Not long ago, I was going through my inbox and was about to delete a promotional email, when I noticed the sender. It was from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and it announced a new limited edition ice cream that tasted like an everything bagel. (The subject line: “It’s schmear! It’s schmear!”) I was intrigued.
The email described the flavor as "buttery streusel laden with sesame, poppy seeds—and yes, onions and garlic—schmeared throughout subtly sweet cream cheese ice cream."
Did these two food groups go together, ice cream and bagels? On one hand I love bagels—everything bagels especially. I’m from New Jersey, which along with New York is the bagel capital of the world (sorry, Montreal). When I was home for Christmas a friend stopped by to drop off a dozen bagels from our favorite bagel shop. I ate at least one bagel a day for the entire trip. What’s more, I use everything bagel spice from Trader Joe’s often, usually on my breakfast eggs. And I’m very familiar with eating cream cheese in sweet settings—red velvet or carrot cake with cream cheese frosting—delicious!
But garlic and onion? I Slacked my team members to ask for their opinions, but couldn’t come to a consensus. Some thought the cream cheese and sesame might work, even the poppy, but the addition of garlic and onion left them suspicious.
With no other choice, I placed an order for two pints. When they arrived I pried open the box and stood over the ice cream impatiently waiting for it to soften enough for me to dig in (the dry ice from shipping kept it very frozen).
