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Hello, summer!
It's that time of year when it gets unseasonably warm and humid after it storms. I'll be honest: I do not enjoy hot weather. It makes me miserable. I'm not a beach person. I don't like getting sand in uncomfortable places. I don't like the way sweat feels on my body (except when I'm playing tennis or in the pool). Summer is also the busiest time of year at my job. And while I have a lot of aspects I don't like about the season, there's one thing I can't get enough of: ice cream.
Now, maybe you're wondering: Namrita, you're vegan. Ice cream?
Yes, ice cream.
Out of all the vegan substitutes in the world, vegan ice cream > non-vegan ice cream. I've had such amazing vegan ice cream while traveling and at home. You can find a whole section in the freezer aisles in grocery stores. There are so many brands, so many flavors, and so much to choose from. Even popular brands like Ben & Jerry's, Haagen-Dazs, and Breyer's have non-dairy options. And we could argue that they're only doing it to make a profit so there are a ton of non-dairy brands and local shops you could support instead (I love Planet Oat and So Delicious!). The best places are the hole-in-the-wall gems that only accept cash without proper parking lots with red-and-white signs with basically a hundred options. They give you more ice cream than you could ever consume.
Those places.
I have my favorites too. I have places I frequent more than I should. Check out a few of those below in New Jersey* that offer vegan ice cream so good, you won't miss the "real" thing:
Four Boys, Multiple Locations
Hands down, Four Boys is my favorite ice cream shop on this list. They have a few locations in the area, including Englishtown, Jamesburg, Jackson, and Milltown. Jamesburg is the one I go to and they have a rotating non-dairy flavor of the month. So far, I've had mint chocolate chip, regular chocolate chip, and coconut. It's excellent ice cream and you really can't tell the difference. There's always a long line on summer nights but it's worth the wait. They're cash only but the photo above is their smallest size so you truly get your money's worth with them.
Cookman Creamery, Asbury Park
Cookman Creamery is truly a hidden gem. They specialize in hand-crafted small-batch ice creams with a ton of traditional dairy and plant-based varieties. Their ice cream bases are made from a variety of options like coconut cream, oat milk, and almond butter. I tried their birthday cake flavor (plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free) which is organic coconut cream-based with gluten-free flour, whip cream, and sprinkles. It's so creamy and delicious, and they also rotate their flavors. The June 2023 board is below!
The Bent Spoon, Princeton
The Bent Spoon is one of those iconic ice cream shops and it's been one of my favorites forever, even before I switched to a vegan diet. They're a farm-to-spoon place that uses local and organic ingredients. They rotate their starting flavors, which they post on their Instagram and Facebook pages, and they always have vegan options. I've had both dark chocolate and cookies n' cream, which are fantastic. They used to be cash-only but they now accept credit cards and both Apple and Android Pay.
Coney Waffle, Multiple Locations
You can't talk about iconic Jersey ice cream without mentioning Coney Waffle. Originally sold at Coney Island in the 40s, the dessert came over to Jersey in 2016 with its first location down the shore in Belmar, followed by additional shops in Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Red Bank. It's the quintessential boardwalk treat alongside funnel cake, fried Oreos, and saltwater taffy. In addition to dairy and non-dairy ice cream alike, they sell ice cream cakes and baked goods, and they even do a vegan parve ice cream cake. It's so good, you really can't tell the difference.
Greens and Grains, Multiple Locations
Greens and Grains has quickly become one of my favorite places to go. It isn't dedicated to ice cream; in fact, it's a plant-based chain of restaurants in the Jersey and PA area with excellent food. Last time I visited, I had a Buffalo Ranch Chk’n wrap but they have salads, pitas, sandwiches, and a whole host of other items, including this Temptation vegan oat milk soft serve. My go-to ice cream order used to be vanilla chocolate soft serve twist with sprinkles or hot fudge and now I've found an alternative that doesn't hurt my stomach. It's creamy and delicious without the fat. It is only available at certain locations and I had gotten it from the Middletown location but definitely check it out.
Places I haven't tried yet but would like to:
Beenie's, Morristown
Jersey Freeze, Freehold
Fresh Tiki Bar, Somerville
Ice Cream on 9, Howell
Betty's Ice Box, Asbury Park
Rahway Creamery, Rahway
Dairy Deluxe, Highland Park
Fable Creamery Vegan Ice Cream, Red Bank
I will continue to update this blog post as I find and try new places but if you have recommendations, drop them in the comments!
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