Proof we visited SO-NY
I think we came to a grim discovery that a lot of vendors consider frozen custard a synonym for soft serve ice cream. We saw a sign for custard in Cooperstown but we were on the hunt that day for South Otselic and the promised custards to be found there. Alas, twas not to be despite Gary's recollection...but on the upside if the family farm is near there, the corn crop is looking very good.
But the recently built stand called "The Burgh Ice Cream" was more than compensation as it had a clean shaded 20 by 20 foot patio which was a God send on a hazy 90º F afternoon between Cooperstown and Ithaca on gorgeous #80 and friends back roads. It also had rainbow sherbet which hit the spot with the little guy (especially its slow melting properties) and princes were cheap and servings large.
Interesting to note that we found a great disparity in food shack pricing from $1.15 for a clam cake on a bun at the Fat Boy in Brunswick Maine to $16.50 for a clam belly dinner at the Sea Swirl in Mystic Connecticut. Also interesting to note that this did not seem to have any effect on purchasing, thus proving the high price elasticity holiday food principle once again.
Comments
gary - August 5, 2005 9:22 AM
ooops, soft serve, custard, what do I know? When I visit I get Panda Paws scoops. Glad you liked it. Beautiful now, not quite so nice in February. You probably drove right by the above mentioned farm, 3 miles up the main st at the bridge over the Otselic River.
Alan - August 5, 2005 9:33 AM
Near the graveyard? Some old grannie just about offed us pulling out of the graveyard at 2 mph in a blind curve. Herself was verklempt until her ice cream...but, you know, if you had said that "Donna's" down the road was where we were to get the custard I think I would be living solo now. Ice cream shack #2 in town was a little scary.<p>That whole region from Cobleskill to the I-81 is one of my favorite parts of NY state to drive, lush valley after lush valley. I asked at the ice cream stand what work folks did around South Otselic and the rope factory seemed to be it. Sweet ice cream stand, though.
gary - August 5, 2005 12:39 PM
South Otselic is a tiny little place, and my parents DO live near one of the graveyards, and it is possible the beforementioned little old lady driving was my mom...small world.
South Otselic is NOT famous for Donna's. Glad you went looking for the ice cream. There was a very famous and tragic murder of a S. Ot resident 99 years ago, written about by Theodore Dreiser, made into a movie with Elizabeth Taylor. See this web page.
Alan - August 5, 2005 12:56 PM
So between Donna's, the hairpin and that famous murder - are you glad you got out?<p>[Ed.: <i>he is likely kidding</i>.]
gary - August 5, 2005 2:16 PM
You betcha, although nobody ever called rural New Hampshire 'cosmopolitan'.
Alan - August 5, 2005 2:28 PM
Now I thought that New London NH was a decent "near town" and I would bet Concord has much of anything you need. I did mention to Herself, though, when heading through Smyrna that it was no wonder you did not mind being in the woods.