Growing up in NY, I remember hearing the voice of Tom Carvel incessantly on the radio. I don't remember what, exactly he talked about, but I remember the ads. Tom Carvel had one of the most horrible sounding voices ever -- but he certainly broke through -- you knew it was him, and you knew Wednesdays were Sundaes at Carvel.

Like some of the other reviewers, birthdays weren't complete without the obligatory Carvel cake. And since the Carvel was right down the road, I'd often go there with my dad on hot summer nights.

I really cherish the memories and still love the ice cream!

Now, I'm all growed up and living in CT. As luck would have it, I work in a building that is next to a Carvel. So I can relive the memories all the time. (As my waistline could attest..).

One of the best things about Carvel, then and now, was the soft pack ice cream. Although you could buy hard ice cream, the carvel smooth ice cream is what brought you back. You can buy a pint or a quart of vanilla or chocolate, or you can mix it up. Either way, it's heavenly.

Of course, you can always grab for a sleeve of the Flying Saucers. These are not the same ones that you can get at the grocery store. You need to have freshly made Saucers so that the cookies are not stale. The store ones sit for too long.

But the best reason to go to Carvel is still for the special ice cream cake. I just returned from the Ice Cream Bakery with a 15' diameter round cake for my wife's birthday. It has a layer of chocolate, a layer of crunchies, and a layer of vanilla. The crunchies make this cake great. You can ask for extra crunchies if you wish.. they'll make the cake to order for you. If you've got more cosmopolitan taste buds, you can try the log cakes, which are similar to the vienetta rolls by Breyers. These are great.

None of these cakes are as fun as the old stand-by Fudgie the Whale. Fudgie and his pal Cookie Puss (with the ice cream cone nose) were the stars of Carvel's TV spots for many years. Not all the stores still have the molds for these cakes, but if they do, get one. Kids love them!

If you're watching your weight, the Thinny Thin line can help you stay on track. Its low calorie ice milk recipe is healthy and delicious.

One thing to be careful of? The Carvel brand is a franchise now, so individual store quality will vary. But if you get a good owner/operator, you can trust him to bring you years of great ice cream and memories.

Thanks to my dad for taking the time to drive me all those many times... nostalgia strikes at the wierdest times!

Recommended: Yes