Ice Cream For Charity

I don't generally give publicity to commercial ice cream companies but when they do something that benefits charity I am happy to help 'spread the word' - hence this latest Blog Of Ice Cream post.

Q: The Event?
A: "The Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night"

Q: Why?
A: Baskin-Robbins has partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation donating $100,000 to the organization to further support the firefighting community.

Q: When?

A: Wednesday 28 April from 5pm to 10pm.

Q: Where?
A: All Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide (US)

Q: What's special about it?

A: Two things:
a) any flavor of Baskin-Robbins ice cream for just 31 cents per 2.5oz scoop!

b) local area firefighters will be in Baskin-Robbins stores offering fire safety tips to children and their families - as well as enjoying ice cream with their local community. The idea is for families to have an ice cream treat whilst learning more about the men and women who dedicate themselves to protecting their community every day AND helping to raise money to support families and co-workers of fallen firefighters.

Blog Editor's Footnote: Naturally this event is going to boost the ice cream company's sales BUT in raising an extra buck or two for a worthy cause and helping educate families about fire safety, I think it merits support. So if you fancy ice cream on 28 April you know where to go!

Ice Cream Inspirations

Have you noticed how people who make ice cream are always looking for new recipes and new sales angles? I have come across 2 very different approaches to this ....

1. Using other foods to inspire new ice cream creations - such as Gino Soldan the master gelatiere did in the summer of 2008. Gino took some traditional British foods and made ice cream out of them. That may not sound very inspiring in itself but look at the foods he worked with and you'll realise what a challenge it was - Yorkshire Pudding, Sausage & Mash, Wensleydale Cheese! Needless, to say it got Gino into the headlines - indeed, sufficiently enough for me to contact him to ask him personally why and how he rose to the challenge. Read my interview with Gino Soldan.

2. Using famous people to inspire new ice cream creations - such as Ben & Jerry's and Baskin-Robbins have already done. "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road" consisting of chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks was launched for a limited period in the summer of 2008 as a tribute to and with the permission of Sir Elton John. Similar ice cream creations have been produced as tributes to Barack Obama, Willie Nelson and John Lennon. Read more about Elton John's ice cream.

I shall keep on the lookout for more in this vein - it makes for such interesting reading!