Yes, you read the title correctly. This is a review of a pizza-flavored ice cream, or is it ice cream-flavored pizza? Either way, the latest product you never knew you needed but are intrigued to try (or at least read about someone else trying) is from the folks at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, who are also responsible for the previously reviewed Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Ice Cream.
I imagine there was a meeting of Van Leeuwen decision-makers where someone threw out the idea of pizza ice cream, and it seems that at least some in the meeting thought it wasn’t a terrible idea (perhaps the same ones who gave the thumbs up for mac and cheese ice cream). Now, if Van Leeuwen was run by a bunch of first graders, then I could understand this flavor getting the green light, along with chicken nugget ice cream. Even though I did not do any research to back this up, I’m guessing Van Leeuwen is not run by first graders, although the company’s website refers to their products as “pints” when they only contain 14 (not 16) ounces, so I guess they do struggle with numbers a little.
So, is this a terrible idea?
Actually, no. I sort of liked it, even though it only sort of tastes like pizza. This does contain a good number of pizza-ish ingredients — tomatoes, unbleached flour, mozzarella cheese powder, and unnamed spices — but they come through with different levels of flavor. The base ice cream (the cheese) is wonderfully creamy; I suppose because it’s French ice cream, which the container explains contains more egg yolks than non-French ice cream. There’s a hint of mozzarella taste but much more of a cheesecake flavor, thanks to the decidedly non-pizza ingredient of cream cheese.
The sauce part was a pleasant surprise. Despite how mixing tomatoes and ice cream might make you cringe, it was more than palatable. That’s probably because it’s a tomato jam, according to Van Leeuwen, and, according to me, it pairs nicely with the cheesy ice cream base. It has enough tomato flavor so you know what it is, but its mild sweetness eliminates the grossness factor.
The crust, made of basil cookies, is the only part that didn’t win me over. There was not much there as far as texture or taste, but it didn’t do anything to the detriment of the ice cream as a whole. It’s like having a co-worker who rarely does any work but doesn’t screw things up either.
As has been said in other reviews of Frankenstein-inspired freaks of food folly, this product is not a great substitute for either of the items it claims to be. If you are craving pizza, then even that cold pizza in the fridge that you question if it’s still OK is to eat is probably better. And if you have a hankering for ice cream, then just about any “regular” flavor will hit the spot better than this. But you only live once, and do you really want to be sitting in a retirement home playing bingo and wondering what pizza ice cream tastes like? I certainly do not, so I’m glad I tried this.
Purchased Price: $4.98
Size: 14 fl. oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 310 calories, 16 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 110 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 33 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.
“There’s a hint of mozzarella taste but much more of a cheesecake flavor, thanks to the decidedly non-pizza ingredient of cream cheese.” You need to talk to Shirley Bennett and remind her that cream cheese is NOT acceptable to put on an f’ing pizza!
Don’t ever go to Asia then, lol. They put cream cheese on a lot of pizzas. I’ve tried a shrimp and cream cheese pizza from Domino’s in South Korea.
Oh, little confused one, I beg to differ. Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom had a pizza on their menu which featured cream cheese, which both my girlfriend and I, along with several of our friends, considered it to be their best pizza. It was called the “Kick’n Canadian Bacon”, and it had on it Jalapeño cream cheese which was smothered in pizza sauce, in addition to mozzarella, and pepper-jack cheeses. Other toppings include Canadian bacon, diced tomatoes, and topped with green onions. A mighty fine tasting pie it was. Additionally, I have also sampled a Jalapeño Popper pizza at some establishment that was quite succulent, and savory. Surely, I am not the only one who has no problem with cream cheese as a pizza topping, and has actually discovered with the right combination of toppings, cream cheese can work extremely well on pizza . . . but then again, I am also one of those weirdos who enjoys pineapple on their pizza . . . in the right combination of course.
Now, I can not determine whether or not you are the type that will bad-mouth based solely on the fact that it merely does not sound appetizing to you. Myself, along with other adventurous souls who know that variety is the spice, and most things (which applies across all aspects of life, especially in global affairs, and politics) are not as they appear, we few, who lack not the curiosity, nor the desire for new experiences, yearn for new discoveries, and thus, we do not rely on our imaginations alone. We know that some food items will have a foul taste just as we had imagined before sampling, and other items will possess a pleasantly, unexpected delectableness.
Now, I do not expect you to order an entire dish, only to discover that it tastes awful just as you had expected, and hence, you waste money on an entire dish you will not eat, but instead, when possible, do not rely solely on your imagined flavor of some food that has never crossed your palate, and have a small bite of your friend’s dish, or order that appetizer sampler, or whatever it may take. Just do not dismiss life based only on your imagination, instead of solid, concrete facts, for doing so, you run a great risk of missing out on some of life’s incredible offerings . . . which is truly a pity that anyone should miss out on. Life has so much to offer, open yourself up to all of it, why limit yourself, and your experiences . . . you never know what you may be missing out on . . . and wouldn’t it be better to know what you are missing out on, just for the sake of knowing that you have not denied yourself an extra pleasure in life out of stubborness?
I am trying to persuade you to expand your experiences in life for the potential of perhaps discovering some extra pleasures which otherwise, you may have never known. However, you are coming across as a tyrannical dictator in trying to limit my experiences in life by dictating what can or can not exist based on your bias alone. Further, not only are you limiting my life, but you are attempting to eliminate one of my pleasures because it doesn’t meet your approval. So, I can’t help but wonder if you carry some of the same attributes of tyrannical dictators who make people miserable by limiting their experiences, not even based upon any facts, or evidence that said thing may be detrimental for people, but instead they try to deny people experiences just because they don’t like it, and thus, nobody else should have it available to themselves.
So, where does your bad-mouthing of food originate? From experience?? Or merely just from your imagination??? I have a feeling it is sourced from your imagination. Imagine that!!!
Shhhh!
Thanks, for taking one for the team. ::barf::
The idea of a Walmart carrying this blows my mind…where I’m at they don’t even carry this brand. That’s why I like this site…let’s me know how the other half lives sometimes. I’d give my left tit to be able to leave Houston and go somewhere much less basic.
That said…I think I’d pass even if this was here lol
I’m surprised they don’t have this in Houston. Houston is the 4th most populous city in the country, so it’s not like they’d have trouble selling it.
Yeah one would think…sadly though we don’t get a lot of the artisan brands here, and when we do it’s a) after most of the rest of the country, and b) less of a selection. They pimp the hell out of Blue Bell here . The only real chance to get something other than basic stuff is to hope said company has a scoop shop…and even if they do those flavors will *never* be in the grocery stores . I made the mistake of asking an HEB manager about why they hadn’t gotten any of the new Ben and Jerry’s flavors yet (even the mainstream brands bring their stuff here later) and got to hear a Facebook Auntie right wing diatribe and how politics caused the “change is brewing” flavor to “sell poorly here in Texas”. Considering when I emailed Ben and Jerry’s to ask why we get everything later , and was told to fill out some sort of request form at the stores , well… it’s obvious what the issue is. I used to blame the companies but I’ve learned otherwise. So yeah there are a lot of factors at play, and when you live somewhere where Blue Bell’s “homemade vanilla” is considered to be great ice cream, chances of getting anything interesting will be limited
This JUST got to Arkansas. There’s hope for Houston yet. 😉
Meanwhile, enjoy those amazing HEB flavors: the sopapilla and lemon-poppy seed cake were my favorites.
Houston has Van Leeuwen at Sprout’s, and you could go to Whole Foods and get artisan brands of lots of things, but you won’t get it at HEB, but probably Central Market.
My Walmart never carried this brand prior to this launch either, so you might spot it after all!
A gimmick in search of an execution (and still . . .).
I liked it too! More than I thought I would. It is very rich though, so I’m very slowly working through this one, the Mac and cheese, Hot Honey and Plant Earth. All are tasty! Don’t knock it until you try it!
When someone described the Planet Earth supposed ingredients in a previous post I got really excited. Glad to know that it’s a hit! And yep, items like these are meant to be savoured for what they are! It’s not like buying a $3 gallon of faux ice cream and just gorging on it.
I’m intrigued and would definitely want to try the mac n chz and this pizza one…only if someone else footed the bill for my curiosity 😉 If I fine Planet Earth I definitely will purchase for myself though and celebrate Earth Day with it.
find*
This surprised me also. I was set for something less than complimentary taste wise and this works. The tomato ‘sauce’ is a bit more sweet than tangy and the ice cream base is creamy and pleasant tasting. Didn’t really get much of a mozzarella taste, but it wouldn’t have been bad if it was stronger, (for me anyway). Would I buy it again, NOT at full price. Would I eat it again if it was offered to me, YES – but only if I could put chocolate on it – or not. Good review!