Ice Cream Parlors

Ice cream parlors (or parlours) are places that sell ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in three varieties: soft serve, which is typically dispensed by a machine with a limited number of flavors (e.g. chocolate, vanilla, and "twist", a mix of the two) and regular ice cream (also called hard-packed ice cream) and gelato, both of which may be available in as many flavors as a parlor has room to display in its freezers. Gelato is Italian ice cream that typically has almost half the butterfat content of ice cream and a smoother texture. Gelato parlors often produce their own product and don't serve American ice cream or soft serve. Sorbet is a frozen treat made from fruit, syrup and ice. No milk or cream is used. Frozen yogurt is a common low-fat ice cream alternative with a smooth texture that is similar to soft serve ice cream. All of these frozen products may be sold in ice cream cones, cups, sundaes, and milkshakes. Some parlors may also sell ice cream cakes, ice cream bars and other pre-packaged frozen sweets. In addition to frozen dessert products, many modern ice cream parlors also sell a variety of hot fast foods.

While some parlors remain open all year round (typically in warmer weather locations), many parlors colder climates stay open only during warmer months, particularly from March to November. Parlors in major metro areas, including those in colder climates, often remain throughout the year to satisfy high consumer demand for frozen ice creams, yogurts, and sorbets. Parlors vary in terms of environment, with some having only an order-up window and outside seating to others having complete indoor facilities. Some parlors have added drive through windows as well.

Read more about Ice Cream Parlors:  List of Ice Cream Parlor Chains

Famous quotes containing the words ice cream, ice, cream and/or parlors:

    Not to like ice cream is to show oneself uninterested in food.
    Joseph Epstein (b. 1937)

    Sole and self-commanded works,
    Fears not undermining days,
    Grows by decays,
    And, by the famous might that lurks
    In reaction and recoil,
    Makes flames to freeze, and ice to boil.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    It’s just like when you’ve got some coffee that’s too black, which means it’s too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour too much cream in it, you won’t even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep.
    Malcolm X (1925–1965)

    Down in the street there are ice-cream parlors to go to
    And the pavement is a nice, bluish slate-gray. People laugh a lot.
    John Ashbery (b. 1927)