8/8/05 | Dryer’s Wins Ice Cream Poll
[ Currently Eating: Leftover El Pollo Loco ]
Well, not only did Dryer’s Ice Cream completely smoke all the competition in our latest food poll, but I inadvertantly chose Haagen Dazs Ice Cream as a competitor. When, in fact, according to the DryersInc site, they also own Haagen Dazs as well as Nestle Ice Cream. Hello, monopoly!
I DID know that the popular Edy’s brand of ice cream is one and the same as Dryer’s Ice Cream. The history of why some people know it as Edy’s and others as Dryer’s is apparently because the original partnership was formed between William Dreyer who made frozen desserts and Joseph Edy who was a candy maker. Nearly 20 years later, in 1947, they agreed to dissolve the partnership, whereby Dreyer retired and handed the biz over to his son while Edy went back to making candy. Dreyers’ son later sold the company and because many people on the east coast still knew the brand as Edy’s, the new owners decided to stick with that same name everywhere east of the Rockies.
In any case, I was pretty sure that Dryer’s would win and I knew that not enough people cared or knew about the “au naturale”allure of Breyer’s Ice Cream (my personal favorite, though why did they choose a name so similar to Dreyer’s??). But I actually thought that Ben & Jerry’s wacky boutique ice cream flavors might be a dark horse candidate. After all they are always mentioned on the Food Network and nearly everyone knows about them. They came close, but no golden ice cream spoon for them.
Thinking about it, I probably should have done popsicles or ice cream bars, instead of just ice cream because there’s more name and shape recognition with them. With ice cream, once it’s out of the tub and into your bowl, there’s nothing (besides taste/texture) to tell you one company’s vanilla from another. But for popsicles and ice cream bars, it’s like, what would YOU do for a Klondike bar…
I got the idea for the new poll because I’ve been watching an excess of Food Network lately. So, basically I wanted to find out who your favorite food network star was. Or if not, then how about who is the least annoying…
August 8th, 2005 at 8:51 pm
My local grocery store actually has a great brand of ice cream. I usually buy it instead of brand names. It’s called Creamy Creations (HEB is the grocery store). If I can’t get HEB’s brand I’ll buy Bluebell, which is another Texas label.
August 9th, 2005 at 8:07 am
I voted for Ben and Jerry’s, I think, in the ice cream poll. I love that stuff.
That said, if you go to Rite Aid pharmacy, you can buy Thrifty brand ice-cream really cheap. It’s carried over from when the pharmacy was called Thrifty pharmacy, maybe 10 or 15 years ago. But, it’s every bit as good as the premium, 5-bucks-a-quart ice cream out there, and cheap. And a great variety of flavors.
Now, let’s turn to the food network. Of course, Alton Brown is going to win this poll hands-down. Never in a million years would Rachel Ray be voted least-annoying on the food network. She’s the most annoying. In the universe. Still, 30-minute meals are a great idea.
I wish I had cable back again. We got rid of it this year, and I miss the food network.
Good times.
August 9th, 2005 at 9:26 am
bingsy – I don’t think i’ve heard of Creamy Creations, but I have heard of Bluebell somewhere… is that nationally distributed?
bottom feeder – Ben and Jerry’s is my second fave, nearly tied with Bryers. Oh man, so you remember Thrifty ice cream as well. We used to get single scoops for so cheap. And when you’re a kid all ice cream is just plain good. I did get some about 2 years ago and it was just as good as before.
Yeah alton is the only one I can deal with… I hate bobby. The very first time i saw emeril it was funny, but his jokes get old quickly. Kick it up a notch! Rachel is sorta hot though, so I gotta cut her some slack. =) Have you ever seen her FHM pics?
August 9th, 2005 at 2:38 pm
As far as I know Bluebell is only available in Texas, and even then not all of Texas. It is highly esteemed here, though.
August 9th, 2005 at 2:39 pm
Actually I just looked it up, and it is available throughout the country. It’s just available in West Texas for some reason. http://www.bluebell.com/about_country.htm
August 9th, 2005 at 4:01 pm
bingsy – darn, but not in California… I am not sure where or why I have heard of it before. I’ve been to Arizona quite a few times though, so maybe that is where I’ve seen it.
August 12th, 2005 at 10:57 am
In parts of the country, Dreyer’s Ice Cream is called Edy’s. Maybe Breyer’s first had the name. Who knows.
August 12th, 2005 at 11:24 am
kristina – yeah, Edy’s and Dryer’s are the same, see the history above. But I think Bryer’s with a “B” is its own thing…
August 12th, 2005 at 8:04 pm
I stumbled upon this page a while back … and I just have to add my two cents worth about the ice cream. I love Blue Bell! It’s like THE local favorite here in Houston! I remember taking a field trip (in elementary school) to Brenham (about 45 minutes from Houston) and we took a tour of the place and at the end we got to choose a one flavor scoop of ice-cream! Fun times!
August 13th, 2005 at 10:43 am
maricel – the Blue Bell seems to be a fave for a lot of people. I would like to take a tour of an ice cream plant one of these days. Any ice cream factory will do, as long as they give out free samples!
August 15th, 2005 at 8:39 am
I love factories. The Shiner Bock factory in Shiner, Texas gives out four largish dixie cup sized samples of beer. I am sure most beer factories do.
August 15th, 2005 at 9:38 am
bingsy – Hells yes… I need to amend my above comment to: “Any beer factory will do, as long as they give out free samples!”
August 18th, 2005 at 2:18 pm
I stick with the “super-premium” brands like Haagen-Daaz and Ben & Jerry’s because they’re so much less air in them, so that I actually eat less. Also, I like the pint size ’cause then I can eat straight out of it – no bowls necessary =) Of course, I could do that with the others too, but that has gotten rather messy and sticky in the past…
November 7th, 2005 at 11:05 am
As surely you know by now, Breyer’s ice cream was around long before Dreyer’s. That’s the real reason Dreyer’s used the Edy’s name in the East. Breyer’s was the established name and forced the Oakland California based Dreyer’s to find another name as they moved into national distribution.
November 7th, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Real Simple – eating straight out of the pint… now that’s livin! =)
Lura – I always did wonder about the similarity between the Dryer’s and Bryer’s name but I thought maybe it was a coincidink.
January 6th, 2006 at 11:12 am
Where can I find Blue bell ice cream in Arizona, or is it called something else here. I don’t see the commercials either anymore for Blue bell.
March 19th, 2006 at 10:03 am
I live in Northern Virginia. Is there anywhere I can buy Blue Bell ice cream in the area? Do I have to have it shipped?
Thank you for the information. It was also interesting about Dryer’s and Edy’s being one in the same.
March 30th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
did anyone ever find out if blue bell ice cream is sold here in arizona? i would love to buy some without driving to texas! thanks, just let me know.
March 31st, 2006 at 8:58 am
angie, judy, michelle – I actually have no idea about where Blue Bell is sold… but I know they will ship it to you for a fee. Hm… i would actually like to get some samples in the mail, maybe i’ll try get a hold of them.
April 16th, 2006 at 9:52 am
di have had luch with mr. breyer; it was just their family name.
May 10th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
I perfer HaggenDazs Icecream. I really like the strawberry and mango favor! I really don’t like Dryers though.
I really like HaggenDazs bars too!!!
May 10th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I really like HaggenDazs IceCream too!! We’re the same awsome!
=)
August 20th, 2006 at 6:51 am
Blue Bell is available in Pheonix , Tucson, and Yuma areas in Arizona. Most of the major supermarkets. It is not available in Northern Viriginia. (maybe one day). Commercials are normaly only run from the spring to the fall months.
November 15th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Lura was correct when she stated that Breyer’s had the name first and forced the Oakland, CA based “Dreyer’s” to use another name that was not similiar to Breyer’s. Cheap Eats…by the way…the correct spelling is D-R-E-Y-E-R-’-S. Sorry, it was just getting to me. Yes, Dreyer’s merged with Nestle and they do own Haagen Dazs as well. How do I know this…I work for them! Try the Slow Churn…1/2 the fat and 1/2 the calories…you would never know you were not eating full leaded ice cream. Yummy!
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 am
To all of you interested in getting a hold of the “Best Ice Cream in the Country” a.k.a. Blue Bell Ice Cream, just visit their website @ http://www.bluebell.com. Blue Bell ships all over the country! Since I am a Brenham, TX native and have close ties with the creamery, I can attest to it’s greatness and superiority over all the rest! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! Also, if you have the opportunity to visit Texas, it is essential that you make a stop at the “Little Creamery” in Brenham and take a tour. Blue Bell happens to be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and just keeps getting better with every passing year!
January 6th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Oh yes, Blue Bell is hands and shoulders above all the rest..the homemade vanilla taste just like the kind we made when I was little. We would put ice and salt in the sides of the churn and turn the crank until it was just right….we also fought over who would lick the dasher..
February 5th, 2007 at 1:57 am
Well as i sit here reading this i am actually eating out of 1qt container of haagen dazs vanilla. and i must say it is goooooooooooood. I really put haagen dazs and ben n jerrys in a category all its own when it comes to the freezer case ice creams you buy at store. nothing really compares to them. i guess thats why they’re made with eggs and are labeled as super premium hehe. But when it comes to regular ice cream aka half gallon stuff… the ONLY i mean only one that is to me even good..is Friendlys. Mm MMM Mm. They’re flavors are really good and it tastes sooo much better then that Edy’s crap(which btw i cant believe got a good rating to me its the worst brand..always on sale and is better off being labeled as generic) but the bit about the Edys and Dreyers thing was pretty interesting though. BUT above all my favorite ice cream is Frozen Custard. Here in Rochester Ny when you want ice cream from the ice cream shop and not freezer case, its all about the frozen custard. NOTHING i mean NOTHING compares to frozen custard!!! if any of you guys have a Abbotts Frozen Custard place near you …you know what i mean! http://www.abbottscustard.com/ check it out. peace.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:44 am
i thought it was delicious thaNK YOU
April 27th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Man so much hype about Bluebell!
Anyway I’m posting because this 1/2 fat “Slow-Churned” craze is getting to me. I urge you to do a side-by-side comparison of this stuff with the good shit (i.e. Haagen-Dazs.) Trust me it is almost laughable. If you want airy, ice-crystally weirdly flavored milk solids go ahead and get the Slow-Churned. Otherwise stick to good old cream, sugar, and egg yolks for your emotional catharses.