We all scream for ice cream

It’s hot out there!

Summer is a wonderful time for ice cream and there are lots of different options from which to choose. Below are just a few of the many places that serve ice cream in the valley and it is by no means an exhaus-tive list. My parents LOVE ice cream so when they came to visit, I thought it would be fun to take them around to some local Grand Junction places and do some taste testing with me.

Our first stop was the delicious Enstrom Candies, 701 Colorado Ave., in downtown Grand Junction. Known worldwide for its amazing toffee, they also have a busy ice cream business.

All three of us sampled a variety of flavors such as German Chocolate Cake, Tahitian Vanilla, Root Beer, Piña Colada, White Chocolate Cashew, and — of course! — Enstrom’s Toffee ice cream.

My Dad even ordered a sundae with hot caramel, hot fudge, crushed toffee, whipped cream and a cherry on top.

The favorite? The Enstrom’s Toffee ice cream Next, we swung by Taco Party just a few blocks away at 126 S. 5th St. I had been told by a number of people that their in-house homemade ice cream was lovely, so I was curious to check it out. I didn’t even know they served ice cream! Their flavors are unique and change regularly. I particularly liked the smooth texture.

There were two choices available the day we stopped by and they were Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Guajillo Grapefruit.

The favorite? We couldn’t decide unanimously. I even bought some small containers and took them to a dinner party for more opinions and it was a tie.

Lastly, I drove out to Graff Dairy, 581 29 Road, with my husband (my parents — unlike me — ate all of their ice cream so were done for the day. I tried to let them know we had to pace ourselves and just take a few bites, but they weren’t about to let any of our ice cream go to waste!) Graff Dairy was hopping with lots of little kids and sports teams there for the classic soft serve ice cream. We tried the Oatmeal Cookie, Salted Caramel and Peach flavors.

The favorite? Salted Caramel.

On the last night of my parents’ visit, we had dinner at Fiesta Guadalajara, 710 North Ave., in Grand Junction.

Our dinner was yummy and then I remembered that they have ice cream too! So, of course, I had to order it and include in our very unofficial taste testing. Their Fried Ice Cream was absolutely terrific! Crunchy and flavorful on the outside, cold and delicious on the inside.

Bottom Line — Drizzled with chocolate and honey and served with whipped cream, this Fried Ice Cream creation was the surprise ultimate favorite of our ice cream tasting extravaganza!

If you have any food and beverage-related events or information you want readers to know about, please email me at AllThingsFoodChristine@gmail.com.

Graff Dairy at 581 29 Road

Photos by CHRISTINE GALLAGHER

A yummy ice cream sundae from Enstrom’s featuring their toffee ice cream, caramel, chocolate, whipped cream, toffee crumbles and a cherry on top.

The fantastic fried ice cream from Grand Junction’s Fiesta Guadalajara on North Avenue. So delicious!

Graff Dairy rotating options on a colorful sign.

FOOD NEWS

ALLAGHER