subject: Ice Cream Parlor Vs Creamery - Catering Equipment [print this page] Have you ever wondered what the difference between an ice cream parlor and a creamery is? I hear the term creamery thrown around a lot lately, but what makes them better then the classic ice cream parlor. Well after doing a bit of research I can tell you its much more the just technique. For example, Cold Stone Creamery has paved the way for customer service when it comes to the ice cream shop. They sing a little tune every time someone tips them.
The real difference between a parlor and a creamery is the location and resources available. A parlor basically has their products (ice cream flavors) delevered to them while a creamery does everything in house. You will find most creamery's attached to a dairy farm where they can get all their products fresh from cows.
Cold Stone Creamery however is a bit different and misleading. It seems as though Cold Stone originated from a family owned creamery and then decided to grow. They now have their ice cream delivered to them which would technically make them a parlor.
Technique was another aspect I mentioned that set most creamery's apart from parlors. Again I will use cold stone as an example, they have tools I have never seen before in a ice cream shop such as the shovels they use to scoop the ice cream. After they scoop the ice cream they place it on a cold surface which allows them to manipulate it and blend in all the desired toppings. Typically the ice cream we get from our local parlor is just scooped out of a barrel and placed in a cone and handed to us out a tiny window.
Technology makes this process much easier as they use marble slabs that have a self cooling system built in. This prevents the ice cream from melting and sticking to the marble surface. Once they scoop your ice cream portion they find the toppings you would like and they smash them into the ball of ice cream so they appear in every bit. These marble molding cold slabs are perfect for any type of ice cream, it doesn't actually have to be fresh.
That being sad, these marble slabs come in a unique portable design that is great for opening up or extending catering opportunities. A potential business venture for entrepreneurs.
