Longtime Ashley's Fan Tries Arethusa Seasonal Flavors

Last year I lived right across from Arethusa. Where most first years looked out their window and saw the beautiful courtyard of Old Campus, I looked directly out upon Chapel Street, where the small but iconic ice cream shop resides. As my neighbor during those trying but wonderful times that define one’s first year of college, Arethusa has seen me at my best and my worst. Actually, scratch that. It has never seen me at my best, those moments were reserved for celebratory scoops at Ashley's. 

As a long-time Ashley's fan, who is more qualified to review Arethusa’s seasonal flavors? 

Entering the small, interestingly long and skinny parlor, I was greeted by the pleasant aroma that only ice cream can produce. Aside from my thoughts on the feng shui of the building, which frankly seems like a widespread issue in New Haven ice cream shops, I had surprisingly high hopes. Our candidates of the day: Cranberry with Dark Chocolate Chunks, Eggnog, Rum Raisin, and Pumpkin with Ginger Molasses Cookies. 

Pumpkin with Ginger Molasses Cookies. On a cold January day (25 degrees but feels like 3), not many would think that ice cream would be the remedy. This flavor, though, will warm you up from the inside. Dipping my spoon into the scoop, the texture was nearly perfect. It had the ideal consistency, similar frozen yogurt, but still unmistakably ice cream. The little pieces of molasses were a necessary addition, making it so you didn’t feel like you were eating straight pumpkin puree. One bite and I was back in my small town in Massachusetts, stealing bites of leftover pumpkin pie at midnight. Maybe it’s cliche, but this brought me back to the best kind of fall day: the leaves changing colors, everyone sitting outside enjoying themselves. That moment when no one is taking it for granted because you know it is one of the last warm days before winter. Let me stop myself there, can you tell I am sick of the snow? This flavor will have you reminiscing about warmer fall days. Long story short, I am a fan.  

Rum Raisin. Yeah, even after trying this, I’m still confused about what this flavor actually is. It tastes like a hangover. Now, I think that is more of a reflection of me rather than the ice cream. Rum raisin instantly humbles you. Think your palate is mature? Wrong. It's a seasonal flavor that will age you in a second, and one bite was all it took to remind me I'm still a teenager. Rum Raisin is the type of flavor a grandfather would adore. Give anyone over the age of 50 a scoop, and trust me, they will bring it up at every family reunion. I wish I could say this was my favorite, or even that I enjoyed it (granted, it's ice cream and I would still choose it over no ice cream), but that would be a lie. What I can say is that I left wishing I loved it. It's like being at a fancy restaurant and pretending to understand a delicacy, when really you wish you’d ordered mac and cheese from the kids’ menu. Or realizing you're missing out on an inside joke. It's not for me, but I wish it was.  

Eggnog. This was one of Julia’s favorite scoops. I found it enjoyable, but I probably wouldn’t order again. That said, it made me realize I have no idea what eggnog actually is. Turns out it’s as simple as egg yolks, cream, a dash of vanilla, and to spice it up, nutmeg. And, to spice it up more, people often add alcohol such as bourbon or rum (raisins not traditionally included). The Arethusa Eggnog's ice cream flavor almost exactly resembles the seasonal drink. Bonus points for accuracy. So, if you are a fan of the drink, this is for you. 

Cranberry with Dark Chocolate Chunks. Out of the ice creams we sampled, this one was by far the prettiest. Most appealing? Attractive? Let's just say, I don't think I've seen a more photogenic scoop of ice cream. It was classy vanilla cream, a soft light pink, and flecked with bits of real, dried cranberry, perfectly capturing the winter spirit while making your mouth water. It was the kind of scoop that makes you hesitate before taking a bite because you don’t want to ruin it. Once I did, however, my concerns were instantly replaced by bursts of flavor. Ice cream that looks this good has the disadvantage of being held to higher standards than the rest. This flavor definitely held its own. It was a satisfying, solid order. If you’re looking for ice cream that looks good and tastes almost as good as it looks, get Cranberry with Dark Chocolate Chunks.

Now, did these flavors convert me from an Ashley fan? I can't say that they did–though they provided some tough competition. However, as an ice cream lover, I can appreciate the craft. Arethusa elevates itself above your regular ice cream shop. Innovative, unique, delectable, I still don't know what rum raisin is…  if you're tired of your same old order and want to try something new, go to Arethusa.