Happy summer! The season of frozen treats is officially here this week, just in time to present our Elite Eight. Several of these hot weather pleasers battled it out to get here, with nearly as many lead changes in their races as Cavs/Warriors Game 7.
For instance, Franklin Fountain, that ode to Philly ice cream history from the Berley brothers, eked out a win by just half a percentage point over actually historic creamery Bassetts (50.5% to 49.5%). In a much more modern matchup, Weckerly’s squeezed by similarly unorthodox Little Baby’s, taking the top place by just six votes.
Things were a bit more lopsided in water ice land, with Temple/West Philly favorite Siddiq’s again smashing the vote count and toppling South Philly landmark John’s (78% to 22%), while Rita’s, despite being a national chain, held tight to its Philadelphia roots and beat out Italiano’s lone walk-up window.
Gelato-wise, we’ve got quite a showdown this time around, since world-famous Capogiro is now up against the globally recognized flavors served at Gran Caffe L’Aquila (gelatomaker Stefano Biasini won top honors in 2013 at the international gelato expo known as Sigep). And on the custard side, it’s now the Northwest’s Custard Cakes & Creamery battling Center City/Fairmount parlor Philly Flavors.
Who’s cool enough to make it to the Final Four? All up to you. Vote:
