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Bopper's Italian Ice Adventure, Springfield, MA (2026)

02/03/2025

Ok. I haven't been around for a while because it's, frankly, not Italian Ice Season. But we've been getting a little bored and agitated being inside the house so much. So, I thought I'd revisit an old passion of mine: Buffalo Wings.

Wing Stop just opened a store in Chicopee on Memorial Drive (near Home Depot and Wal Mart). Now, I'm typically not a chain guy - and Wings are a product best suited for little independent shops - I have been (and always will be) a Quicky's guy and any Wing I ever eat will be scrutinously compared to theirs.

I was *pleasantly* surprised with Wing Stop! These were plump, juicy, well-sauced Wings. There was a near perfect balance between drums and flats (I ordered an odd number). They were freshly prepared and the staff couldn't have been more attentive. I have to repeat myself... I was stunned at these Wings! I went in expecting sub-par product, maybe average at best. But these were freakin good!

Now, I do have a few critiques, but don't let them get in your way. If you get a chance, try this joint. However... don't expect to eat in. It's a very small store and while they did have a couple tables in the lobby, they were being used to organize outgoing orders. They had *a lot* of outgoing orders. So, unfortunately, I had to drive them home. They cooled down a little bit, but not badly. The Wings were still (almost) hot and good.

I mentioned that they were well sauced. I selected the Original Hot and they were not skimpy sauce-wise. I can appreciate the new-age Wing flavors that have been introduced in recent years, like Garlic Parm or Lemon Pepper. But for me, I'm a traditionalist. And when it comes to Wings, I believe in the classic Buffalo Wing with a Frank's Red Hot and Butter base. I had a slight issue with the sauce, however, as it seemed to be a little on the sweet side. It's a minor flaw though. I was still impressed with the flavor. To pre-remedy that, I added two Atomic flavored Wings beforehand to get a little kick and see what their hottest was like. They were spicier, yes, but not in a Buffalo way. They were ok, but I'm yearning for the old Quicky's Su***de Sauce.

Celery was, unfortunately, an add-on. I need my celery. It's the perfect accompaniment to a good Buffalo Wing. Nowadays, people get "combos" with fries and stuff. That's not for me. If I'm eating Wings, I'm eating Wings. The celery is simply there for the occasional "cool-down". And the celery needs to be paired with Bleu Cheese! There's a large segment of people out there that support Ranch, but as a traditionalist, I prefer Bleu Cheese. Wing Stop's Bleu Cheese was very watery. It tasted ok, but I couldn’t apply as much to my celery as I would've preferred. As far as fries and the like, there shouldn't be anything else there to distract you. Wing-eating is an event - it's almost a sport. I take it very seriously and really miss the old days when they weren't as popular and you could get them at a ridiculously low price.

Which segues nicely into my final critique. The price was borderline unreasonable. On this day, nothing was going to stop me from getting Buffalo Wings, so price wasn't as big a concern as it should have been. However, a total cost of $20+ for 15 Wings, Celery, and a Coke irked me a bit. I'm gonna sound like a "Boomer" for a second, but I remember when I'd go to Quicky's for a 10-piece for a little over four bucks. 20 was around seven, and I think 30 cost about ten. (plus the Wing cook would always throw a few extra in there for me). It was an affordable treat. Granted, inflation has driven up prices across the board, but the demand for chicken wings has become outrageous. When Buffalo Wings were first created, wings were the part of the chicken you either threw away or saved for making chicken stock. A chance encounter with a hungry group of guys and a clever Italian woman in Buffalo, NY resulted in the original Buffalo Wing. Let me know if you'd like to hear the story.

Overall? Wing Stop gets a pretty strong 8/10 from me. Outside of a couple gripes, these were some damn good Wings. Unfortunately, they aren't as budget friendly as they once were, so this won't be a frequent occasion for me. Which is unfortunate because Wings are very Keto-friendly. And I'm all about the Keto these days. Guys, legit, try this place out. There's always the risk that quality will go down once business slows down, so try them sooner rather than later. We can determine their consistency at a later date.

Until next time!

10/27/2024

Sticking with the McDonald's Cheeseburger theme, I thought I'd show you guys my hack for a pretty decent McDonald's burger.

I call this "The Quad".

1. Obtain two McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers.
2. Remove wrappers.
3. Discard top buns.
4. Place burgers together (meat sides touching).
5. Enjoy.

I like to keep the bottom buns because it makes a sort of pattie-melt. But feel free to keep one or both of the top buns if that's the feel you're going for.

Too much meat? I don't think so. The average McDonlad's hamburger patty is about 1.1 ounces (1.6 oz before cooking), so four of them only gets you to 4.4 ounces. That's a little over 1/4 lb... *after cooking*. The Quarter Pounder patty is actually 4.25 ounces (a little over 1/4 lb) before cooking. It shrinks down to 2.8 ounces. So yeah, The Quad gives you more beef than a traditional Quarter Pounder... not quite double, but pretty close.

It's important to order the Double Cheeseburger as opposed to the McDouble. The Double Cheeseburgers come with two slices of cheese while the McDouble comes with one. I find a Quad made with McDoubles to be lacking in the cheese department. But if you're looking to cut corners or you prefer less cheese, you do you!

The rationale behind losing some of the buns concerns Keto-friendliness. However, it also provides the bonus of a beefier burger.

Not too long ago, this would be quite a bargain. A few years ago, Double Cheeseburgers were going for $2 per. So this would give you a pretty decent, and easy to eat on the go, lunch for under five bucks (a Coke would put you a little over). Back in the '90s, there were a lot of 2 for 2 promotions going on and I'd consistently get two Double Cheeseburgers and a Coke for $3.01 after tax... I'd usually even bring the penny so making change was simpler for the cashier. Now-a-days, prices are a bit higher. But lunches these days rarely cost fewer than $10 and you can make this beauty for less - plus you can eat it in the car.

See you next time! 🇮🇹🍋🧊

10/20/2024

This is about the farthest we've gone from Italian Ice, but did you know McDonald's has a Chicken Big Mac (for a limited time)??

As a lifelong McDonald's fan, it was imperative that I gave this thing a try. It is by no means Keto-friendly, so I had to break a lot of rules on this one. But a hybrid Big Mac? I felt breaking some rules was justified.

So how was it? Well... let me tell you that I really *wanted* to like it. And, I wouldn't say I didn't - but, the Chicken Big Mac is pretty disappointing. First of all, the only gripe I have with a standard Big Mac is the fact that it has too much bread. The meat-to-bread ratio is a little bit off. Now, if there was a Big Mac made with Quarter Pounder patties, then we'd really have something! But instead of regular beef patties, the Chicken Big Mac has (you guessed it) chicken patties.

Now, I love a good chicken patty and the McChicken is an outstanding sandwich. However, chicken doesn't translate too well in a Big Mac setting. In relation to the whole bread issue, McDonald's chicken patties (like most chicken patties) are breaded. As a result, the meat-to-bread ratio is further skewed. This makes for a pretty blah sandwich.

Chicken is commonly referred to by many chefs as a "blank canvas", meaning chicken is somewhat flavorless. This is beneficial in a lot of ways as you can design your dish around the flavors you want to highlight. But, in this setting, the chicken gets lost. A Big Mac is a Big Mac because of the beef. Beef is the real star of the sandwich. The Special Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sesame seed bun are the co-stars. But with the Chicken Big Mac, the co-stars need to shine above their ability. It's just not in their skillset. What we end up with is a pretty bland, boring sandwich with a hefty price tag.

Overall though, this was a fun experiment by Micky-D's. Unfortunately, the result was a bit lacking. As we mentioned above, the breaded chicken patty just doesn't carry enough weight to make this a good sandwich. Maybe if those old spiced up, grilled chicken cutlets that were all the rage not too long ago (what ever happened to those?) were used, the final product would've been better. But, here we are. If you wanna try something a little different before it gets discontinued (and likely not brought back), give it a shot!

In the meantime, please subscribe, like, share, and comment - all that stuff - and we'll see you next time! 🇮🇹🍋🧊

ps: Oh, and for some reason, there were no pickles. 😕

09/30/2024

So we attended the final game of the season Sunday at Fenway Park. It was a disappointing season but Fenway is an experience regardless of how the Sox are doing. Plus, it was a beautiful day to be out in the bleachers and it was radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione’s final game. There was a ceremony prior to first pitch, attended by players representing all four World Series Championship teams!

To my surprise, Del’s Soft Frozen Lemonade (they don’t officially refer to it as Italian Ice) has a couple of carts inside the park. I had just crushed a Sausage and Pepper Grinder and wasn’t exactly in the mood for Italian Ice but there was Italian Ice available! So, I did the only rational thing and bought one!!

I’ve had Del’s in the past and wasn’t impressed - but this time… they hit it out of the park (pun intended). When I had Del’s years ago, it tasted very commercial. This time, it had a homemade taste, texture, and feel. Near-perfect consistency, and actual chunks of lemon highlighted this Ice. I was pleasantly surprised - as Lynn Boyington mentioned about her experience with Del’s at the Big E. Now, the price was a bit high, but I was inside Fenway Park, after all. In the “real world”, I doubt the price would be as extreme.

Del’s, unexpectedly, ranks near the top of my Italian Ices. You won’t find one in Western Mass (until the Big E returns) but should you find yourself in Rhode Island, Fenway Park, and I’m told JetBlue Park in Ft. Meyers (Sox Spring Training), I highly recommend Del’s Soft Frozen Lemonade. 🇮🇹🍋🧊

Can you believe it.

09/15/2024

So… we’ve made a conscious effort to stay positive in this journey and avoid negativity in these reviews. However, that has to end today.

Needing a little “brunch”, I stopped by Taco Bell for a Toasted Bacon and Egg Burrito and a Double Beef Burrito (no rice). I noticed they had a Frozen Limonada. So, thinking “outside the bun”, I gave it a whirl. This is no Italian Ice. But, in Taco Bell’s defense, they didn’t claim it to be. The drink was sorta refreshing, I guess. It seems to be carbonated. A lemon soda (not 7up, Sprite, or whatever PepsiCo is calling their lemon/lime these days) is used to make this thing. The lemon flavor is phony, the carbonation gives it an innecessary bite, and there’s a heavy dose of corn syrup that’s especially noticeable in the aftertaste. But, I suppose it’s good for what it is - and what it is is not Italian Ice.

Now, Taco Bell is good at what they do. Del Taco is a far better option but we don’t have any in the NorthEast. I could rant about how much the prices have increased, but thats another show. I still love a Taco Supreme from time to time but will continue to avoid their beverages. I’m not a Pepsi guy, so I generally get a water. I assume the server thinks I’m cheap, but I legit just want a water instead of anything they sell.

I’ll close with a public service announcement: Always be cautious visiting (and leaving) a Taco Bell during late night hours.

Until next time, please like, subscribe, and share. Leave comments in the comments. And have a great Sunday! 🍋🇮🇹🧊

09/05/2024

You may want to sit down for this one.

We’ve returned to West Side Creamy Cones on Union Street in West Springfield for one reason and one reason only. I received a tip from Nikki Kraverotis that these guys were serving a Pickle Soft Serve! You read that right, a Pickle Soft Serve! It was imperative that we try this immediately.

Please see our earlier review on West Side Creamy Cones Italian Ice for a little back story on these guys.

Pickle freakin ice cream. This probably ain’t for everybody… I’m sure it’s a love it or hate it sort of thing. But I am one of the freaks who would love it. I keep gallons of pickle juice in my fridge to drink (it’s quite beneficial - read up on it). And love it, I did! The first bite, you don’t know what to expect and you don’t even taste pickle for a second or two - then you swallow it and the taste hits you suddenly and powerfully. It’s not overwhelming. It’s not like drinking a shot of pickle juice. This is somewhat mild and creamy - it’s still ice cream, after all. But the “pickleness” is there, and you know it. Fellow pickle freaks will thoroughly enjoy this. You other people… not so much.

I’m told real pickle juice was used in the homemade recipe concocted by the owner of Creamy Cones. She says she’s still tinkering and it’s possible there could be more pickle intensity in the next batch. I know I’d be down for that, but I’m sure they’d love to hear what you think! Stop by and give it a try. Let them know if you like it as-is or if it needs more pickle juice.

Please don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! Leave us know what you think about the Pickle Soft Serve and leave any suggestions for future sites you might have in the comments. See you next time!
🇮🇹🍋🧊 / 🥒🍦

08/27/2024

Today we visit Mikey’s Soft Serve Burger & Fries (thanks for the tip Brian P. Sears!) on Sumner Avenue in Springfield. So, I may be a little too traditional and conservative, I believe Italian Ice should be Lemon. But I get it, it’s 2024 and we’re in an ever-changing American society. Mikey’s does not serve Lemon. They have four flavors: Blue Raspberry, Coconut, Mango, and Rainbow. Unfortunately, they were out of Blue Raspberry (and Rainbow) today, and outside of the Almond Joy, I’ve never been a coconut guy. So, I got the Mango.

How was it? It was decent… a little choppy. It doesn’t seem like it’s a big seller for them so it likely sat for a while. But the taste was good - you could really taste the mango. I don’t typically eat mangoes but they are an underrated fruit (at least for me). This was an interesting change of pace, however, I doubt I’ll get Italian Ice here again.

But that’s not really an issue! They have a ton of ice cream options that I’d like to try and they have burgers. If there’s anything I enjoy more than Italian Ice, it’s a good cheeseburger! They serve smash burgers. If you’re not familiar, a smash burger is ground beef smashed down onto a hot griddle with a spatula so you get crispy bits around the edges. Mikey’s has the option to upgrade to “Oklahoma Style” - which again, if you’re not familiar, involves smashing the burger into sautéed onions.

Of course, I opted for the Oklahoma Style Double Cheeseburger. It was delicious. You could really see and taste the crispy bits of the burger. It was served with thick pickle slices and a burger sauce on a nicely made bun. If I must be picky, I thought the onions were too largely chopped and not sautéed enough for me. I prefer more of a dice and sautéed nearly to death - until it’s almost a sweet oniony jam. But, Mikey’s makes a nice burger. Check them out!

Until next time, please like, follow, share, and leave a comment with any suggestions for local Italian Ice! 🇮🇹🍋🧊

08/23/2024

Here's a cute little joint "on the quiet side of town" on Powder Hill Road in Enfield, CT. Collins Creamery has over three dozen flavors of Ice Cream that can be enjoyed in cups, cones, sundaes, shakes, cakes, and pies. They also serve Sorbet, Low Fat/Sugar Free offerings, Frozen Yogurt, and (you guessed it) Italian Ice!

There were five flavors available, but I neglected to make note of what they were. If memory serves, there was a Blue Raspberry, a Pink Lemonade, a couple others, and (of course) Lemon. I opted for the Lemon. This was possibly the most intense lemon and tartest flavor I've encountered so far. The Ice was pretty dense - Collins provides you a spoon which is completely necessary. I *liked* this Lemon Ice. I loved the tartness and it's clean taste and finish. This was delicious. I imagine the other Italian Ice flavors are just as flavorful as is the other frozen offerings.

In addition to the frozen treats, Collins a nice area to hang out, including a couple tables and an old wagon the kids can climb aboard. I took notice of the big barn in the back with a large fenced in enclosure containing a couple of cows! The cows seemed to have a lot to say as I was ordering... if I only spoke Cow. You should absolutely take a trip down there and check them out. It's well worth it.

Until next time, please like and share, feel free to leave a comment, and have a great day. 🇮🇹🍋🧊

08/21/2024

As you may have noticed, I’m running out of ideas for Italian Ice locations. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments.

So, Wendy’s has $1 Frosties until the end of the Summer! The Frosty was one of Wendy’s original five menu items when they opened their first store in 1969. Back then there was only one flavor - a “light chocolate”, which is basically a vanilla/chocolate mixture. And it remained their only flavor until 2006, when a Vanilla Frosty was introduced after high customer demand. The Vanilla is periodically replaced with a specialty flavor, first time being 2022 when a Strawberry Frosty replaced Vanilla for the Summer (Strawberry would return Summer 2023 again temporarily replacing Vanilla). Winter 2022 saw a Peppermint Frosty, and Autumn 2023 the Pumpkin Spice Frosty had a short run. Vanilla returned in January of 2024. This Spring, you may remember the Orange Dreamsicle Frosty replaced Vanilla (it was delicious) and was, itself, replaced by the Triple Berry Frosty when Summer arrived.

The Triple Berry Frosty is what we’ll be enjoying today. Wendy’s Frosty is a nice cool treat. It is not a milkshake. It’s more like soft serve but not quite as dense. You don’t drink these, they come with a spoon, and you’ll need it. The consistency is nice and I really enjoyed the Triple Berry flavor. My only suggestion is this: if it’s a super-hot day and you’re hot and dehydrated, get yourself a beverage as well. Something this thick may cool you off but it won’t help you rehydrate. That being said, the Frosty is a fun little treat - the $1 one might be too little, so you may want to get a larger size.

Overall, these are great in a pinch. You can find a Wendy’s relatively easily. And those new Saucy Nuggets (I got Spicy Buffalo) are quite good!

Until next time, please like and share, and post some ideas, comments, and suggestions in the comments! 🇮🇹🍋🧊

08/16/2024

Ok… this isn’t even a frozen treat, but today we visit Frigo's Gourmet Foods on William Street in Springfield for, quite possibly, the best Wrap I’ve ever had. I know, it’s not Italian Ice but it is Italian food. Frigo’s has been around in the South End for as long as I remember (even earlier actually - 1950 to be exact) and they have an East Longmeadow store/deli as well on Shaker Road. See their website for more information on their interesting history.

So, why a Wrap today instead of Italian Ice? Well, it wasn’t a super hot day and, in reality, I was just hungry. And when I say hungry, I mean *hungry*. I was driving down Main Street and the idea hit me that I could stop at Frigo’s for lunch. I’m so glad I did. This place is top notch. You’re not going to find anyplace better for sandwiches, meats, cheeses, speciality prepared Italian foods, pastas, salads, olive oils, and vinegars. There’s plenty more that I’m not mentioning.

I have great memories as a child of going down to the South End for this sort of thing, especially on Christmas Eve Day when my family would stock up for guests on Christmas. These days, I typically only hit Frigo’s for lunch - and what a lunch it was. Water Rolls, Grinders, or Vienna Bread are the usual options for a sandwich but I’m trying to cut the carbs so we went with the Wrap.

I got the Classic Italian on a Spinach Wrap, which consists of Mortadella, Genoa Salami, Sweet Capicola (I subbed in Hot Capicola), Ham, and Provolone Cheese. I had them add Lettuce, Mayonnaise, and their Hot Pepper Blend (which is outstanding). This Wrap was *DENSE*! Take another look at the photo, a normal person could eat half this thing and be satisfied… and I was satisfied after just half. But I ate the entire thing anyway! It was that good. Resistance was futile. I couldn’t bring myself to save half for later.

I strongly suggest visiting Frigo’s. If you remember Albano’s Market (the inspiration for this Italian Ice Adventure), these fat, sliced on the spot, sandwiches will give you a flashback to the ladies at Albano’s. You can’t get a better lunch in the area for the roughly ten bucks you’re gonna spend here.

Until next time - please like and follow!
🇮🇹🍋🧊

08/06/2024

Today we revisit La Fiorentina Pastry Shop on Shaker Road in East Longmeadow, MA. They have a location on Main Street in Springfield, but the Italian Ice at the two locations are distinctly different.

This is possibly my favorite Lemon Ice in the area. For me, I like the smooth and liquidy texture. This is a drinkable Italian Ice as opposed to the dense sorbet style that we’ve found in some other places. Incredibly authentic lemon flavor, just enough sweetness, and a very fine shaved ice. This is nothing like a Slush Puppy, if you remember those. It’s super fine and smooth.

If you’re more a fan of the denser sorbet style, this one isn’t necessarily for you - however, you would still enjoy it as it’s quite refreshing. If you *do* like the smoother texture, this one is a home run. Like I said, I think it’s my favorite so far. So, do yourself a favor and check this place out. They also serve various coffees and espressos, sandwiches and wraps, and a wide selection of Italian pastries. Well worth your time.

Thanks for all the support out there and don’t forget to like and follow our page!

08/06/2024

Remember the Friendly Ice Cream Fribble? We’re going way outside the box today…

So, I was near one of our last remaining Friendly’s Restaurants today. I decided to go a little “old school” and get a Fribble. Did you know you can get any flavor you like now? As one of the few good decisions made by the Friendly’s corporation, you sure can! I opted for Black Raspberry and I’m sure glad I did. I kind of forgot how delicious a nice thick milkshake can be.

Now, I know. We’ve been singing the praises of a light, refreshing Lemon Ice - and I stand by that, especially on a blisteringly hot day. But today wasn’t quite as hot as it’s been lately and it was a fine day for a milkshake. I wasn’t specifically looking to quench my thirst, I just wanted a cool treat.

The Fribble is just that… a cool treat and a nostalgic trip to our childhood. Friendly’s has really gotten off track in recent years with strange menu decisions but their ice cream remains something special (at least what’s left of their ice cream - but that’s another story). If you want to take a quick trip to the past and combat the heat, swing by a Friendly’s! The Fribble will take you back.

See you next time! 🇮🇹🍋🧊

Bopper's Italian Ice Adventure

02/03/2025

10/27/2024

10/20/2024

09/30/2024

09/15/2024

09/05/2024

08/27/2024

08/23/2024

08/21/2024

08/16/2024

08/06/2024

08/06/2024

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