Whether you consider yourself a "foodie" or not, you can't not acknowledge the recent hype surrounding appealing eats: we are consumed by the consumed...or, at the very least, by photographs of what is consumable. Your Instagram's "popular" page contains pictures of foods you never craved until scrolling, and your Facebook newsfeed is becoming a "foodfeed," filled with DIY videos and aesthetically mind-blowing photos of novel treats.
Naturally, when two friends and I met up in New York City, we searching for nearby places that would satisfy our cravings and photo op desires. The problem? It was 9:30 in the morning, and pretty much none of the most raved-about Google results were open or within walking distance. So, we put our search on hold, only to find that it'd be resumed when we least expected.
We got on the subway and, despite living less than an hour away, none of us had any real sense of direction. Eventually, we found ourselves in Little Italy. After many failed attempts, we found pizza sold by the slice, not $14 personal pizzas each the size of one palm. Chinatown was one block away, so we set out to barter for traditional gowns...because why not? We got the price down from to $18 from $35; however, $10 was our predetermined limit, so we walked away with our pockets full and our stomachs hungry again, because apparently negotiating has that effect.
A cool find on a hot day:
The 90-degree weather was starting to fatigue us, so we decided to exit Chinatown and head home. However, we only made it a few steps before a girl walked by holding a cup of some delicious-looking creation. When asked where she got it, she pointed directly to our left. A banner read "10Below Ice Cream." There was a descending staircase that would soon hold a line of people that extended down the block...and, based on its Instagram popularity, unsurprisingly so.
We decided to check it out and complete a mission that had been aborted earlier in the morning. Thus, 10 Cool Points about 10Below Ice Cream were observed:
1. The shop actually is below ground; so, its name not only reflects the nature of its refreshing product, but also the location of the store. Creative props!
2. Chill atmosphere, great energy. When we walked in, hip hop music was generating some good vibes. By the time we left, pop throwbacks were playing. Customers, we learned, can type in song requests at the counter. Getting to control the tunes and dessert? A waiting game well-played.
3. The sights are as upbeat as the sounds. Bright-colored chalk covers the walls, contributing to its lively atmosphere and friendly appeal.
3. The menu speaks for itself:
4. Toppings (sprinkles, whipped cream, fruit, syrup, and more) are free!
5. The workers were enthusiastic, kind, and efficient.
6. Customers see their orders created in front of them (like at Cold Stone, for instance). Something about watching your food being made makes it all the more satisfying.
7. It's fascinating to watch (but more-so than Cold Stone). My initial impression was that it looked like an omelette station at the dining hall, but the "stove" surface is obviously cold. What freezes into a sheet of thin ice cream is turned into smaller, rolled up pieces. Here's a brief description of the technique, from the company website:
8. Customers were awe-struck, many carrying with them fancy DSLR cameras and just about everybody else documenting the process and results with their phones.
9. The final product looked delectable (Cookie Monster with chocolate syrup and whipped cream):
And closer:
10. It tasted better than it looked, if possible. It has what I would call a Dippin Dots effect; it may not look like a typical serving of ice cream, but it melts in your mouth like such. Doesn't novelty makes all things taste better and more worth the $$?
Those are rolls, and that's a wrap... Safe to say that if we can find our way back, we will.
