THE FINALS!

Oh my goodness, here we go!

We’ve seen it all this month. We’ve see the pride of Texas fall; we’ve seen one regional dairy rise above the others; we’ve gotten a taste of the Pacific Northwest. We’ve gotten in fights with the Washington Post (screw you, Bezos). And this week it’s the finals. Local fave Belfonte vs. Oregon’s Tillamook.

Friends, this was such a tough call. I even took pictures of awarding the cookie to one flavor and then changed my mind after that. Most of the previous match-ups had clear winners and losers. My first bite of Tillamook at the beginning of the bracket prompted me to think, whoa, this is in a whole different category of grocery store ice cream. I really predicted Tillamook would have an easy journey to the top.

But Belfonte BROUGHT IT. I do not know one lick of foodie jargon, so I can’t give you details other than the Belfonte Premium Cookies ‘n’ Cream was just a really excellent ice cream. The vanilla base has a strong flavor. The texture of the ice cream is perfect. There are good cookie chunks. If you are in need of grocery store ice cream in a region that sells it, you can’t go wrong with Belfonte Premium. Now the next step is, should I call the friend of a friend who works there to give me a tour??

Come back next week for our regularly scheduled programming. Sometime next month I’m going to visit the UNDER-NEW-OWNERSHIP BETTY RAE’S. That’s right, Betty’s back, and without the previous owner whose social media abuses included (at the extreme lesser end of his actions) blocking me on instagram! The new owners were very gracious when I asked them to un-block me, so I’m already a fan. Can’t wait to officially re-endorse the brand.

Of the original 8, I still have 4 unfinished cookies ‘n’ cream cartons in my freezer. I’m not sick of it yet. The turkey hill may end up blended into milkshakes instead of eaten raw, haha. But as far as March madness goes? That’s all one, our play is done, and we’ll strive to please you every day.