Wednesday, June 27, 2012 By Sean W. Cooper
Posters advertise the wide variety of flavors offered. - Brooke Smith
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Ah, the summer. It's the one season that is defined by heat, heat, and often times more heat. One would think a nice cold smoothie, some ice cream, or even a milkshake would be the right antidote. But if anything, a sweet, cold treat is bound to add on to the
sweating with a heavy stomachache. That is, if you're going to Ben & Jerry's.
When I made a recent visit to Ben & Jerry's on Durham’s Broad Street, it took me a
while to decide what I truly wanted. I have fond memories of this ice cream shop, going
all the way back to the exciting time my father introduced it to me on a cruise ship at
age eight. Maybe it’s that the first time I DIDN'T have ice cream there, or that I've aged
three years since my last experience with Ben & Jerry's, but whatever the reason, I had a
far different reaction to this place during the last week than I did when I was a few years
younger.
What I ordered is called a "Half Baked" shake. It certainly wasn't that title that intrigued
me to have a taste of this large milkshake, but rather the ingredients: chocolate chip
cookie dough and chocolate fudge brownie ice creams. Wouldn't it have been smart
to put up a noticeable sign somewhere – anywhere – that warned of those aggravating
chunks in the shake?
There were so many lumps in this drink that whenever I tried to take a sip of it, the
straw flattened itself, making it difficult to get any of the milkshake I had just spent
$5.25 on. I tried chugging harder, harder, when suddenly I was nearly suffocated by
the explosive stream of chocolate, chocolate chunks, and cookie dough chunks gushing
down my throat ever so recklessly. Not to mention, it was DISGUSTING, due to its more
than excessive overload of large lumps and chunks of cookie dough and fudge. That's
coming from a lover of cookies and chocolate alike! Half baked, it was.
Atmospherically, Ben & Jerry's isn't all that bad. The shop possesses a light, frothy,
pleasant aroma of waffle cones that welcomes everyone. That is complemented
by an interesting variety of music. One moment I heard the Beastie Boys's "Fight
for Your Right." The next, the tune was an upbeat indie pop-rock song that I didn't
recognize but enjoyed nevertheless. Sometime after that I heard ‘80s rock singer Pat
Benatar's "Heartbreaker." The diverse selection is another element designed to appeal
to everyone.
But what matters about an ice cream parlor is the ice cream, is it not? If I'm welcomed
into the shop by its unique atmosphere, that's great. But if I leave begging for Pepto-Bismol, that's not. Besides, why do I need to be set back $5.25 for an experience I can get from grabbing my uvula?