Calgary's Fun Ice Cream Culture
Yes I love ice cream….
With the hot waves of summer hitting Calgary, a person can not help but reach for that frozen goodness that balances the sun’s rays in more ways than one. This melting miracle is called ice cream. Yes we all know of it, we have all heard of it but the thing is that this sweet treat is ever evolving in our beautiful metropolis.
Like our local microbreweries and specialty coffee makers, ice cream has come a long way from ancient Greek times where it used to be snow mixed with nectar and honey. Now we have frozen desserts that come in thousands if not millions of flavours, textures, and ingredients. These days we can get sorbet, gelato, soft-serve, hard-scoop, bars, and more. There is vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and lactose-free to anyone who has dietary restrictions. What has no restrictions are the flavours. We still have the classic chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla but we also have peach blackberry habanero or salted chocolate cherry. So much to try.
Calgary even has an Ice Cream Festival each summer in late July early August with 30+ participants.
So, the question is: Where can I go to try it? Here are some suggestions
MY FAVOURITE ICE CREAM SHOPPE
MFICS located off-the-beaten path in Marda Loop/Altadore is Calgary’s iconic ice cream shop with it ice cream museum-like interior and mural on the outside. it offers 70+ different flavours, so it has something for everyone’s taste.
It used to be if you played the piano for 10 minutes you got a free ice cream cone, but I noticed the piano isn't there anymore.
LICKS ICE CREAM SHOP
Lics Ice Cream Shop has been serving creamy hard ice cream for 40 years. Located on Parkdale Boulevard just a block from the Bow River it is a popular spot for river walkers to stop and enjoy one of the 40+ flavours available. You can’t miss it as it has a huge ice cream cone on the roof.
Link: LICS
VILLAGE ICE CREAM
A true local gem since opening its doors in 2012. The Village Ice Cream has given us unique flavours with ingredients we can enjoy in our own backyard. The flavours to try are North 49 Honeyberry or Phil & Sebastian coffee. With three convenient locations to choose from and seasonal creations, you are bound to find something special here every time you walk in the door.
Link: VIC
Village Ice Cream’s first location was located at the back of a warehouse building where 10th Ave SW dead end at Mcleod Trail. It was definitely off-off-the-beaten path.
ABBEY’S CREATIONS
Do you ever dream of a place that not only unique tastes of ice cream but an array of toppings that you can just get wild with? Good news! Abbey’s is just such a place. With several flavours of ice cream (such as avocado and halo halo) you can mash almost anything you desire on top of it (such as mini-eggs, gummy worms, and pretzels) and bring it all together with a crazy waffle cone (see the lucky charm waffle cone if you can’t believe it).
Link: AC
MADE BY MARCUS
If you are looking for the unexpected you can look no further. Crazy mash-up of flavours you would never think would go together yet in this sweet sensational shop it is proven otherwise. If you ever thought that ice cream was just for kids, stop inside here and try some of their more adult flavours. For example, the Sea Charge Prairie Fairy Sorbet is made with Prairie Fairy beer (from the Sea Charge Brewery), raspberries, and blackberries. Definitely not made for kids.
Link: MBM
Made by Marcus on 19th St NW in West Hillhurst has been a catalyst for the redevelopment of this mid-century Main Street with several new cafe and shops.
SWEET TOOTH ICE CREAM
The first ever rolled ice cream shop to opened its doors in 2016 in Chinatown is Sweet Tooth. The name suits this place because not only do you get a sugary delight but you can also see how it is made on their famous “ice grill”. With a scrape of a metal spatula, you can get a delectable rolled up treat in a cup with some “serious” toppings. A favourite flavour of locals is the Gotcha Matcha where you can have matcha, lychee jelly and/or cheesecake. All the best things combined.
Link: STIC
AMATO GELATO
In 2003, Amato Gelato converted a Dairy Queen store on Kensington Road in West Hillhurst into an Italian cafe with a focus on authentic Italian gelato. Today it offers 30+ different gelatos and sorbets and has the best patio of any of Calgary’s ice cream shops. And if you like an espresso with your gelato this is the place.
Link Amato Gelato
Learn: What is the difference between gelato and ice cream?
RIGHTEOUS GELATO
If you are looking for a local success story then the “Righteous” is where you need to go. Made in the Southeast Quadrant in a super cool café, you can enjoy a coffee with your gelato that is made with a lot of love. However, if you are not in the area, feel free to pick some up at your local grocery store because this gelato is everywhere and for good reason. That reason is Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel.
Link: Rigtheous Gelato
LUKE’S DRUG MART
What do you get when you combine a pharmacy, a coffee shop, and soft-serve ice cream? It is your one-stop-shop for what ever ails you whether it is a sore throat or a sweet tooth. Found in Bridgeland or Killarney this is a family-run business that has been around for three generations. Plus, it has some excellent ice cream. Where else can you get charcoal flavoured ice cream?
Link: Luke’s Drug Mart
PETER’S DRIVE IN
Calgary has a long history when it comes to this iced dessert. A perfect example is Peter’s Drive In. Known for its super saucy prize-winning burgers, secret sauce, and 4525 flavours of thick milkshakes, Peter’s has been loved since it opened its doors in 1962. Armed with a great knowledge of food, hard-working drive, and a dream of bringing joy to others, Gus Pieters (the owner) started this restaurant which not only has attracted various visitors but is known to be the friendliest and most charitable fast-food icons. Thousands of burgers are given each Christmas to underprivileged children, on Mother’s Day free banana splits were given out, and free meals were given out during the 2013 floods.
Link: Peter’s Drive In
Yes Peter’s can get very busy in the summer. It is located on 16th Avenue aka Trans Canada Highway.
MacKay Ice Cream
Gus Pieter’s story is amazing but we can not forget the story of James and Christina MacKay from Cochrane who in the summer of 1948 have started an ice cream business out of their General Store. They were just trying to attract the day trippers passing through but little did they know that they were going to become legends. By the 1970s, Mackay’s began to soar in the ice cream world. With the help of their daughters, their ice creams have begun to get more popular and that was all the people wanted. For that reason, they only became that of an ice creamery and no longer a general store. Years later, and an amazing number of scoops sold, Mackay’s has attracted visitors from all over and continue to create new, interesting flavours such as Kulfi, Keso, and Haskap Berry.
Photo credit: Western Wheel
LAST WORD
Ice cream has become a culinary art like no other. New creations are being made everyday and the culture that it is bringing to our city is ever-changing. One cannot help but wonder what the future is going to bring for this fabulous sweet treat we all know and love.
Guest blog: Erika Ravnsborg
Links: Erika Ravnsborg Books / Magical Stories To Share
EVERYDAY TOURIST’S ICE CREAM STORIES
Yes I love ice cream. I expect it started when my parents would take us to the Stoney Creek dairy on the east end of Hamilton several time every summer. I think when we first started going it was an actually dairy farm with cows.
Probably my most memorable ice cream adventure was when we took our 10 year-old nephew on a road trip from Caglary to Winnipeg and stopped three times for ice cream cones. I wanted to stop and treat him to a fourth one but he said no.
We love getting a getting a “good deal” almost as much as we love ice cream. Our hot tip are the $3.00 ice cream cones at The Blue Store in Inglewood. You can’t miss it as the store is indeed all blue. Great ice cream, great price and great size. if you like soft ice cream also in Inglewood is the Inglewood Drive-In established in 1949 which serves dole whip cones.
