7 minute read
SMOKIN' SCOOPS
from JULY 2022
Scoops Smokin' "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.”
The proverbial phrase refers to lemons, which are sour, and then turning them into something sweet like lemonade, and in life translates into encouraging optimism in the face of adversity. For Jon Goodhind, he made ice cream, but not your grandfather’s ice cream.
Goodhind’s job was a casualty to COVID-19. When trying to figure out what was next in his life, he wanted to do something different.....to bring something completely different to West Springfield and to Western Massachusetts. And he set out to do some research. "One of the things I learned is that nitro ice cream was very popular in Florida and California and in some parts of Connecticut, but not in this region. The location we are in now, which was once an ice cream shop, was vacant and the landlord and I took it over and eventually opened Smokin’ Scoops last June,” Goodhind said.
Nitrogen ice cream begins just like any other ice cream recipe, minus the churning and normal freezing process.
“We make our all-natural liquid bases each morning. For example, milk, cream, sugar, eggs and strawberries go into our strawberry ice cream. Then we make the customer’s ice cream to order right before them, adding a food-grade liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees Fahrenheit into the mixer along with the liquid base flash freezing it in a matter of minutes,” Goodhind said.
It is the liquid nitrogen and the fact that it freezes the mixture so quickly that allows for only very small ice crystals to form resulting in a superior ice cream, Goodhind noted.
“What you end up with is a very smooth and creamy ice cream,” he said.
Why the name Smokin’ Scoops?
“Before you get ready to scoop your customer’s ice cream, a smoke is created when the liquid nitrogen begins the flash freezing process,” Goodhind said.
Customers will find the latest Smokin’ Scoops menu on a large chalk board from which to ponder their many choices.
“We like to try to carry around 12 to 14 flavors on a rotating basis,” Goodhind said. “Vanilla is the favorite. We make more of that flavor than any other. Chocolate is next in popularity followed by toasted almond and cannoli.”
Among some of the classic selections waiting to be scooped up and their descriptions on the board are:
CRÈME DE CACAO Chocolate lovers love 100% cacao in their ice cream THE CRAZY COW This much pure bourbon vanilla is crazy COFFEE Fresh ground 4-hour cold brewed coffee ice cream RUSSIAN HONEY CAKE Sour cream and honey is a traditional Russian favorite MATCHA (V) Organic Japanese Green Tea ice cream with a vegan base CANNOLI Mascarpone and ricotta cheese with cannoli shell topping TIGER TAIL Blood Orange with chocolate drizzle SMORES Chocolate ice cream with marshmallow and graham crackers COCO COCONUT Made with toasted coconut
TOASTED ALMOND
Almond ice cream with toasted almonds and marzipan
SALTED CARAMEL
Our own butter & cream caramel
You can also try their current seasonal flavors:
BLUEBERRY: Just organic blueberries STRAWBERRY: Made from real strawberries
There is also a “weakly flavor,” incorrectly spelled “weakly” on purpose on the board, which could include one of their special flavors such as Go Go Goji Berry with its hints of cherries and cranberries.
One scoop will cost you $5.50, two scoops $7.10, and three scoops $8.50.
While most customers prefer their ice cream treats served up in a dish, Smokin’ Scoops does offer their own version of a waffle cone for $3.50.
“We call them crepe cones and they are similar to a waffle cone, but made from our own special recipe,” Goodhind said. True crepes originated from Brittany, a region in western France, and are a thinner, crispier version of a traditional pancake.
Referring to Smokin’ Scoops as more of an “upscale” ice cream parlor, Goodhind said you won’t find any ice cream sundaes being served up like banana splits or other traditional favorites.
However, they have plenty of toppings to choose from at $1 each that will turn your dish into your own sundae-like concoction including burnt marshmallow, chocolate chips, caramel, their own hot fudge, Nutella, English toffee, real whipped cream, peanut butter, toasted almonds, Fruity Pebbles and brownie bites.
“We know that kids love sprinkles, so we also offer them by request,” Goodhind said.
If just the uniqueness of the nitro ice cream isn’t enough to draw you to the West Springfield science-fueled sweet spot, their boozy milkshakes are making the difference for those old enough to imbibe.
“I want to make one thing perfectly clear. Athough we have a liquor license and serve up our ice cream across a bar instead of a counter, we are a totally family-friendly ice cream shop,” Goodhind said.
Spiked milkshakes, often referred to as boozy milkshakes, have been around since at least 2012 when gourmet burger chain Red Robin introduced them on their menu behind others like Bobby’s Burger Palace and now found locally at Wahlburgers at MGM Springfield.
“Boozy milkshakes have become our niche and sets us apart from many ice cream parlors who normally do not have a liquor license,” Goodhind said.
Smokin’ Scoops’ Boozy Shakes offers over 20 selections
from their “Sassy Menu, Shakes of Art” or their “Simple Shakes.” The most popular is the Peanutbutter Cup, from the Sassy Menu. Priced at $15.25 it is made with chocolate ice cream, Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey, chocolate and peanut butter drizzle, whipped cream, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Crumble. Other concoctions include S’more Booze, Leprechaun’s Coffee, The Italian Nutjob and Chocolate Covered Raspberry made with chocolate ice cream, Chambord, fresh raspberries, chocolate drizzle, and whipped cream. The Simple Shakes include The Padded Cell made with vanilla ice cream, vanilla vodka, and whipped cream and others like the Chocolate Screwball, The Jitterbug, The Hokey Pokey, and the Russian Honey with Russian Honey Ice Cream and Barenjager.
There are also traditional non-alcoholic milkshakes for those who prefer the original kid versions.
The bartender also mixes up some tasty frozen drinks, cocktails with imaginative names from Smurf Balls to Caribou Lou, nitro brewed coffee cocktails, and alcoholic floats. For beer lovers, there are microbrews on tap and in cans.
If the weather cooperates, Smokin’ Scoops has an outdoor patio which is the scene this summer to live music as the over-21s sit and enjoy their boozy milkshakes, while others of all ages gobble down their favorite nitro ice cream flavor with mounds of toppings of their choice.
Also, if it is a particularly hot day, Goodhind said “there is nothing like enjoying out on the patio” their own cooling nitro brewed coffee made from Been’s Beans in Southwick.
The patio is also host to music nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6-9 p.m. Among the acts scheduled for July include Westfield native Lexi Weege who appeared as a contestant on this year’s edition of “American Idol,” acoustic duo Aaron and Pete, solo vocalist Amanda Rowe, as well as Faith Rheault, Marc Bode, Charlie Calvin, New Fallen Day and BJ Korona.
Also, for those who want to put their brains to the test, Tuesdays are Trivia Nights from 7-9 p.m. with free pizza.
“The town was very receptive to our opening last year and we have been very busy since day one. We have grown even bigger over the past year becoming a destination for many of our customers, who have traveled from as far away as Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and the eastern part of the state to enjoy a boozy milkshake or two and our smokin’ scoops,” Goodhind said. Smokin’ Scoops Hours are Monday through Wednesday from 1-9 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 1-11 p.m. They are also available to book business functions, birthday parties and other events.
