“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” We’ve all heard and probably sung this since we were kids, and the song never goes out of style. And let’s face it, ice cream will never go out of style either. Speaking of classics, did you know that the iconic Rocky Road ice cream flavor was invented in Northern California? Prepare your taste buds as we take a little journey with its inventor – Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream.
The company was founded in Oakland in 1928 when William Dreyer, an ice cream maker, and Joseph Edy, a confectioner, created Dreyer’s and EDY’s® Ice Cream. It wasn’t until 1948 that the company was renamed Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. (pictured is their location at Pier 39 in San Francisco).
So in 1929 they took their already popular chocolate flavor, mixed with chewy marshmallows and crunchy almonds, and as they say, the rest is history.
And it’s not just eaten in a cup, a bowl or on a cone. You can find it used in recipes such as sundaes, shakes, and Rocky Road Ice Cream Cakes made with brownie mix.
Today, you can enjoy a variety of flavors from their special “Rocky Road Collection”, such as Brownie Brick Road, Salted Carmel Pretzel Path, and Cookie Cobblestone, to name a few.
While ice cream lovers these days are accustomed to creative ingredient combinations and unusual toppings, when Dreyer’s Rocky Road was born it was the very first ice cream that included what they called “mixtures”. I guess you never know when something is going to change the culinary landscape forever!
Taking a page from the US Postal Service that says, “No snow, no rain, no heat, no dark of night…” can steer people away from a great ball of Rocky Road ice!
Have you had a delicious scoop (or three) of Rocky Road ice cream at Pier 39 or any other Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream store in the Bay Area? If so, we’d love to see your photos!
If you’re looking for more Bay Area ice cream adventures, be sure to check out The Ice Cream Bar.
Address: Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Pier 39, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA