Takeout Chronicles: Mr. Frosty and David’s Soundview Catering

April Guilbault June 23, 2020

This review is going to go in reverse because the first thing my family ordered for take-out in the early weeks of quarantine was…ice cream. We fancy ourselves pretty healthy eaters in this house, so our intense want of ice cream one evening will get chalked up to the need for some unabashed comfort food in the face of world events. We know we are not alone in this pursuit. Ordering a curbside ice cream kit was also a step out of our new daily “routine” and we all know these days are all about routine, routine, and ugh, more routine. Finally, it felt like summer to order ice cream. Knowing this summer will not be like other carefree, adventure-filled summers, we are taking what we can get. And if a taste of creamy ice cream and gooey hot fudge on our lips reminds us of those days of yore and keeps the hopes alive for those days again, we are game. Yeah, we wanted ice cream.

Mr. Frosty’s Ice Cream in Norwalk is an institution. It (ice)screams summer and salty air evenings, sweatshirts, sandy hair, and flip-flops. However, their newly minted pickup kits will keep you entertained while we wait for any semblance of summer to return. We ordered the “Survival Kit” and it couldn’t have been easier or more enjoyable: 2 pints of any ice cream, 1 side of hot fudge, 1 side of caramel sauce, and containers of rainbow sprinkles, M&Ms, and crumbled Oreos. Called it in, payed over the phone, and it was ready when we got there-handed to us through their window by gloved hand and masked face. I highly recommend the Campfire S’mores and this type of flavor is not usually my go-to, but this was pure deliciousness: graham ice cream, marshmallow swirl and chocolate flakes. The Caramel Pretzel, with sweet cream ice cream, salted caramel swirl and chocolate pretzel bits was hitting all the right notes that evening, too. I would be remiss, though, if I did not include a nod to their frozen custard. You know how something is good when it’s the simplest version of something? Their vanilla soft-serve, it all it’s creamy, custardy glory is just that. You will be hard-pressed to find one that tops it.

In addition, to the Survival Kit, they also offer a Waffle Sundae Kit (6 Pearl Sugar Waffles, 1 Qt. Vanilla Custard, 1 Qt. Chocolate Custard, 1 Can whipped cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, Nutella, cookie butter, strawberries and powdered sugar) and their very popular Fiesta Kit (6 Freshly Baked Waffle Cone “Taco Shells”, 1 Tray of Waffle cone “Nacho Chips”, 1 Qt. Vanilla Custard, 1 Qt. Chocolate Custard, 1 Can of whipped Cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, rainbow sprinkles, cookie crunches, gummy bears, chocolate Chips, M & Ms). A Note, they also serve vegan ice creams, a full-roster of locally made hard ice creams, sundaes, ice cream cakes and pie, milkshakes and more. Everyone was playing and serving it up safely at good ol’ Mr. Frosty’s and this was an easy way to inject some tasty goodness into yet. another. evening. at. home.

www.myfrostysicecream.com

Our next take-out order involved another hungering for summer. A summer in our house is not complete without a lobster roll and we knew where to get a good one: David’s Soundview Catering in Stamford. We had a backyard fire pit in the works, so this would be the perfect accompaniment. DSC is now offering an online dinner menu and more, for curbside pickup or delivery. We ordered their Friday Night Lobster Roll Special, which consisted of containers of fresh lobster salad (NE style, cold, with mayo and chopped celery), top-split buns and butter pats (with instructions on how to grill them to crisp, buttery perfection), house-made potato chips and house made cole slaw. The lobster salad was fresh as could be, with the lobsters having been delivered, cooked and shucked at David’s that morning, the buns were buttery, the slaw was crunchy, colorful, and perfectly tangy and the chips were hearty and crisp. Portions of all were very generous. Only thing missing? A wharf or a beach to sit on, although our backyard clocked in at very decent Plan B, given current circumstances.

David’s menu also features straight-up entrees (such as roasted half-chicken, Southern fried chicken, Low & Slow BBQ ribs), easy-to-reheat “Essentials” such as lasagna, mac and cheese, chicken cutlets, or ready to bake biscuits which serve 6-8 people, salads, sides, “Cocktail Kits”, “Meal Kits (serving for 2) and Virtual Happy Hour Cocktail Bites (hummus platter, antipasto board, cheese board). Zoom away, people. Our family can also personally attest to the deliciousness of their Rum Punch (for adults only), the creamy, crunchy-topped mac and cheese and succulent ribs. David’s even considers your pooch, offering Bark Bowls, so you can all dine well together in quarantine. Bet that’s a sentence you never thought you’d utter

David’s curbside was a simple pickup in the parking lot of their catering facility, delivered to my car by masked and gloved personnel. Couldn’t be easier, more reassuring or a more enjoyable way to dine at home.