The Scoop-Off: I-Scream 2006

I remember the frustration a year ago of not being able to find a decent ice cream cone anywhere in downtown West Chester. Today is a different frustration altogether. Now there are so many places to choose from I don’t know how to pick.

In almost every block of Gay Street you have the option to buy a cone, scoop, cup or shake. The possibilities are endless and the choices are truly overwhelming for a food lover like myself. So, in order to help Chester County residents make a decision on where to go for a cold treat I had to come up with a plan.

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon I distributed scorecards, t-shirts and balloons to various friends, neighbors and coworkers to rate four downtown ice-cream spots. The scorecards covered everything from willingness to give samples to hours, atmosphere and service. Each location was wonderful in its own way, but one truly outshone them all. Here are our findings from what we have named “I-Scream 2006.”

Our first stop was Kaptain K’s on Gay Street where Larry, the owner and manager, was kind enough to stay open past his closing time (even on his 25th wedding anniversary.) This is a perfect spot for a quick soft serve or scooped cone while on a leisurely walk. All the ice cream comes from a Pennsylvania dairy and is creamy and delicious. I ordered the mint chocolate chip, which was refreshing and smooth with the perfect ratio of chips-to-ice cream in each bite. Hours for this simple stop are limited, but it’s worth it to stop and say hello to Larry. Scoop, I mean scope, out some of the crazy flavors available on their Web site at www.kscoop.com, where you can also print out coupons. Their flavors change often, so visit often.

Our next stop was Sprazzo, which translates from Italian into “bursting with pleasure,” which I think I actually did! Also located on Gay Street, Sprazzo offers Italian-style ice cream, desserts and coffee. The selection is overwhelmingly fantastic and the youthful staff is happy to help you make your choice. Their homemade treats range from gelato to ice cream and sorbetto and they are happy to give samples. The gelato is supposedly lower in fat, but it’s so delicious you would never guess it. The mud pie sundae I ordered was so heavenly I almost cried. With upstairs and downstairs indoor seating and outdoor café tables it’s a perfect spot to sit and enjoy your frozen treat with a date, friends or family. Visit www.sprazzocafe.com to view a schedule of their upstairs entertainment, including psychic readings or to view their menu. (You can also bring your laptop along and take advantage of their wireless Internet.) The coffee and gourmet hot cocoa are just as amazing as their ice cream for enjoyment in the cold months.

With half-full tummies we moved onto our third stop, Ricky’s Candy, Cones and Chaos. Although chaos may be too extreme of a word… it is definitely an experience at Ricky’s. Senses are stimulated as soon as you walk in the door when candy themed songs play whimsically in your ear and a wide array of candies tempts you with bold and exciting colors. This is the ultimate children’s fantasy ice-cream experience, which nauseated some of my twenty-something friends. Parents beware that with so many accessible treats the final bill may be higher than expected, but the kids would argue it’s worth it. Although temptations abound, so do the choices of custom ice cream combinations. Choose from a variety of base flavors, which you can then combine with your personal picks of candies, fruit, sauces, cookies and other treats. The possibilities are endless, and the smiling staff will gladly give you samples of each base flavor. Choose from such bases as vanilla or chocolate cake batter and cheesecake. Yum! Check out the Web site at http://www.candyconesandchaos.com.

Our last stop for I-scream 2006 was at West Chester Scoop. As soon as you walk in you feel like you’ve stepped into an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. With past and present photographs of West Chester, sundaes named after local authorities and Hershey’s brand ice cream you know you are in good ole PA. If you are looking for more than ice cream you can have your fill of chocolates and create a custom gift box of chocolates. The friendly, outgoing staff made me an old-fashioned banana split with all the fixins. They make their own waffle cones, which I hear are delicious. Check out the Web site for coupons, events and products at www.westchesterscoop.com.

By the end of the outing we were all about to burst, but it was well worth it. An ice-cream crawl is a great idea for a group on a hot day and an ice-cream hangover is much preferable! Our group proved that, yes, there was a winner of the scoop-off, and…drum roll please… the winner is: Sprazzo. They prevailed in most categories, but it was a close call. All the shops are worth a visit to decide for yourself.

Kaptain K’s
Ice Cream, Water Ice and More
132 East Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
610-696-0850

Ricky's Candy, Cones and Chaos
114 West Gay St
West Chester PA 19380
610-701-7014

Sprazzo
27 N. High Street
West Chester, PA 19380
610-344-7435

West Chester Scoop
22 N. Darlington St.
West Chester, PA 19380
610-696-0464