Blue Bell Creameries was founded in 1907 in Brenham, an hour's drive from Houston. You can buy their products everywhere around here, with Dutch Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, and Butter Pecan being the most popular. But why go to the store when you can go straight to the factory? Which is exactly what we did.
America does very well presenting its history, probably because it has so little of it, and a nice visitor's centre told the story of Blue Bell from its inception, as well as displaying historical ice cream making equipment. Then it was off to the creamery itself, where an observation platform allows you to see that making ice cream is not the most exciting process in the world; more a Ford assembly line than Willy Wonka's factory.
This was all but a foretaste for the ice cream parlour, where around 20 of their 50+ flavours were available, at $1 a scoop. And, as everywhere in Texas, a "scoop" was the size of a small cow, piled up until the cup could take no more. They were also supremely unbothered whether you paid or not. "We eat all we can and sell the rest," is one of their mottoes.
I opted for simple, classic Cookies and Cream (I ordered before I was made aware of the two-flavour option). Hannah went for Moo-llennium Crunch with Southern Blackberry Cobbler, and Pete naturally chose the most garish combo he could: Strawberry on the bottom and Krazy Kookie Dough on top. You know it's really crazy when they spell it with a K.
Where ice cream comes from (very cold cows).
This is one I'd join.
Dream job.
Which do you fancy?
Kkkeeerrrrraaaazzzyy!
