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Print21 great places for ice cream
Discover some neat Montreal-area stores that specialize in yummy frozen treats.
One of my favourite summer memories is my twin daughters’ first taste of ice cream. Just 9-months-old at the time, their eyes got impossibly wide at the discovery of something so sweet, cold and delicious. They went nuts, waving their plump little arms and legs and squealing with delight as they took turns with a spoon. And, of course, the end result was two sticky, chocolate-covered cherubs with enormous smiles. Absolutely precious.
Ice cream conjures up all sorts of childhood memories, from the rare indulgence of a triple scoop cone to the one you shared with the dog. It’s a good bet most family albums have at least one picture of an ice-cream covered toddler, and most kids, at some point, have howled with frustration as the scoop fell off the cone.
A trip to the ice cream shop is about celebrations of pleasures both mundane (we had a nice afternoon at the park) and momentous (our soccer team won a game!). Few experiences are as simple and satisfying as taking your pick from the colourful pots behind the glass case, or licking the melting drips off a cone.
Whatever your preferred pleasure, Montreal and the surrounding area offers plenty of choices for locally-made frozen treats. This summer, why not try a place you’ve never visited before? Here’s a list to get you started:
Twist et Crème
11897 Gouin Blvd. W., Pierrefonds
Popular West Island roadside ice cream stand with nice outdoor space.
Wild Willy’s
20 Cartier Ave., Pointe Claire Village
539 Lakeshore Rd., Dorval
Choose from a wide variety of classic and more adventurous flavours for this homemade ice cream.
Chocomax
835 Decarie Blvd., St. Laurent
Gelato and homemade ice cream. Have your treat dipped in one of eight different coatings.
La Dolce Vita
3776 St. Charles Blvd., Kirkland
Delicious gelatos and sorbets with creative and classic flavours.
Point G
1266, du Mont-Royal Ave. E., Montreal
Known for its macarons, Point G also offers high-quality, gourmet ice cream.
Ripples Crème Glacée
3880, St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal
Award-winning ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt in over 30 classic and unique flavours.
Cocktail Hawaii
1645 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal
www.cocktailhawaii.com
Homemade ice cream and sorbets with fresh, tropical flavours.
Yeh! Frozen yogurt
Three locations:
3804 St. Laurent Blvd.
1651 Ste. Catherine St. W.
5554 Monkland Ave.
Serve yourself frozen yogurt with tons of topping choices; pay by the weight.
Pile Ou Glace
7084 St. Laurent Blvd., (Little Italy), Montreal
Delicious gelato in a prime Little Italy location.
Meu-Meu
4458 St. Denis St., corner Mont-Royal, Montreal
Charming and popular location, offers classic and creative flavours of homemade ice cream and sorbet.
Bo-Bec
1300, Laurier Ave., E. Montreal
Delicious, high-quality ice cream.
Roberto Gelateria
2221 Bélanger St., near Iberville
Gelato enthusiasts swear this is THE place to visit for an authentic Italian frozen dessert.
Glacier Bilboquet
Six locations on and off the island, including:
1311, Bernard Ave., Outremont
4864, Sherbrooke St. W. Westmount
309-C Lakeshore Rd., Pointe Claire
www.bilboquet.ca
High end, handmade frozen treats, three busy locations.
What’s in those frozen treats?
Not sure about the difference between the many kinds of frozen treats? Ice cream typically has the highest butterfat content (around 14 per cent for most North American varieties), while dairy-based gelato has less fat (between 4 and 8 per cent), but more sugar. Water and fruit based sorbet typically has no fat at all. When it comes to sugar content, gelato has a precise balance of sugar to water to prevent it from freezing solid. Gelato also tends to have less air churned into it than ice cream, giving it a denser texture. Frozen yogurt tends to have lower concentrations of fat compared to ice cream, and is often viewed as a healthier alternative, but it is still not as nutritious as regular yogurt, since it typically contains a lot more sugar. Frozen yogurt and sorbet may be good choices for people who are lactose intolerant.
