Ice King of Freeport: Ralph's Famous Italian Ices
Written: Jul 18 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cool and refreshing. Quick.
Cons: There isn't one near work.
The Bottom Line: How could anyone hate on Italian ice? This is dessert along Freeport's Nautical Mile.
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| davidmanning's Full Review: Ralph's Famous Italian Ices |
Long Island may be known more for its distinctive accent and strip mall after strip mall, but the South Shore, even west of the Hamptons, offers its share of beach-resort entertainment. Freeport surprised me: I figured it to be a sleepy coastal town with a lot of boats and not much else. Instead, it's, dare I say, vibrant!
Moving on from an excellent dinner at Rachel's, the Epidays crew walked the Nautical Mile a few blocks to enjoy a much-touted frozen delicacy at Ralph's Famous Italian Ices.
Ralph's has been around, according to various signage and styrofoam cuppage, since 1928 (the Freeport location is newer than others in the New York Metro area), and danged if he isn't proud of that. Having a Ralph's stand along the inlet at Freeport can't hurt, judging from the crowds around his storefront and the various live-music outdoor bars lining the inlet side of the street.
It's a Proper Ice Shack, It Is.
The simple painted sign outside the ordering window on the brightly-painted, though worn, shack lists dozens of ice flavors, in both standard and "creamy" incarnations. Not knowing what creamy could possibly bring to the table -- much like why any flavor of egg cream other than egg cream flavor (chocolate) needs to exist -- I instead focused on the normal ices. The woman at the window smiled and greeted me, and somehow I managed to focus and place my order.
For the purists, Lemon is the first flavor listed, and another time, I'll pick this one. This day, I decided to live a little. Flavors such as pistachio, chocolate, bubble gum, cotton candy, all the various berries under the sun, citrus fruits (pineapple is a favorite of mine, but I chose otherwise) are available, and there don't appear to be Daily Specials -- it's either there all season or it's not. Since I never see it done properly at pizza-joint ice stands, I chose Lime, and I chose a Large.
Smalls and Mediums, at $2.00 and $2.50, arrive in the timeless paper cup-ette from which one pushes the ice into one's mouth or finds a spoon if they're daintier than that. My $3.00 large was served in a styrofoam 12-ounce cup, so that spoon came in handy.
I was pleasantly surprised that Ralph's came up with such a tart lime flavor in their ice. I could hypothesize that nothing but the best chemicals from Newark were synthesized to create this lime flavor, but judging from the lemon bits in the lemon ice, I'm willing to believe whole, pureed limes -- rind and all -- are used to flavor the lime ice. It had the citrus punch and the aforementioned tartness I love, and while the deep green color was maybe a little worrisome, I got over myself and quickly downed the icy treat. I almost went back for another flavor.
I believe that Pops and the missus went with small chocolate ices, and they seemed to enjoy that, too.
Those Other Things They Sell
Ralph's creamy ices are pretty much just that -- more crystalline ice cream than true ice. The flavors I remember reflect that as well -- vanilla cream, chocolate chip, cookie dough, cannoli(!)... basically ice cream flavors you know and love. These are priced the same as the ices.
Straight ice cream is also available, probably in the same flavors as the cream ice. I doubt you'd be disappointed with the quality, judging by Pops' professed love of both the ices and the cream ices. Frozen drinks and coffee beverages are also available.
How do you fit in there?
There are a couple of benches to sit in front of the shop, and Pops noted seating closer to the inlet/canal, but that's okay -- most everyone would rather stroll near the water or listen to the bands playing along the Mile than hang around enjoying their ice. It's worked this long for Ralph's after all.
By the time we were ice-laden and started walking away, a new line of eager potential customers had formed. On such a beautiful day, business boomed for Ralph's.
I want to mention the parking because it's already a premium on the Nautical Mile. There's a "Five Minute Parking" area to one side of the shack, which might fit two cars thanks to the boats in the area. One gentleman seemed to have solved the problem by owning a 1972 Fiat -- a car that I'm pretty sure I could pick up if need be.
Final Thoughts
Meeting up with Pops and his family, and Paul, for Epiday proved to be an enjoyable, relaxing way to spend a Saturday. Ralph's Famous Italian Ices certainly fit in well, really perfectly, with the Freeport vibe and the theme of the day: hanging out in the backyard drinking beer, watching the kids and shooting the breeze, outdoor dining and a stroll along the water before heading back for more of the same.
Most of the Italian ice I've enjoyed in the past has been nameless stands on the street or a side business from a neighborhood pizza joint. Other than the Lemon Ice King of Corona, I'd never associated a name with an ice purveyor. Good to see that the world has room for two name brands!
Even without the company of Pops and MrsPops, Freeport would be an interesting day trip. Ralph's just capped a wonderful evening of friends and good times, and since they're all over the New York area, chances are I'll run across them again soon. Thanks, Pops!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
davidmanning
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