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The first ice cream parlour in New York opened in 1776, according to the website www.chocolatezoom.com, which names the Top 5 ice cream shops in the Big Apple.
"From a Soprano Spumoni or a Ginger Crème Brûlé to a Wasabi, Honey Lavender or a Tarragon with Pink Pepper, these shops bring tasty, original and healthy to a new level," says editor Cristina Jaleru.
Serendipity 3
"Serendipity is one of those establishments that doesn't need any introduction for the versed New Yorker, as it has been providing an offbeat haven for dessert indulgers for many years," says chocolatezoom.
"The three owners of the place (Calvin, Patch and Steven) owe their success to their understanding of what constitutes good cooking, good serving and a fantastic environment.
"All sorts of celebrities get their ice cream fix at Serendipity, where they can be spotted by tourists that saw the movie (named after the ice cream shop and starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale) and came to see what the fuss was about."
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
"Located in the heart of Chinatown as its name points it out, this ice cream shop was founded by five brothers 30 years ago.
"Henry Seid, the current manager, opened a larger retail and wholesale store in Flushing and a smaller retail store in Manhattan (Nolita Ice Cream) two years ago.
"The new space allows them to work on creating new exciting flavours (such as) Aprikot, which is an Indonesian dessert drink made of avocado and sweet cream and laced with chocolate, Asian Pear Sake sorbet, Wasabi ice cream (a hit overseas) and Mango Cheese Cake, but the best sellers, according to Seid, remain the original ones: Lychee, Mango, Green Tea (not to be mistaken for Japanese Green Tea), Red Bean (Azuki), Ginger and Almond Cookie."
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy
"Their story begins in 1941 when the Oslofsky family started a small dairy farm and they named it after their eldest son, Ronny.
"The extended family continues working in the business providing fresh, quality products in the tri-state area. Apart from the ice cream, they also sell organic milk, yogurt, cheese and butter.
"The ice creams are rich and natural and include such delicacies as Ronnyberry, Toasted Hazelnut, Columbia County Coffee, Lola's Mint Chocolate Lace, Coconut 'To Die For' and Ginger Crème Brûlé.
"Their range is not extensive, but what they have is so good that it gets you coming back for more."
Uncle Louie G's
"Uncle Louie G decided a long time ago to make the best Italian ices and ice creams, but he opened the first store in Brooklyn only in 1999.
"Now it boasts almost 50 locations and it's still growing, due to the delicious concoctions that founders John Russo and his sister-in-law, Carmen Barrios, keep on coming up with, but also keep a secret.
"The Italian ices include flavours such as Cantaloupe Balls (that's a ballsy name to go with), Coney Island Cotton Candy for the child in you, Bubbly Bubble Gum for the ballsy kid in you and many more fruity tastes. The ice creams take over the same flavours and then add some more. Who wouldn't like a dreamy Brooklyn Cheesecake or a fierce Soprano Spumoni, a Creamy Cremolata that's creamier than any cream, or a Rocky Road Rage appropriate for a New Yorker always in a hurry."
Il Laboratorio de Gelato
"The Lower East Side shop was started a few years ago by Jon Snyder, a man who was born into an adventurous family with a penchant for ice cream, a man who, before the age of 25, started and sold another ice cream business, the Ciao Bella.
"The Laboratorio was initially created to cater the sizzling dessert to chefs and restaurants and to work with those who wanted to come up with customized flavours. But it soon included a retail side to it, as the products are excellent.
"Who can say no to a Honey Lavender ice cream? Or to a Ricotta flavour? It's like eating dessert for lunch and not feeling guilty at all ...
"The rest, available just for wholesale, include some things you can only taste in your dreams, like Thai Chili Chocolate, Earl Grey (especially created for the Brit in you), Apple Calvados, Prune Armagnac and Rum Raisin and, to top it all, Champagne Sorbet."
