Big Red Circles

So over the last 2 yrs, Target has joined the ranks of B&J flavors, not that anyone would know this. Each spring, they slip out a few new pints with an eye towards altruism - I think a certain % of the profits are donated (score). This is a little confusing - is Target promising Unilever better positioning or market share? Perhaps. B&J never really promote these flavors; perhaps Target does it for them.

Blue Ribbon Year

I don't know how many other people around the country obsess over B&J flavors like I do, but I'm sure there are a number of us/them.

Still, I am one of them and that entitles me, I believe, to be able to make certain statements - one of which is that 2011 is a banner year for flavors.

2009 was so-so; 2010 was quite good and I really believe that 2011 might top them all - Red Velvet Cake, Bonnaroo Buzz, Clusterfluff, Late Night Snack, Fair Goodness Cake, Voluntiramisu, Peanut Butter World and Schweddy Balls. That's like the 1927 Yankees of ice cream offerings.

My Personal Moby

Sorry, bad pun there. So, I think/assume/believe that the ice cream hunts/searches for 2011 are officially over with the purchase of Schweddy Balls, the flavor honoring the SNL sketch with Alec Baldwin. I've never seen the sketch, but I assume it's funny enough to be repeated again and again.

Not sure when I'll try it - most likely next week. Funny how I let some of the new pints often sit around, as if I'm purposely aging them.

No Schwed

I've been looking to track down a pint of Schweddy Balls, the Alec Baldwin/SNL inspired flavor which is basically vanilla with chocolate-covered pretzel balls.
Again, this is a tough one to find, but I'm sure I'll track it down eventually.

Of course, I'm writing this before a day-long Yom Kippur fast, but it's obvious food is on the mind. Still, this is the latest in the year that I've been searching for a certain pint, which I think is cool. I might have a 2 or 3 month layoff between searching for the 2012 flavors.

At one of their scoop shops, I also saw B&J trotting out Pumpkin Pie and I ADORE their pie-related flavors.

Fair Goodness Cake

Very tricky, B&J. Trying to slip another flavor in before the summer is over. In June, I first heard of a flavor called "Fair Goodness Cake" via the Internet, which is basically German Chocolate Cake in an ice-cream format. So, I spent time every visit to the grocery store, looking in the frozen food aisle to find it. Finally, a few weeks ago, I did. And, I bought 2. Since it's a limited edition flavor, should I like it, I wanted to have one on reserve. Sadly, when my in-laws watched my daughter during our vacation, they ate it, but at least I had the first pint. This is a great, great flavor. Maybe the chocolate is a little rich, but the idea is very well realized. Not sure how I feel about the name, but it was a great summer find.

CF

I found the 4th flavor today, Clusterfluff, which is a lot of peanut butter stuff. It might be too PJish, but I'll have to find out. This flavor was procured at my local Shoppers Food Warehouse, which is VERY good about getting the recent flavors in; they had they other 3 new flavors alongside it. I should tell their manager how much I appreciate them ordering the new stuff. I think he'd be appreciative of said effort.

Ben and Jerry's 2011 Flavors

Ben and Jerry's 2011 Flavors ARE HERE!!

4th of July, Halloween, Xmas Time, Opening Day of Baseball. All my favorite days of the year. Add one to that list - when the new Ben and Jerry's flavors debut.

This year's lineup includes - Bonnaroo Buzz (named after the TN music festival), Late Night Snack - chocolate-covered potato chip pieces and Red Velvet Cake which is what it sounds like.

Reviews forthcoming.

Mid-Winter Springs Eternal

Well, it's almost February, which means it's almost time for the 2011 flavors.
Last year, I saw the new 2010 offerings first at Shoppers Food Warehouse, so if history is any guide, the 2011 flavors will be somewhere else.

I often find somebody else blogging or posting about them before me, which is a little jealousy-provoking, but it's also nice to know someone else out there cares.
Of course, I'll blog about them as early as I can for y'all.