With summer around the corner, Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. continues to serve innovative scoops to Virginia Beach’s resident ice cream lovers. Blue Cow is an ice cream store located seventeen minutes away from Virginia Wesleyan University’s campus. In addition to its coastal location, the company has five locations spread throughout Roanoke, Fredericksburg and Richmond.
Blue Cow was founded on a passion for regional cuisine, hoping to provide an artisanal and inventive take on the traditional ice cream shop experience.
Jason and Carolyn Kiser, a husband and wife team, established the Blue Cow Ice Cream Company in Roanoke, Virginia. Devoted consumers of their neighborhood’s culinary scene, they spotted a chance to take an active role in it in 2016. Before long, their kitchen had been converted into a test kitchen. Jason registered in a short course on ice cream technology at the University of Guelph in Ontario and even attended a program for ice cream makers at Penn State University.
This charming ice cream store is just large enough to house curlicue chairs and small tables. The first thing you’ll notice when you enter the store is a huge groovy wall mural of a pink octopus. Its bright color creates a playful vibe that complements the store’s unique flavors.
The friendly staff are patient with customers, assisting them with free samples and helping them select their favorite option. Overall, the atmosphere of the store is warm and indulgent, with a focus on creating a fun and enjoyable experience for all patrons.
Blue Cow promises simple creativity. Milk and cream are the blank slate for innovative flavors, taking inspiration from popular culinary trends or even everyday treats. The company stands out from its competitors by offering atypical flavor options that cannot be found anywhere else. Three Ships Coffee Chip is made from a local roastery’s coffee beans and Blue Cow Patty incorporates candy bars into a rich dark chocolate base.
Virginia Wesleyan junior Isaiah Luckey, an ice cream enthusiast, had his curiosity piqued by Blue Cow’s new flavors.
“It’s one of a kind, to say the least. I actually tried the mint chip flavor, and I can totally say I’ve never had an ice cream like this before, in a good way and bad way. It’s quite revolutionary,” Luckey said.
“I got the Snickerdoodle flavor, allegedly a sweet cinnamon flavor with chewy cookies. It’s definitely interesting to taste something new and innovative, but sometimes it’s better to stick with the usuals,” sophomore Madison Moore said.
Flavors differ, as well as opinions. Junior Jana Goltenboth looked forward to trying experimental flavors.
“I got the Banana Pudding and Chocolate Brownie flavors. I like the combination as they’re very strong flavors and I have nothing to complain about. You can definitely taste the banana and chocolate,” Goltenboth said.
Senior Virginia Wesleyan student Ronaldinio Stickley had his own opinion about his Blue Cow experience.
“I tried several flavors during my time here, one of which was goat cheese with blueberry. The one that I ended up getting was a simple cookies and cream. This taste is more of a generic vanilla and it was a safe option for me, I’m glad I picked it,” Stickley said.
Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. is a good place to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings with simple flavors such as vanilla, chocolate and caramel, or to try innovative ones such as Chocolate Raspberry, Goat Cheese with Blueberry Swirl and Birthday Cake.
As a business, dealing with customers and potential collaborators is such an essential task that must be done kindly. Reaching out to the store via email, phone or social media message was not an easy task, as it was met by ghosting or disinterested reactions from the staff. Regardless of that, fortunately, those behaviors are not reflected in their service or products.
By Houda Touchen
htouchen@vwu.edu
