A National Treat: Sundaes on Sunday

Grab a spoon and go ahead and splurge. Sunday is National Ice Cream Day.

So why is ice cream such a big deal? Here are some facts about one of America’s favorite desserts, provided by the International Dairy Foods Association:

• About 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream is produced each year.
• Nine percent of milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream
• July is actually National Ice Cream Month, as designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
• The third Sunday of July is National Ice Cream Day.

Here are three local spots to celebrate your Sunday with a sundae:

684 Hartz Ave., Danville

(925) 837-8301

www.domenicosdeli.com

Gelato is a rich and creamy alternative to ice cream that, incredibly, has less fat! Full of flavor with a denser quality because it is slow-churned, gelato dates back to the Roman empire.

Domenico’s Café and Gelateria (located next door to their popular delicatessen) offers 13 flavors of the Caffe Classico brand gelato and sorbetto daily.

290 Hartz Ave., Danville

(9925) 837-2222

www.yogurtshack.com

Fro-yo is hot once again, but all shops are not created equal. The Yogurt Shack, around for years in downtown, does self-serve frozen yogurt with the works. A great selection of delicious flavors, a huge selection of toppings, a very clean shop and friendly service set this shack apart from the others.

412 Sycamore Valley Rd. West, Danville

(925) 937-4080

Made fresh daily in the store, Cold Stone’s ice cream and signature custom “mix-ins” have become legendary. It doesn’t hurt that their service culture involves the occasional customer serenade.

175 E. Prospect Ave., Danville

(925) 314-0001

Oh how this place is dangerous, let me count the ways. If their signature line of chocolates, carmel apples, and frozen dipped bananas weren’t enough, they also serve Double Rainbow ice cream and make shakes. Dangerous and delicious, I tell you!

220-B Alamo Plaza, Alamo

(925) 743-1867

Loard’s has been serving up delicious flavors of creamy handmade ice cream in the Bay Area since 1950. The Alamo shop gets good marks regularly for service and cleanliness as well. 

At home:

If you want to serve up an amazing dish of ice cream or shake at home, also try picking up a tub of store brand ice cream, or Bud’s of San Francisco brand.

If you are a members, don’t miss the opportunity to pick up Petaluma-based ice cream maker, Three Twins Organic Ice Cream Madagascar Vanilla at the Danville Costco — two tubs for $10 can’t be beat!

Fieldtrip:

If you love ice cream, Fenton's Creamery should be on your bucket list. In business for 115 years, Fenton's on Oakland's Piedmont Avenue has a dizzying array of flavors and old time ice cream parlor ambience.

Trivia factoid: the iconic parlor is featured in Bay Area based Pixar Film's 2009 release, 'Up.'

• Where: 12893 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
• Why: The story of Golnazar Gourmet Ice Cream started in Iran, when Hossain Golnazar apprenticed in an ice cream store. It was at the ice cream store where he learned to make ice cream by hand. Fast forward several years and this store introduces it's saffron ice cream and frozen dessert items to the American market from San Ramon, California. Today, the Golnazar family makes many enjoyable ice creams including Pistachio Saffron, Walnut Saffron and a curiously new favorite, Sherbet with Noodles. You can find Golnazar ice cream at Whole Foods, Nugget Markets and other stores and shops throughout the Bay Area.

• Where: 2305 Camino Ramon in San Ramon
• Why: Founded by William Dreyer in 1906, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream makes a vast array of ice cream flavors. On the menu you will find such fun flavors as Berry Rainbow Sherbert, Butter Pecan, Cookies ‘N Cream, Girl Scouts Samoas, Spumoni and Triple Cookie Fudge Sundae, as well as traditional favors such as vanilla and chocolate. Dryer’s is the original maker of Rocky Road ice cream, born when William Dreyer partnered with candy maker Joseph Edy. Dryer used his wife’s sewing shears to cut the marshmallows into bite-sized pieces to make the first batch of Rocky Road. Today Dryer’s, part of the Nestle family, continues to make its rich, creamy ice cream along with new favorites like Dreyer’s Slow Churned Grand Light Ice Cream.

• Where: 2005 Crow Canyon Place in San Ramon
• Why: For more than 60 years, Baskin-Robbins has been serving up ice cream treats to delighted customers all across the US, whether it's an old-fashioned favorite like pralines 'n cream or mint chocolate chip or a regional favorite like Splish Splash. The ice cream empire recently introduced Bright Choices, a delectable and not-quite-so sinful line of low calorie, fat and sugar free and non-dairy ice creams, like caramel turtle truffle, butter almond crunch and strawberry sorbet.

• 600 Market Place in San Ramon
• Why: Cold Stone Creamery has been around for two decades, serving freshly-made ice cream in fun flavors, like cake batter and sweet cream, combined with mix-ins, such as M&Ms, pecans, and brownies. Cold Stone also offers petite cakes, cupcakes and birthday cakes, as well as sundaes and smoothies, shakes and coffee drinks. The store also has non-dairy smoothies and Sinless San Fat, a non-fat, no sugar added, 110 calorie ice cream. The friendly ice cream masters at the San Ramon location are ready to offer up free samples and advice in your quest for the perfect ice cream concoction.

• Where: 2005 Crow Canyon Place in San Ramon
• Why: See's Candies in San Ramon is located in the center of the Crow Canyon shopping center. This spacious location offers a variety of premade candy boxes ranging from half a pound to four pounds of assorted chocolates, or you can make a custom box with all your favorites. Non-chocolate lovers can snag some of the famous peanut brittle or lollipops.

• Where: 21001 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon
• Why: Dairy Queen has been at this San Ramon location for 10 years. Specializing in ice cream and deserts, it also offers milkshakes, french fries and burgers.