Sweaty Sorbet

mmm ice cream

This was my first ice cream cone in months and, spoiler alert, it was fucking delicious.

I moved to Brooklyn a week before lockdown began, in cold, rainy March; since then, I’ve been experiencing my new neighborhood mostly through windows as I go on occasion long walks. For the past few months, I’ve been walking past Creme & Cocoa Creamery, peering at their brightly-colored curtains, wondering about their ice cream, and hoping someday they’d be open.

Last Friday, I had the day off from work and I went on a long bike ride to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The day started off overcast but humid, and there was a gentle breeze, but on our way back, the humidity deepened and the sweat started dripping down my face. I desperately needed some ice cream to cool down. I checked my phone — they’d opened Fridays at 3pm. It was time.

When I tried the door, it was locked! “Nooooo,” I wailed, and pulled my phone out to try in desperation to find another cool, sweet treat; but then! To my absolute delight, the door opened, and a man came out. “Sorry, we were just in the back!” he said.

The ice cream tubs weren’t labeled, so he rattled off the flavors — traditional ones, like cookies and creme and birthday cake, but since they’re a shop that specialized in Caribbean flavors, also some more interesting options like soursop, fresh ginger and coconut, and bourbon butter pecan.

I went with the mango passion fruit in a sugar cone; I liked how the vibrant yellow color popped in the darkened shop. Patiently waiting until I got outside, I pulled off my mask and eagerly took my first lick. I didn’t realize until later when I looked up the menu, but it was actually a sorbet; the texture was so creamy that I couldn’t even tell. The mango and passion fruit flavors were really strong, bright but not overly sweet, and balanced well with the crunch of the cone. It was so refreshing and delicious that despite the sun, which was now overhead and baking me into the bench, I managed to eat the whole thing without getting a single drip on my shirt. I can't wait to go back and try some more!

5 spoons and 1 clean shirt