PLEASE NOTE: Only selected stores distribute the free cones - so please check first to avoid disappointment.
Did you hear that Ben and Jerry are forming a new political party? Despite their political activism the rumour is not true. However, if they did my kids might show an iota of interest in voting. According to the kids, it goes without saying that Ben and Jerry's is the only ice-cream worth buying. My mutterings about how it should be for the price are of no interest to my kids (until they earn their own money!)
Everyone loves Ben and Jerry's ice-cream
In another life I would have married either Ben or Jerry (or both). I could then legitimately and selflessly throw out all the 'out of date' food that's in the freezer. I'd forget my inner critic's nagging cries that once on the lips is forever on the hips. I would totally restock with the freezer with Ben and Jerry's ice-cream just to help out my chubby hubby's market research program.
Now but back to reality. How can I possibly resist the notion of Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day? It's the Ben and Jerry way to celebrate and say thanks to their sacrificing patrons (getting poorer by the tub) for another year of support. This free cone day started in 1979 and has been popular every year since. It's a bit like a communist version of Willy Wonkers golden ticket but a bit colder and more likely to give you a tooth freeze.
Everything you didn't want to know about the History of Ben and Jerry's Ice-cream
When trying to apply for a second mortgage to fund a family's ice-cream habit, I discovered that there's much more to this franchise than that it has stores in 26 countries. The historical research is lost on my children. I admit there are a few gaps in the data but if I am supported by research funding I am willing to fly to the U.S. and make a proposition to these blokes.
If you want you can skip the next few paragraphs and get to straight to the mouth watering list of flavours. But if you do that you will be intellectually and ethically impoverished… or have a few more minutes in your day that you can never get back.
In 1978 for some unknown reason Ben and Jerry invested in a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making. It's probably the last course that most of us would sign up for. However, may I suggest that that's the best few dollars they ever spent. This is a lesson for life about the value of improving your own education. Ironically I can't buy a tub of their ice-cream for the same amount!
At that time Ben and Jerry had to borrow money to open their first ice-cream scoop shop in a renovated service station. Not ideal I would imagine but things have panned out well in the end!
Line up for Ben and Jerry's ice-cream in Paris
For their one year anniversary Ben and Jerry celebrated by holding the first-ever Free Cone Day: free scoops for all, all day long. The annual ice cream give-away continues today in scoop shops around the world. These two guys have created a legendary ice cream and the free cone day that is a euphoric experience for all.
And as they say… the rest is history. Except there's a lot more that's happened in the middle so bear with me.
For some crazy reason in 1983 Ben and Jerry decided to build the world's largest ice cream sundae weighing 27,102 pounds. Even my kids couldn't eat that even if I starved them for a week.
Just the thought of baked alaska makes me want ice-cream!
In 1985 they had an even better idea. They established the
Ben and Jerry's Foundation that donates 7.5% of the company's annual pre-tax profits to fund community-oriented projects. I am curious about the figure, why not 7 or 8, but I suppose that doesn't matter. It's still in the bazillions!
In 1986 they decided to go big, really big again and created the world's largest baked Alaska. Now you're talking. I'm really regretful that I didn't think of marrying one of them.
Four years later they started to get really political. Ben and Jerry came out against Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone before most people could even spell it. Shortly after eight million Ben and Jerry's pints carried a Support Farm Aid message. This was a non-profit organisation to keep family farmers on their land. I must mention the plight of Aussie farmers in my next letter of intent to them.
Ben and Jerry's in Amsterdam
A significant year in world history has to be 1991 when the Pint-Sized Legend AKA Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was born. The sad thing is I am old enough to be, but aren't, it's mother. It also means that my children have never lived in a time when there was no cookies and cream ice-cream so they don't understand how lucky they really are.
Of course, even before I paid meticulous attention to ice-cream I could have told you that the flavour was going to rocket to the top of the most-popular list. It's like Marilyn Munroe, the popularity never dies. To think that this flavor was the result of an anonymous note scribbled on the shop's suggestion board. I bet that customer is kicking themselves that they didn't patent the idea first.
In the early 1990s Ben and Jerry, being good, wholesome, all American guys, took a Stand for Children. They established the national non profit, Children's Defence Fund to bring children's basic needs to the top of the national agenda.
I imagine these guys sitting at their gold plated bar pondering the name of their next best seller. Some are understandable (albeit crazy) like Phish® ice cream was named after a Vermont-based musical group. But, how else would they come up with Wavy Gravy unless it was ale inspired?
Ben and Jerry look pretty relaxed… and why wouldn't they?
At the turn of the millenium they were heavily involved in a campaign to help fight global warming. They also protested the proposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and supporedt Fair Trade efforts which explains the Coffee, Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz ice-cream flavour. Honestly, these guys are right up there next to knights and saints.
Ben and Jerry's Scoop shops sell sundaes, smoothies, sorbets, shakes and ice cream cakes. Heaven sweet heaven, here I come.
Flavours
Some of these delicious flavours are self explanatory but others are a bit obscure so I have included a brief description. If you like you can turn this into a family guessing game… guess what might be in the 'The Couch Potato'
flavor for example. Maybe this is more obvious than first thought. This ice-cream (made for me) includes: Vanilla Ice Cream with a Salty Caramel Swirl and Chocolatey Covered Potato Chip Clusters. Who would have thought of that combination? Ben and Jerry of course.
Read on and drool!
Cherry Garcia®
Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries and
Chocolatey Flakes
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Chocolate Therapy®
Chocolate Ice Cream with Chocolate Cookies Swirled with Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream
Chunky Monkey®
Banana Ice Cream with Chocolatey Chunks and Walnuts
Coconut Seven Layer Bar
Coconut Ice Cream with Coconut & Chocolatey Flakes, Walnuts and Swirls of Cookie &
Butterscotch
Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz®
Coffee Ice Cream with Espresso Bean Chocolatey Chunks (good breakfast selection perhaps)
Mint Chocolate Chunk™
Mint Ice Cream made with Peppermint Extract and Chocolatey Chunks
New York Super Fudge Chunk®
Chocolate Ice Cream with White & Dark Chocolatey Chunks, Chocolatey-Covered Almonds,
Walnuts & Pecans
Strawberry
Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with Strawberries & a Thick Cookie Swirl
Sweet Cream & Cookies
Triple Caramel Chunk
Caramel Ice Cream with a Swirl of Caramel & Chocolatey Covered Caramel Chunks
Vanilla
Wafer Wonderland
Sweet cream ice cream with chocolate covered wafers & a nougat swirl
Phish Food®
Chocolate Ice Cream with Gooey Marshmallow, Caramel Swirls & Chocolatey Fish (not real fish!) I thought this was a mad name and flavour but it's one of the kid's favorites.
Hope you have time to get on into a store on free cone day and enjoy your free ice-cream. To find the store closest to you click
here
