Bill Leslie

Bill Leslie's Carolina Conversations

People are always asking me where to take vacation. What's a cool place? What's the most scenic drive? Carolina Conversations attempts to answer those questions and others.

NC's Best Ice Cream

Posted: Jul 10, 2007

Ready. Set. Sweat. We're locked in a heat wave this week so let's battle back. Ice cream, anyone? Frozen custard? How about a smoothie?

Today's question: What is North Carolina's best ice cream? Feel free to include comments on custard and smoothies.

Elizabeth Gardner is a big fan of NC State University's ice cream served up in the student center and at the NC State Fair in October. For store bought her passion is Haagen Dazs caramel cone featuring ribbons of caramel with lumps of cone dipped in chocolate.

Valonda Calloway is craving Cold Stone Creamery chocolate ice cream as I write this. Valonda is also a big fan of Edy's chocolate slow churn.

Mark Roberts and I are in total agreement on our favorite: Kilwin's in Blowing Rock. The butter pecan variety will knock your socks off.

I have a soft spot in my heart for ice cream. My wife proposed to me in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen. We were eating a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate at the time. Today we love take the family to Goodberry's in Cary for a mint chocolate chip concrete.

Chris Thompson says the very best vanilla ice cream in the world can be found near Chapel Hill at Maple View Farms.

What about you? Where do you go for some great ice cream?

Copyright 2007 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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My fav is Coldstone "Coffee Lovers Only" My daughters fav is Chick-fil-a Vanilla soft serve.

Speaking of Ice Cream, a little trivia for you. I knew Ben & Jerry, the founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, BEFORE they were famous. I used to work next door to their very first store in an abandoned gas station in 1978. I would sometimes buy a scoop on my lunch hour. They were friends with my boss at the time and would hang around our office and talk about how they wanted to be able to grow their business. We never knew then JUST HOW FAMOUS their ice cream would become!!

owlady
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:00 a.m.

The Mango Ice Cream at Sunni Skies on Hwy 55 near Angier is absolutely addictive. In fact all of the ice cream there is wonderful. The place is great to take kids & meet friends. We can't go near that area without a visit to the best homemade ice cream you can get.The kids work really hard & will go out of their way to make whatever you want. If you are ever around that part of the country you should stop in and they will give you samples of everything there if you want to try it all.

terrilynne
July 10, 2007 11:00 a.m.

Bill there is a new Kelwins in Cary in the new shopping center on the corner of High House and Davis

lcooke2
July 10, 2007 11:02 a.m.

Kilwin's in Cary! Look out. There could be a stampede today! Thanks for the tip.

bleslie
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:11 a.m.

Franscesca's Dessert Cafe on Ninth Street in Durham. Always a favorite of mine.

RaleighRob
July 10, 2007 11:15 a.m.

I may be wrong, but I don't think gelato is the same thing as ice cream. Both can be great, but they are different.

terrible terrier
GOLO member since June 12, 2008
July 10, 2007 11:15 a.m.

Goodberry's Mint Chocolate Concrete is the way to go!

pommom12
GOLO member since January 8, 2008
July 10, 2007 11:17 a.m.

I like Pelican's off Hwy 55 in Apex as traditional ice cream goes. They also have a great sno-cone menu.

Henry's Gelato. I agree, is great. Limoncello and Blood Orange are my favorites.

I like Goodberry's for frozen custard, but really prefer in when it has had time to freeze a bit. Sadly, and in the warmer months, the concretes have often melted too much by the time that hand them to you.

hkypky
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:25 a.m.

lol I LOVED that "Baskin Robins" joke!!!lol Everyone needs a weakness and mine is ice cream! My favorite is Cold Stone Chocolate but I really love their "Coconut Cream Pie" mix! YUMMMMY!!! :P But nothing will ever beat hand cranking ice cream as a kid and my uncle and grandparents and Mama fixing peach or strawberry homemade ice cream. Guess that's why I love ice cream so much, it's part of my memories of people that I love and have gone on...

fishnett5977
July 10, 2007 11:29 a.m.

Owlady, if you ever talk to your friends Ben & Jerry, please tell them I thank them from the bottom of my heart for Cherry Garcia.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx
July 10, 2007 11:32 a.m.

I agree the joke was very funny!

Has anyone ever tried Hawaiian Save Ice?

bleslie
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:33 a.m.

TRY YARBOUOUGH'S ICE CREAM IN SANFORD, N. C.--GOOOOD!!!

DEPUTY
GOLO member since December 12, 2008
July 10, 2007 11:36 a.m.

Homemade vanilla ice cream with Hershey's chocolate syrup is the BEST. But if I can't have that, I love Andy's. Their milkshakes are fabulous.

packandcanesfan
GOLO member since August 14, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:40 a.m.

i have never had any ice cream that i didn't like

papa jim
July 10, 2007 11:46 a.m.

I meant to say Hawaiian Shave Ice

bleslie
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:47 a.m.

Maple View Farm on Dairlyland Road about 3-4 miles northwest of Carrboro, out in the middle of nowhere. They feed the cows, they produce the milk, and then they make the ice cream. It doesn't get much fresher. Awesome ice cream.

Vanilla is still hard to beat. Nothing "plain" about it: vanilla is a very unique flavor comprising something like 250 different chemical components. Think about it ... how many things are actually flavored vanilla? Hey, most other flavors *need* a boost from vanilla to help them work. Go to the source. ;-)

thefensk
GOLO member since July 11, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:51 a.m.

Maple View Farm is on Dairyland Road ... sorry for the typo.

thefensk
GOLO member since July 11, 2007
July 10, 2007 11:55 a.m.

Maggie Moo's is fantastic too. But I really love homemade ice cream with the electric churner that you have to add rock salt to. Yum! Okay- now I'm off for some ice cream. You people just released a torrent of cravings.

jedichick
GOLO member since July 19, 2007
July 10, 2007 12:00 p.m.

Sunni Skys in Angier is the best....second only to a place where I grew up in Ohio that is no longer there. Also, Young's dairy in Yellow Springs Oh is wonderful!!

ladybug23
July 10, 2007 12:11 p.m.

Silvia D'Italia on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh has wonderful gelato. I like regular ice cream, but the gelato is even better.

CricketGayle
GOLO member since April 30, 2009
July 10, 2007 1:10 p.m.

Ditto regarding Sunni Sky's Ice Cream, which is just over the Wake County line on N.C. 55 as you leave Fuquay. My favorite flavors are banana pudding and key lime pie. You just can't beat the taste and price -- $2 for good-sized scoop.

johnway
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:24 p.m.

Deputy is right about Yarborough's in Sanford. They have great hot dogs, too.

2thebeach
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:25 p.m.

I'm a fan of just about anything Goodberry's. As for their Mint Chocolate Chip, I have friends in Georgia that have visited here and become so addicted that it goes back packed in dry ice whenever one visits.

Tallulah
July 10, 2007 1:32 p.m.

Bill you need to make the trip to Smithfield to Brightleaf Blvd(Hwy 301). At the intersection of Brightleaf and Business 70 is "Hills of Snow" shaved ice. They have the most flavors of any shaved ice place I've seen! They say the "snowcream" is great but me, I like my plain old cherry or even some of the mixtures that they have. Sometimes they even have their mobile unit out in the parking lot at Walmart in Smithfield and sometimes at Carolina Pottery. They close when the weather gets chilly, so enjoy it now while you can! Hard to believe but Christmas is only 5 months away!!lol ;)

fishnett5977
July 10, 2007 1:35 p.m.

I love the NC State ice cream at the fair. Other than that, I'm a big fan of most ice creams. Ben & Jerry's White Russian has always been my favorite flavor. I wish they would resurrect it!

aquamama
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:38 p.m.

Grape Ice Cream from Tony's on Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia is a rare treat and refreshes magnificently on a hot summer day!

todmax
July 10, 2007 1:39 p.m.

Graham Central Station ice cream at Bruster's on Durant Road in Raleigh....it's delicious!!!!

nansumner
July 10, 2007 1:44 p.m.

I love Dove's Minature bars,especially the cherry covered in chocolate. Of course, when my mom makes homemade peach, strawberry, or banana ice cream there is none left!!

tennispro
GOLO member since September 18, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:46 p.m.

Would have to say that Carvel vanilla ice cream is my favorite. Goodberry's is my favorite custard with raspberries. And my favorite milkshake comes from Cookout, strawberry bananna! Now that I have a craving I'm going to have to get some after dinner!

Hevans1012
GOLO member since July 12, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:50 p.m.

Yarboroughs on McIver St in Sanford is the best around. Homemade and great tasting. When we were kids, we'd go on Sunday afternoons after a Sunday drive. I usually had Black Cherry and it's still my favorite today. I've continued the tradition with my children since moving back to the area. They love the different flavors. The banana splits we used to get were the best too.

1Moms_View
GOLO member since July 6, 2007
July 10, 2007 1:55 p.m.

Cappuccino/Heath Bar Blizzard at any area Dairy Queen will do 24/7

deha
July 10, 2007 1:59 p.m.

Also, yes... the NCSU Student Center Ice cream is the best value per scoop.

deha
July 10, 2007 2:01 p.m.

everyone else may say nasty things about the people from york and jersey moving here, but God Bless 'Em for Carvel - yummy

special k
July 10, 2007 2:09 p.m.

Henry's Gelato in Cary is vey good, very fresh tasting.

jgirl5830
July 10, 2007 2:17 p.m.

Sunny Skies In Harrnet county is the best ice cream around everything is homemade and yummy

TarHeelsAllTheWay
July 10, 2007 2:59 p.m.

When it comes to Ice Cream, I'm like Will Rogers. I never had any I didn't like.

JerryO
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
July 10, 2007 3:15 p.m.

At age 57 Ilove all ice cream,when I was younger I didn't like ice cream at all,but the older I get everything is good.

EGH3
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 10, 2007 4:05 p.m.

Why go anywhere when you can stay at home and make your own.

cagerat42
July 10, 2007 4:15 p.m.

Sunni Skys in Angier. I am partial since I live just down the road. Scott and company make great ice cream but also make you feel glad you came. If you dare, try some of the "Cold Sweat" thaqt got them on Good Morning America. I warn you though, it is "HOT,HOT,HOT.

dhall357
July 10, 2007 4:18 p.m.

Tell Greg Ben & Jerry's has a flavor named after him (Phish Food) it's great. My other two favorites form Ben & Jerry are Smore's & Strawberry Cheesecake! But the absolute best is Home Made with all the good rich ingredients!

Historians 12th
July 10, 2007 4:33 p.m.

I love Hawaiian shave ice! We went to Kauai last year for our honeymoon and got shave ice several times. Yummy! :)

truebluecarolinagirl
July 10, 2007 5:27 p.m.

Go Maple View Farms! Wish they would move to Cary!

mcmags
GOLO member since August 10, 2007
July 10, 2007 5:34 p.m.

Oh definitely Maple View Farms...I live not 10 minutes away, and it has called my name every hot day this week!! It doesn't matter what flavor...For store bought, I like Ben and Jerry's...any flavor. Except coffee!! But if I'm making my own, either peach or vanilla are best!

bornbredtarheel
July 10, 2007 5:57 p.m.

I definitely agree with NC State's ice cream. It always tastes so fresh and full of flavor. I'm not a big chocolate ice cream fan, but theirs is the best!

RN2b
July 10, 2007 6:17 p.m.

Bill, you're probably familiar with my favorite ice cream - Blue Bell, out of Brenham, TX. Unfortunately, it hasn't made its way to Raleigh just yet. I hear it's in Charlotte, though!

Other than that, I love Mayfield's Blueberry Cream Pie flavor, as well as Haagen Dazs Vanilla. Breyer's Homemade Vanilla isn't too bad, either - but nothing compares to Blue Bell!

I'd love to try Ben & Jerry's Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream, but haven't been able to find it anywhere. Has anyone out there had any luck?

Lissa
July 10, 2007 6:36 p.m.

I like Ben and Jerry's flavor Half Baked and my mom's home made chocolate. Hers tastes like a frozen chocolate pie.

carolinamissy
July 10, 2007 7:41 p.m.

SUNNI SKYS IN ANGIER AND GOODBERRY'S IN CARY

Hillbilly justice
GOLO member since February 26, 2008
July 10, 2007 8:10 p.m.

My favorite is Sugar Daddy's in Angier. His ice cream is better than Sunny Sky's and it's all natural.

Fuquay Resident
GOLO member since August 8, 2007
July 10, 2007 8:24 p.m.

best custard - Goodberry's vanilla with chocolate chips best store bought - Breyer's natural vanilla

london12
GOLO member since February 25, 2008
July 10, 2007 9:15 p.m.

This is not a commercial, but I go home for the best ice cream. My Mom, now 95 years old, made the best using milk, sugar and vanilla. She would take the separaters from the ice trays and pour the mixture into the trays and we climb in a kitchen chair many times awaiting for it to freeze. That was the very best, by the hands of a poor Mom treating her kids to this day the very best ice cream there was then and today still is.

momtobe
GOLO member since November 10, 2008
July 10, 2007 9:16 p.m.

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