374702 Sun Feb 25 02:09:54 -0800 2007 73 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2326989 I'm throwing a friend of mine a blast from the past birthday party complete with laser tag (we're 80s babies) and an ice cream bar. I'm planning on buying good vanilla ice cream and laying out a bunch of toppings--but with a semi-adult twist. Aside from the usual suspects like hot fudge, crushed cookies and candy, what would you have on hand? I love mandarin oranges in syrup or lychees in syrup over mine, maybe azuki or sweet mung beans. Other ideas? Sun Feb 25 02:09:54 -0800 2007 64215 cimui 1 2326997 Fresh buttered popcorn. Cinnamon flavored graham crackers w/ sauteed apples in Calvados. Chocolate (white or dark) covered pretzels. Sun Feb 25 02:30:00 -0800 2007 2326989 15572 Emme 1 2327051 This just popped up in conversation last night. One of the early New American restaurants in Salt Lake City was Café Bacchus. The chef has resurfaced at a new wine bar in town and it reminded me of what was then (late '80s')a most unusual dessert: Homemade vanilla bean ice cream with raspberries and balsamic vinegar. AWESOME! Sun Feb 25 04:49:22 -0800 2007 2326989 10576 GroovinGourmet 2 2348859 I recently bought a bottle of fig balsamic vinegar with just this in mind... Wonderful -- great combo of sweet & tart -- over Breyer's vanilla. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend my favorite food of all time, Jeni's Ice Cream, in Columbus, OH -- yes, she does mail order, and yes, these flavors are as decadent as they sound and worth every penny... http://www.jenisicecreams.com/ Sat Mar 03 10:59:51 -0800 2007 2327051 14202 spyturtle008 1 2327058 I like gummy bears in my vanilla ice cream, but I don't know anyone else who does. :) my friend used to work at a small frozen yogurt place (not ColdStone) and she said some of the more popular choices were - animal cookies (the pink and white ones with sprinkles), honey roasted peanuts, fresh pineapple with coconut, and granola. Sun Feb 25 05:03:14 -0800 2007 2326989 26657 bijoux16 1 2327114 Dark amber maple syrup (preferably from Maine). Sun Feb 25 06:07:56 -0800 2007 2326989 11260 HDinCentralME 1 2327144 Raspberry-Chipotle Sauce. Spicy, adult dessert fun! Sun Feb 25 06:28:45 -0800 2007 2326989 16797 bogie 1 2327151 chocolate chili sauce Sun Feb 25 06:36:18 -0800 2007 2326989 55914 marlie202 1 2327189 Malted Milk Powder - The salty grit is a good combo with the sweet smooth. Sun Feb 25 07:01:07 -0800 2007 2326989 76859 violet heather 2 2327384 Exactly! My big brother always put Nestle Quik powder on his ice cream. Ah, good memories. The chocolatey crunch is a great compliment to the smooth vanilla. Sun Feb 25 08:46:14 -0800 2007 2327189 15900 sillyrabbit 3 2348565 I *love* Ovaltine powder on vanilla ice cream. Sat Mar 03 08:40:29 -0800 2007 2327384 47813 chigirl71 1 2327211 Dulce de leche Cereal - either healthy (Grape Nuts) or indulgent (Cocoa Puffs) Pretzels Crushed peanut butter sandwich crackers Red hots Crushed chips of any kind Sun Feb 25 07:17:12 -0800 2007 2326989 10681 piccola 1 2327216 Treacly Pedro Ximinez sherry A shot of scotch with a dusting of finely ground espresso beans Sun Feb 25 07:22:36 -0800 2007 2326989 10520 carswell 2 2327311 I was going to recommend finely ground espresso powder. It sounds a little wierd if you've never tried it, but it definitely transcends. Never tried it with scotch; that sounds delicious. (Hello, Carswell) Sun Feb 25 08:09:06 -0800 2007 2327216 10365 GG Mora 1 2327257 Not really adult, but I love salted Spanish peanuts & really good honey... Sun Feb 25 07:43:37 -0800 2007 2326989 10392 torta basilica 1 2327301 caramel and pretzels Sun Feb 25 08:04:50 -0800 2007 2326989 10216 Lucia 1 2327368 kahlua, warmed peanut butter nutella wet nuts Sun Feb 25 08:38:40 -0800 2007 2326989 57253 lucyis 1 2327374 Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal, especially after the ice cream gets kinda soft and melty! Sun Feb 25 08:41:52 -0800 2007 2326989 10877 Sarah 2 2327682 And Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Captain Crunch. Sun Feb 25 10:47:01 -0800 2007 2327374 15572 Emme 3 2329937 Yes! CT Crunch on Dreyer's Double Vanilla rocks! I'm not alone! Mon Feb 26 09:02:18 -0800 2007 2327682 76226 Oh Robin 1 2327417 coarse sea salt and apple pie Sun Feb 25 08:58:53 -0800 2007 2326989 15457 peppatty 2 2328648 First time I see "apple pie" as a topping... Sun Feb 25 17:19:43 -0800 2007 2327417 10681 piccola 1 2327427 Espresso powder and brandy. Thank you Julia Child! Sun Feb 25 09:01:26 -0800 2007 2326989 23106 Flour Child 1 2327504 Your favorite granola Sun Feb 25 09:34:33 -0800 2007 2326989 10426 shaebones 1 2327585 Bar none, amarena cherries (wild Italian mountain cherries in syrup; Fabbri is the most commonly available brand in the US, in the white & blue glass/porcelainish vase-shaped containers). Sun Feb 25 10:09:57 -0800 2007 2326989 13819 Karl S 1 2327605 Extra crunchy peanut butter. That's all I want on my vanilla....... Sun Feb 25 10:15:46 -0800 2007 2326989 65558 Abacus 2 2327929 You can also mix the peanut butter with the maple syrup someone mentioned earlier, and pour over a combo of both... or Kahlua. Sun Feb 25 12:24:10 -0800 2007 2327605 10158 susancinsf 2 2328651 Almond butter works well too - it's runnier than PB, more like a sauce Sun Feb 25 17:21:22 -0800 2007 2327605 10681 piccola 1 2327622 Rhubarb compote. We just had this last night over vanilla ice cream. And such a beautiful color. Sun Feb 25 10:23:50 -0800 2007 2326989 67295 sue zookie 1 2327818 Someone's already mentioned basalmic vinegar, but here's another fave of mine: Powdered ginger. Divine! Sun Feb 25 11:38:49 -0800 2007 2326989 12752 MsDiPesto 1 2327822 Crushed mint Gril Scout Cookies! Sun Feb 25 11:41:20 -0800 2007 2326989 42278 Displaced California Foodie 2 2327905 Edy's out east has this already blended into a vanilla base this time of year. Very good. Sun Feb 25 12:13:49 -0800 2007 2327822 11290 jfood 1 2327834 Perhaps toasted cubes of really good pound or chiffon cake? Then topped with the eater's choice of syrup? Awww, now I am getting hungry! ETA: How about a riff on waffle cones? Make a batch of homemade waffles, perhaps a flavored kind like gingerbread, cut into strips and toast until slighty crispy. Then people can poke as many strips as they like into their cups of ice cream or dip into a selection of syrups. Sun Feb 25 11:44:21 -0800 2007 2326989 76268 newbatgirl 1 2327940 I like to top my vanilla ice-cream with fresh-ground black pepper, and some Malton sea salt. Sometime I will substitute the black pepper with chilli powder. I always like to have some salty component with my sweets, and sometimes a kick! (like this one) Sun Feb 25 12:30:35 -0800 2007 2326989 54254 kobetobiko 2 2328743 me too! i've also tried crispy bacon. Sun Feb 25 18:05:32 -0800 2007 2327940 37470 jem 1 2328225 Not necessarily unusual, but honey or kahlua or irish cream Sun Feb 25 14:29:35 -0800 2007 2326989 49541 debbiel 1 2328666 toasted coconut pineapple salted pistachios - i get them shelled from Trader Joes wet walnuts brownie cubes peanut brittle candy cane bark turtles cinammon and sugar Fresh whipped cream Sun Feb 25 17:27:48 -0800 2007 2326989 20483 jenniebnyc 1 2328683 I don't think I went to a single 80s birthday party that didn't somehow involve marshmallow fluff. Sun Feb 25 17:35:52 -0800 2007 2326989 64585 tomato 2 2328693 i guess we should add Magic Shell to the list too then. Sun Feb 25 17:39:55 -0800 2007 2328683 20483 jenniebnyc 2 2333293 Heh! Like those "Double Dare" themed parties (after the TV show) where one of the "challenges" involved sticking your face into a vat of this stuff to fish out a spoon with your tongue? I loved those!! Err... okay, never mind. Tue Feb 27 06:49:35 -0800 2007 2328683 64215 cimui 3 2337717 I forgot about Double Dare & their physical challenges! Rock on marshmallow fluff! Wed Feb 28 10:22:03 -0800 2007 2333293 67061 lizrdkng67 4 2358004 the big nose, where you had to pull the flag out of the nostril! yikes. Tue Mar 06 10:22:22 -0800 2007 2337717 57801 lollya 1 2328694 trader joe's pumpkin pie spice with extra ginger or cardamon and something taught to me in quebec when I was eight- dark maple syrup, mmm.... Sun Feb 25 17:40:34 -0800 2007 2326989 41097 chocolatstiletto 1 2328904 Grade B Maple Syrup Assorted unusual honeys like buckwheat, tupalo, leatherwood Assorted premium liqueurs like Drambuie, Benedictine, Grand Marnier, Chambord, etc. Homemade Fruit syrups and sauces Ginger Syrup Fruit compotes Nut compotes Hot Sauces, especially some of the sweet and fruit based ones Whiskey, rum, and spirit soaked fruit and dried fruit like dark rum soaked pineapple or Bourbon soaked dried apricots Reduced balsamic vinegar Assorted high quality baking style spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger Chopped candied ginger, candied citrus peel, candied fruit Dried pineapple, banana chips, etc. Assorted chopped nuts Honey roasted nuts Wine and spice poached pears, peaches, and stone fruit Rough chopped, sugar and spice sauteed apples Dessert wines Bananas Foster Cherries Jubilee Bitters Sun Feb 25 19:26:15 -0800 2007 2326989 10732 JMF 1 2328979 Creme de menthe over vanilla Peanut butter with hershey's chocolate syrup mixed over vanilla Sun Feb 25 19:59:56 -0800 2007 2326989 20387 tobycat 2 2358012 aw toby... my nana used to make me ice cream with creme de menthe on it. ahhh. i miss her. Tue Mar 06 10:23:51 -0800 2007 2328979 57801 lollya 1 2328984 I think melted peanut butter or peanut butter cups would be amazing on vanilla ice cream. or perhaps melted crunchy m&ms. Sun Feb 25 20:02:00 -0800 2007 2326989 77832 GiGii 1 2329064 Midori sour Sun Feb 25 21:07:03 -0800 2007 2326989 11583 ipsedixit 1 2329255 I have always loved good Vanilla Ice Cream with some warmed real Grade B Maple Syrup. Just the right combo. Mon Feb 26 00:54:23 -0800 2007 2326989 10838 Fleur 1 2329951 dark maple syrup mixed with a shot of Jack Daniel's - pure vanilla heaven to top off your ice cream! Mon Feb 26 09:05:29 -0800 2007 2326989 67061 lizrdkng67 1 2329973 Get a really good sweet Russian Imperial Stout and make a Stout Float. Man oh man are these good. Mon Feb 26 09:14:39 -0800 2007 2326989 12484 MVNYC 1 2330033 Bailey's Irish Cream Mon Feb 26 09:26:34 -0800 2007 2326989 15687 PamelaD 1 2330836 my dad's thanksgiving cranberry sauce some coffee or espresso, gets a bit melty and oh so delicious! Mon Feb 26 12:32:33 -0800 2007 2326989 21564 themirthmobile 1 2331141 Brown sugar! Mon Feb 26 13:38:15 -0800 2007 2326989 14721 Tara9000 1 2331899 Amaretto Mon Feb 26 16:42:33 -0800 2007 2326989 41864 optimal forager 1 2332033 My Dad's cousin invented Colby cheese. He was less well known for his ice cream sunday known as a Joe's Special. Vanilla ice cream covered with chocolate syrup, plain malted milk powder on top of chocolate sauce, then sprinkled with peanuts. Mon Feb 26 17:23:26 -0800 2007 2326989 22252 Lilbug 1 2332093 Spanish preserved pumpkin chunks (they come in a jar of dark sweet syrup and I forget the name) and toasted pepitas. Mon Feb 26 17:37:30 -0800 2007 2326989 70866 Tartinet 1 2332658 i had this in japan and it was wonderful: a really mild soy sauce drizzled over vanilla ice cream. just a little bit though... also: RIVER CHOCOLATE COMPANY CHOCOLATE SAUCES!! totally amazing. made from single plantation chocolates and mixed so each has a distinct flavor. my favorites are the moroccan orange (blood orange and caradmom infused cream in dark chocolate) and kumbe african (dark chocolate with a kenyan dark roast, delicate) http://www.localharvest.org/store/M6993 Mon Feb 26 20:55:49 -0800 2007 2326989 78142 gezzell108 1 2332664 I second soy sauce! Sounds starnge I know.. but it comes out like butterscotch, really! Works best with vanilla soft serve Ithink... although I'm a fan of fresh churned myself :) Mon Feb 26 20:58:42 -0800 2007 2326989 78126 SarahAlex 1 2332776 Wow. These suggestions are WONDERFUL. I'm going to have the best ice cream bar that's ever existed thanks to all of you. =) Mon Feb 26 22:11:40 -0800 2007 2326989 64215 cimui 2 2333145 Can you report back afterwards and tell us what you put out and what were the favorites? Tue Feb 27 06:01:59 -0800 2007 2332776 10732 JMF 3 2333261 Yes--if I live to tell the tale. =) Tue Feb 27 06:42:36 -0800 2007 2333145 64215 cimui 1 2333025 shredded coconut Tue Feb 27 04:46:28 -0800 2007 2326989 65355 timmy 1 2336691 Maple Syrup with walnuts gets my vote. It is so delicious... maybe I'll go get one for breakfast! Wed Feb 28 04:55:21 -0800 2007 2326989 12606 MeffaBabe 1 2336693 Ripe, ripe sliced peaches. Wed Feb 28 04:58:24 -0800 2007 2326989 49959 thegolferbitch 1 2336807 1) "Sawdust": put any old cheap peanut brittle through the Cuisinart to powder it. 2) Any liqueur---Kahlua, amaretto, Chambord, Chocolate Cherry, etc.. 3) Put some chopped glace' fruit (fruitcake fruit) in a Mason jar with some walnuts or pecans and some chocolate chips. Cover with dark rum (like Myer's), put a top on the jar, and let sit ad infinitum in the refrigerator. Wed Feb 28 06:14:26 -0800 2007 2326989 15521 Querencia 1 2348248 Had this at Bouillabaisse 126 in Brooklyn - was the recipe of a former manager's French grandmother. It was a warmed mixture of halved strawberries slightly cooked in butter, a bit of browned sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Serve over vanilla gelato. This was a nice variation on the berries dashed with balsamic that I like to have in the summer. Sat Mar 03 06:03:38 -0800 2007 2326989 79341 lalache 1 2348542 Chestnut honey, thinned out slightly and warmed. Sat Mar 03 08:34:12 -0800 2007 2326989 11225 rabaja 1 2349552 Ice cream bar was a huge hit, Chowhounds! Thanks again for all your great suggestions. Toppings served included: warmed grade B maple syrup clover honey homemade hot fudge and butterscotch sauces cherry brandy pear schnapps Bailey's bourbon whiskey roasted pears candied pecans, crushed pistachios crushed potato chips crushed rice Chex, peanut butter Cap'n'Crunch, Rice Krispie Treats cereal, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch espresso powder cubes of pound cake cubes of cheese cake phyllo cups graham cracker crumbs I didn't take a poll to see what my guests liked best--all the toppings got hit pretty hard--but my personal favorite combo was bourbon and honey. Wow. I might have to have that again for dessert tonight. =) Sat Mar 03 15:46:57 -0800 2007 2326989 64215 cimui 1 2351724 Once, aftter poaching pears in port, I boiled the leftover port into a syrupy sauce... that was the best vanilla ice cream topping I've ever had. Second best was chocolate fudge zinfandel sauce from a Napa winery. Can't remember which one. Sun Mar 04 16:18:52 -0800 2007 2326989 55069 2m8ohed 2 2355702 Mmm, the pears were definitely a nice, nice addition. I liked roasting because you end up with a crust that's almost carmelized. I plan to try this with other fruit. Bet figs and peaches would be great. Sounds like an interesting sauce. I haven't really ever really gotten the hang of chocolate with non-dessert red wine (most wines are acidic enough that the combo tastes a bit off to me), but if you can remember the name, I'd love to try. Mon Mar 05 16:31:53 -0800 2007 2351724 64215 cimui 1 2356197 PLAIN M&MS Mon Mar 05 19:17:13 -0800 2007 2326989 68998 kleinfortlee 1 2356258 how about canned cream of corn? sounds very asian Mon Mar 05 19:31:42 -0800 2007 2326989 24546 bitsubeats 1 2357371 crushed lorna doone's. Tue Mar 06 08:17:30 -0800 2007 2326989 71193 louweezy