Jahn's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor; Birthday Edition!

Jahn's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor is a special place.  I mentioned Jahn's to my mother, who instantly started reminiscing about her childhood in The Bronx.  Jahn's opened 120 years ago and used to be a local franchise with locations all over New York City.  Now the only remaining one is in Jackson Heights, Queens.  They serve typical diner fare, and many of the locals just stop in for a meal without any dessert at all.  It is when you turn to the back of the menu that you discover the magic and nostalgia that gives Jahn's its legacy.  It is also where you will find the creation that inspired the most epic ice cream adventure yet.  You see, Jahn's sells a sundae known as The Kitchen Sink; a monumental ice cream creation that they will not serve to fewer than 8 people.  Of course, this meant it was time to rally the troupes for

Ice Cream Adventure; Birthday Edition

And so it was that on a fine June day my loved ones and friends made a pilgrimage to Jackson Heights, to the last standing Jahn's where, to this day, they still make all their own ice cream and toppings.  Once we were assembled and had thoroughly colonized the back of the restaurant, we placed the order: "The Kitchen Sink, please."

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If you look to the right of the spoon handle, you can see the flame on what we can only guess was a graham cracker they lit on fire and stuck into the sundae.

So what is in a kitchen sink under all that homemade whipped cream?  It starts with two scoops of every flavor of ice cream Jahn's offers; Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee, Butter Pecan, Cherry Vanilla, Pistachio Almond, Cookies & Cream, Vanilla Fudge, Chocolate Chip, Mint Chip, and Sherbet.  On top of that they add fudge and caramel sauces, banana, pineapple and nuts, mountains of fresh whipped cream, and enough sprinkles and cherries to fill your heart's desire.  There might have been more in there; it was hard to keep track of everything.  No two servings and no two bites were the same.  Once a layer of flavor was uncovered a new one emerged below.  It would take a team of dessert archeologists to pick apart the delicious madness that is The Kitchen Sink, and they would need to work fast!  As it was, our last few scoops were a wonderful ice cream soup. 

I begin the excavation, I mean serving, of the ice cream.

Everyone loved it!  We enjoyed digging through, looking for new flavors, and guessing what we had each gotten in our bowls.  I went for some green ice cream that I was assuming was the Mint Chip and wound up with Pistachio Almond instead.  I'm not usually a fan of pistachio ice cream, but this one, with almond mixed in (which I love), was absolutely luxurious.  All the ice cream at Jahn's has wonderful flavors and a creamy texture that lets you know it's the real deal.  We kept digging, eating, and enjoying all the way to the bottom of the bowl. 

Mission thoroughly accomplished!

Even with its behemoth size, a Kitchen Sink alone was not nearly enough to sate the ice cream appetites of these adventurers!  Sundaes and sodas were enjoyed all around.

Reita and Mike "split" a Banana Royal.

Jenny and her Root Beer Float

Kirin went for the Orange Sherbet Soda, which she discovered was "perfect for a hot summer day."

Beautiful sundaes for all!  I lost track of who had what after a while.

I also discovered that people tend to make this face when photographed with ice cream.  Sky has no clue what danger her sundae is in.

If you think this kid looks excited about his ice cream, you should have seen the dance he did when the fruit salad he ordered showed up!

Ron might have had to share his ice cream.

All in all it was a beautiful, tasty celebration.  I was surrounded by the amazing people who make my life sweet and rich every day, even when there is no dessert to be had.  The staff at Jahn's were incredible hosts and brought dish after dish of delicious ice cream, leaving us all refreshed and satisfied.  What a perfect way to start my next trip around the sun.

The Rundown:
Where: Jahn's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor
8104 37th Avenue #1
Flushing, NY 11372
What they're known for: Homemade nostalgic ice cream
A single cup or cone: $3.40
Most Extreme Menu Item: The Kitchen Sink $55.95
Non-ice cream menu options: Full diner menu

Eddie's Sweet Shop

Nostalgia Alert!  This ice cream adventure takes a wonderful wander down memory lane to a street corner in Forest Hills, Queens.  Eddie's Sweet Shop is an old school soda fountain where everything - the ice cream, syrups, toppings, and whipped cream - are all hand made.  Ice cream has been served here for over 100 years.  The store has had a few different names and owners in that time, but the spirit remains.  What makes Eddie's a success is a commitment to quality.

Eddie's Sweet Shop has all the classic ice cream flavors you love.  While you can just get a scoop of ice cream, I've never actually seen anyone do that.  Once you walk in and see what everyone else is enjoying, you will want to order big.  I highly encourage it.  The toppings really help take things - well - over the top.  A few tips on ordering:

• Sauces like hot fudge or caramel are considered toppings along with sprinkles, fruit, nuts, etc, but syrups are their own category
• Since Eddie's makes their own syrups and has a real soda jerk, you can order a soda in any combination of flavors, and you should.  
• Eddie's uses different definitions for ice cream drinks then you might be used to.  They spell it all out in the menu, but beware before you order:
• An ice cream soda is soda (any flavor, remember) with a scoop of ice cream
• A milkshake (which they have different thicknesses of depending on how many scoops of ice cream you want in it) is ice cream, syrup, and milk; blended
• A float is a MILKSHAKE with a SCOOP of ICE CREAM in it... just let that sink in

Ok, now that your mouth is watering....
What I got: Banana Split with Chocolate and Strawberry Ice Cream, Chocolate Syrup, banana, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry, and a cherry lime soda

What Greg got: 1 Scoop Sundae with Coffee Chip Ice Cream, butterscotch, whipped cream, and a cherry, and a chocolate egg cream

All of the ice cream creations at Eddie's Sweet Shop are served on little metal plates.  This is crucial, for you will have an overflow of toppings and ice cream tumble down from their pedestal as you dive in.  The dishes add to the nostalgia and let you know that you are about to enjoy something special.  Not to worry, napkins are well supplied. 

Have I mentioned that everything is handmade at Eddie's Sweet Shop?  Everything is handmade at Eddie's Sweet Shop.  It is such a treat to have real whipped cream, floating on top of genuine chocolate sauce, drizzled over simple yet rich and fulfilling ice cream, and in this case, resting on bites of banana.  I couldn't decide between chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, so they were kind enough to give me both.  Yes, I could have gone with different flavors, but everything about this place calls for a classic and it was about time in this adventure for me to order a banana split. I dove in with enthusiasm, and it was quite a while before I came up for air.

I was really glad that Greg went for the Coffee Chip in his sundae.  I love coffee ice cream!  If I had only slightly less self control you would probably only read about 3 flavors of ice cream in this blog.  I enjoy trying new things, but a favorite is a favorite and to me a sweet, creamy coffee ice cream is just about perfection.  Eddie's adds chocolate chips, and Greg added the butterscotch, and that right there is a decadent, satisfying, flavorful treat.

Order a soda with your ice cream.  Maybe if you are getting an ice cream soda you don't need to, but otherwise go ahead and get one.  It's a wasted opportunity not to.  How often are you going to be somewhere that makes all their own syrups and lets you pick any combination?  I asked for a recommendation this time and wound up with a Lime Rickey (cherry and lime syrup) which was fruity and fun and went really well with my fruity sundae.  Greg went for the chocolate egg cream.  Yes, it is a real egg cream.  No, there is no egg in an egg cream.  Yes, it will satisfy even the most nostalgic of New Yorkers (I know you're reading this, Mom).

Even the menu over the counter is about as old school as it gets.

Head out to Forest Hills, Queens for a cool treat that will take you right on down memory lane.  Your taste buds will think they've been cast as the star in an old movie, your fingers will be sticky, and your heart will happy.

The Rundown:
Where: Eddie's Sweet Shop
105-29 Metropolitan Ave.
Forest Hills, NY 11375
https://www.facebook.com/EddiesSweetShop/
What they're known for: Old school homemade ice cream, syrups, and toppings
A single cup or cone: $3.50
Most Extreme Menu Item: Banana Royal or a 3 Scoop Sundae, $9.00
Non-ice cream menu options: Sodas, hot beverages, and there's a candy display, but I've never actually seen anyone buy anything from it.


p.s. Want to know more about the Lime Rickey?  Check out this article by Jaclyn Einis on the subject: http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/04/lime-rickey-soda-fountain-history.html