Frozen Custard Day is here again (what do you mean, you've never heard of it?) and so in the true spirit of the holiday, we've rounded up the best places to find this thick, decadent dessert.
But firstly, for those of you who don't know what frozen custard actuallyis, here's a little background information.
Frozen Custard is similar to ice cream in its appearance and preparation, but instead of simply featuring cold-churned milk and sugar, it also includes egg yolks and a higher percentage of milk fat. This makes it much more creamy than regular ice cream and gives it a smoother yet denser consistency.
It was invented back in 1919 when a couple of ice cream vendors on Coney Island decided to add egg yolks to help their product stay colder for longer. Ever since, frozen custard has picked up a dedicated following in cities around the U.S.
So, here's where you should go to get your frozen custard fix on August 8.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Frozen custard is almost a way of life in Milwaukee and as such, there are numerous stops around town that all vie to sell the best scoop.
Gilles is the most historic-open since 1938-and serves a mind-boggling array of sundaes and an ever-changing 'flavor of the day.' Leon's, a family-owned classic drive-in, dishes up a side of nostalgia with its cones and specialty sundaes.
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Wichita, Kansas
Although Freddy's is a national chain, it appears to be most-loved in its home city of Wichita, where it has no less than four locations. If you can resist, ignore the signs for the steakburgers (although we're sure they're pretty tasty too) and head straight for the sundaes.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis locals (as well as this Fritz's fan writer and anyone who will listen) have been in dispute for years over who serves better frozen custard.
Is it Ted Drewes, one of the pioneers of the 'concrete' (a frozen-custard milk shake that is served so thick it can be turned upside down without dripping), who owns a store on a section of the original historic Route 66?
Or is it Fritz's, a suburban custard shop who is famous for their Turtle Sundae (caramel, hot fudge and pecans)? There's only one way to decide... Buy them both!
Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania
Run by the same family since 1952, Hank's is a local frozen custard institution. The menu is fairly small, featuring vanilla and chocolate every day with one other flavor on rotation, but there are also shakes, sundaes and floats.
Be sure to check out the machines that churn the custard behind the counter, as they're still the original steel contraptions from when the shop was first opened.
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Fredericksburg, Virginia
The small, iconic gem that is Carl's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been serving up ice cold scoops of frozen custard since 1947. If you don't visit for the custard (or the soft serve or the ridiculously thick milkshakes), then at least pop in for the nostalgia factor.
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Some will say we saved the best for last.
Remember those vendors we told you about that invented the first ever batch of frozen custard? Their name was Kohr and, down on the boardwalk in New Jersey, you can still visit their original stand (which started life as a humble beach shack). They only serve a handful of custard flavors, but lifelong fans swear by their 'twists'; a soft-serve version featuring two different flavor combinations.
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