Another One for the Archives - Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee

First of all, where has this dessert been all my life? I guess I've never gravitated toward creme brulee as a dessert option because I've always been much more of a chocolate girl. I tend to choose the most chocolate-filled selection when we're out at a fancy restaurant and ordering dessert. The Pam Sturkey chocolate cheesecake, the Boca chocolate torte, and the dark chocolate and raspberry Melting Pot fondue come to mind, and suddenly I'm drooling at my desk (Incidentally, the fall meal we enjoyed at Boca still remains the best meal I've ever had in my entire life). Last time we went to Boca Charlie ordered the Creme Brulee, while I stuck with my chocolate standby. I had a bite of his dessert and it was all over. Not to worry, the chocolate torte didn't go to waste - it came home with me and served as a lovely breakfast.

Anyway, on to the ice cream.

Sweet Custard Ice Cream with a Caramelized Sugar Swirl: This flavor captures a true "crème brûlée" experience with a custard ice cream recipe & a crunchy caramelized sugar swirl.

I first noticed this flavor a few weeks ago at Whole Foods. I let a few weeks go by before I picked up a pint. You know, P90X and all. It waited patiently in my freezer for a break in my diet. When I finally broke the seal, I was in heaven. Be forewarned: this isn't like the mainstream Ben & Jerry's flavors. There are no chunks to dig out, no hidden nuggets (like Heath bars or cookie dough or fudge chunks) to ferret around for, no mash-up of flavors. That doesn't mean it's boring, though. The caramelized sugar added a pleasant crunch to the custard ice cream. This might be the creamiest Ben & Jerry's flavor I've ever tried. It's rich and flavorful and pretty much everything that an ice cream marketing itself as "Creme Brulee" should be. Even if you're not a fan of the dessert itself, you should try this ice cream. It's pretty much all I can think about while I'm sitting here eating my salad for lunch.