at this Ann Arbor establishment are a little high for such a universal delight. But with the heaping scoops and the delicious variety of flavors, the few extra cents are well worth it.
Competition is encroaching with the brand new Java House and Stroh's Ice Cream on the corner of South University and South Forest. Stroh's Ice Cream, boasting itself as "Michigan's Finest Since 1919," is a main feature at this cafe.
While the frozen yogurt selection is limited to only two flavors, Butter Pecan and Black Cherry Twist, the ice cream flavors bring back childhood memories, with the colorful Superman and the monochromatic Blue Moon.
"I wanted to bring the coffee house/ice cream idea here. It is perfect because people always do homework and get the munchies. You can get a scoop of ice cream or a shake, or if you're still hungry, you can get a scone or a muffin, " owner Mark Haider said.
Served in huge, old-fashioned, glass dishes, the portions are hearty and the prices are a bit cheaper than more bourgeois places like Stucchi's: Cones start at $1.25, and other icy specialties, like malts and shakes, are also reasonably priced. Java House has a variety of special creamy creations that stir the imagination. The question remains, however, whether it is possible to study while eating ice cream. Some students have already figured this out.
"I'm in here all the time to get ice cream. It's great because you can study while eating. Until this place opened, I ate at Stucchi's all the time. The atmosphere is much better, more laid back and the ice cream tastes better to me, " part-time student Ilana Singer said, between bites of a hot fudge sundae.
Java House is less parlor-esque than Stucchi's, yet the ambiance can be comfortable. With ample couch space, larger tables and the down-stairs cellar feel, one can definitely get romantic with a cone and a date, or even curl up with few books and some sweet decadence.
When you're down on Main Street, check out the sweet creations at Lovin' Spoonful. Set on the same block as Gratzi, Palio and other gourmet establishments, Lovin' Spoonful is the ideal place to sweeten up your palate after a good meal on the town.
While Lovin' Spoonful shares its name with the '60s rock group of the same name, the store has been at the same location churning out its own homemade ice cream since 1982. It closed in 1989 and reopened under new ownership in 1992, but its recipes have remained the same.
Along with the 28 flavors of rich and delicious ice cream, the store offers four kinds of hand-scooped yogurt, two soft-serve sugar-free non-fat yogurts and four sorbets. If frozen sweets aren't your thing, try one of the 15 sandwiches, a homemade soup and various cookies, brownies or other baked goods.
Chocoholics should be sure to check out the Midnight Desire ice cream, based in bittersweet chocolate with homemade brownies and fudge mixed in for the ultimate chocolate experience. On the low-fat side, check out the Strawberry-Kiwi sorbet for some sweet and fruity ecstasy.
Mrs. Peabody's advertises ice cream on the sign that hangs outside the store, but since the early '90s the ice cream has been replaced by frozen yogurt, in an attempt to keep up with the times. Cravers of Colombo fat-free and low-fat frozen yogurt often form lines out the door of the quaint, little cookie and muffin shop.
Along with Mrs. Peabody's, Y&S Sandwich Cafe also offers fat-free and low-fat frozen yogurt. Y&S, one of the more recent additions to the Michigan Union, offers four flavors of soft-serve frozen yogurt, though the selection is sometimes sub-par (sometimes only two types of chocolate and two types of vanilla yogurt). Surprising flavors, like Cantaloupe and Peppermint, however, can set taste buds afire.
While Mrs. Peabody's toppings are scarce compared to other dessert places, the sweetness of Mrs. Peabody's lies in its simplicity and warmth. The heart bespeckeled wallpaper and heart shaped cookies, as well as the neon sign reading "Baked With Love" could drive people to call their grandmother.
"I like the peanut butter and chocolate combination, with chocolate sprinkles. It is the best snack to sneak into lecture. And the location is great, right by the MLB, " LSA senior Kara Hewes said.
Y&S has less down-home style than Mrs. Peabody's, and it resembles more of a franchised establishment. Its yogurt reflects this commercial atmosphere, and doesn't taste as "natural" as Mrs. Peabody's. The prices seem rather high as well, especially when one can walk next-door and purchase a $.99 Frosty at Wendy's.
So, maybe this weekend when it snows, instead of a double latte to warm you up, try some delicious ice cream or frozen yogurt. Don't hold yourself back from this indulgence just because spring break is next week. You deserve the treat. Think of it as sweet gratification for all the hard midterm studying.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
LSA senior Brian Wharry prepares a "Vanilla Supreme" ice cream cone at Stucchi's on South University Avenue.