Restaurants
Sweet Creamery
When I ask Tom, one of the owners of the Cabbagetown ice-cream parlour Sweet Creamery, what inspired him to develop his obscene, peanut butter sucker-punch sundae 'The Parliament' he pauses and smiles. "Well, I'm American..." he says wryly, acknowledging the mandatory exposure to both the nutty paste and the obscenely indulgent ice cream desserts that comes with growing up south of the border.
As it turns out, he actually recreated a favourite sundae from the U.S restaurant chain 'Friendly's' that he'd been hankering for since moving to Canada.
His innocuous announcement of nationality actually has more significance in the founding of Sweet Creamery than you'd expect.
After hearing from some of their neighbours in Cabbagetown that the area lacked an independent ice-cream parlour, they set to work surveying residents to figure out what would make the perfect store. Which independent ice-cream supplier should they use (Kawartha Dairy won out)?
Which flavours would people most like them to carry?
Tom named every sundae on the menu he developed after a different Cabbagetown street and Emilio attended George Brown chef school in preparation for handling the baking section of the operation.
During the first week of opening, local volunteers even helped to get the place up and running, serving customers through the initial rush period.
My motivation for visiting to Sweet Creamery was mostly fueled by hearing rumours of a place that made the ultimate sundae for the peanut butter addicted and I'm extremely happy to say that said rumours are well-grounded.
'The Parliament' is a stupendous combination of a waffle basket lined with hot chocolate fudge sauce, peanut sauce (which is imported from Massachusetts), filled with chocolate peanut butter ice cream and topped with whipped cream and Reese's Pieces.
My friend gets 'The Carlton', an equally irresistible medley of both cherry and raspberry cheesecake ice creams, hot fudge sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and chocolate chips in a waffle basket.
Sweet Creamery also serves in-house made gelato and sorbets, tarts, shortcake and cupcakes as well as the aforementioned Kawartha ice cream.
After having a sundae there, I'll have a hard time ordering anything else in future but the baking and the gelato look pretty outstanding too.
Definitely worth a special trip.
All sundaes cost $7.50
Photos by Emma McIntyre.
Discussion
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One major criticism that has an easy fix - PAINT! The first time I was in there, I couldn't put my finger on it, but something seemed off. After visiting a second time and discussing with my fellow Towners, I realized what it was - Who paints an ice cream store beige??
Live a little! Add some much needed colour to your walls and your customers will be happier! I know it sounds petty, but I want to have fun when I get ice cream, a little homage to my childhood. Brighten'er up!!
it's true, we've been saying for a while that the 'town' needed an icecream parlour.
i got the PB last night.
delish.
keep up the good work.
i agree with keri's comment about the paint job.
Definitely give them another look. Initial opening-period equipment jitters have apparently been resolved - they were sold a bunch of junk by an outfit near London - and the tastes coming out of there are amazing.
I had a birthday cake made entirely of gelato and ice cream a few weeks ago that absolutely blew my mind.
I am thinking Rosie must be one of those customers who is never happy or a competitor trying to hurt their business. I can't imagine anyone having such harsh complaints.
I've also had a dulce de leche cheesecake from Sweet Creamery that gave me happy shivers. :o)
(Hmm, now I'm craving that peanut butter sundae.....)
Now though, now I think I need to try that sunday.
I love love love it there. They're great, and TASTY.